“Mrs. Flanagan has been here to ask me to appoint her son Tim in Luke’s place.”

“You’d better do it, pa,” said Randolph, quickly.

“Why?  You say Luke is well fitted for the position.”

“Oh, anybody could do as well, but Luke puts on airs.  He feels too big for his position.”

“I suppose Mrs. Larkin needs the money.”

“So does Mrs. Flanagan,” said Randolph.

“What sort of a boy is Tim?  I have heard that he is lazy.”

“Oh, I guess he’ll do.  Of course, I am not well acquainted with a boy like him,” said the young aristocrat.  “But I’m quite disgusted with Luke.  He was at Florence Grant’s party the other evening, and was cheeky enough to ask her to dance with him.”

“Did she do so?”

“Yes; I suppose it was out of pity.  He ought to have known better than to attend a party with such a suit.  His coat and pantaloons were both too small for him, but he flourished around as if he were fashionably dressed.”

Squire Duncan made no reply to his son’s comments, but he felt disposed, for reasons of his own, to appoint Tim Flanagan.  He was hoping to be nominated for representative at the next election, and thought the appointment might influence the Irish vote in his favor.

“Shall you appoint Tim, pa?” asked Randolph.

“I think it probable.  It seems only right to give him a chance.  Rotation in office is a principle of which I approve.”

“That’s good!” thought Randolph, with a smile of gratification.  “It isn’t a very important place, but Luke will be sorry to lose it.  The first time I see him I will give him a hint of it.”

Randolph met Luke about an hour later in the village street.  He did not often stop to speak with our hero, but this time he had an object in doing so.

CHAPTER IX

LUKE LOSES HIS POSITION

“Luke Larkin!”

Luke turned, on hearing his name called, and was rather surprised to see Randolph hastening toward him.

“How are you, Randolph?” he said politely.

“Where are you going?” asked Randolph, not heeding the inquiry.

“To the schoolhouse, to sweep out.”

“How long have you been janitor?” asked Randolph, abruptly.

“About a year,” Luke answered, in surprise.

“That’s a good while.”

Luke was puzzled.  Why should Randolph feel such an interest, all at once, in his humble office?

“I suppose you know that my father is now on the school committee?” Randolph continued.

“Yes; I heard so.”

“He thinks of appointing Tim Flanagan janitor in your place.”

Luke’s face showed his surprise and concern.  The loss of his modest income would, as he knew, be severely felt by his mother and himself.  The worst of it was, there seemed no chance in Groveton of making it up in any other way.