"I should like to get an education," said d.i.c.k, his eyes lighting up. "I should like to study Latin and Greek, and go to college. Then I could be a teacher or a lawyer. But there is no chance of that," he added, his voice falling.
"Don"t be too sure of that, d.i.c.k," said Frank Frank, hopefully.
"Something may turn up in your favor."
"Nothing ever does turn up in Jackson," said the boy, in a tone of discouragement. "Father is a poor man, and has hard work to get along.
He can give me no help."
"Isn"t the farm productive?"
"There is no trouble about that, but he has to pay too high a rent. It"s all the fault of Fairfield."
"The agent?"
"Yes."
"Your father was telling me about him. Now, if your father were in his place, I suppose he could give you the advantages you wish."
"Oh, yes! There would be no trouble then. I am sure he would make a better and more popular agent than Mr. Fairfield; but there is no use thinking about that."
"I expected myself to go to college," said Frank. "In fact, I have studied Latin and Greek, and in less than a year I could be ready to enter."
"Why don"t you?" asked d.i.c.k.
"You forget that I am a poor peddler."
"Then how were you able to get so good an education?" asked d.i.c.k, in surprise.
"Because I was once better off than I am now. The fact is, d.i.c.k," he added, "I have seen better days. But when I was reduced to poverty, I gave up hopes of college education and became what I am."
"Wasn"t it hard?"
"Not so much as you might suppose. My home was not happy. I have a stepfather and stepbrother, neither of whom I like. In fact, there is no love lost between us. I was not obliged to leave home, but under the circ.u.mstances I preferred to."
"Where are your stepfather and your stepbrother now?"
"They are traveling in Europe."
"While you are working hard for a living! That does not seem to be just."
"We must make the best of circ.u.mstances, d.i.c.k. Whose is that large house on the left?"
"That belongs to Mr. Fairfield.
"He seems to live nicely."
"Yes, he has improved and enlarged the house a good deal since he moved into it--at Mrs. Percival"s expense, I suppose."
"He seems to have pretty much his own way here," said Frank.
"Yes. Mr. Percival never comes to Jackson, and I suppose he believes all that the agent tells him."
"He may get found out some time."
"I wish he might. It would be a great blessing to Jackson if he were removed and a good man were put in his place."
"That may happen some day."
"Not very likely, I am afraid."
At this moment Mr. Fairfield himself came out of his front gate.
"h.e.l.lo, Hamlin!" he said, roughly, to d.i.c.k. "Is your father at home?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have something to say to him. I think I will call round."
"You will find him at home, sir."
"d.i.c.k," said Frank, when the agent had pa.s.sed on, "do you mind going back? What you tell me makes me rather curious about Mr. Fairfield. At your house I may get a chance to see something of him."
"Let us go back, then," said d.i.c.k; "but I don"t think, Frank, that you will care much about keeping up the acquaintance."
"Perhaps not; but I shall gratify my curiosity."
The two boys turned and followed the agent closely. They reached the house about five minutes after Mr. Fairfield.
CHAPTER x.x.xVI
MR. FAIRFIELD, THE AGENT
The two boys found Mr. Fairfield already seated in the most comfortable chair in the sitting room.
He looked inquiringly at Frank when he entered with d.i.c.k.
"Who is that boy, Hamlin?" inquired the agent. "Nephew of yours?"
"No, sir. It is a young man who has come to Jackson on business."
"What kind of business?"
"I sell stationery," Frank answered for himself.
"Oh, a peddler!" said the agent, contemptuously.