Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/88

Rh “Does Mr. Truscomb know of your intention?” he then enquired.

“No, sir,” Amherst answered energetically, glad that he had forced the lawyer out of his passive tactics. “I am here on my own responsibility—and in direct opposition to my own interests,” he continued with a slight smile. “I know that my proceeding is quite out of order, and that I have, personally, everything to lose by it, and in a larger way probably very little to gain; but I thought Mrs. Westmore’s attention ought to be called to certain conditions at the mills, and no one else seemed likely to speak of them.”

“May I ask why you assume that Mr. Truscomb will not do so when he has the opportunity?”

Amherst could not repress a smile. “Because it is owing to Mr. Truscomb that they exist.”

“The real object of your visit then,” said Mr. Tredegar, speaking with deliberation, “is—er—an underhand attack on your manager’s methods?”

Amherst’s face darkened, but he kept his temper. “I see nothing especially underhand in my course”

“Except,” the other interposed ironically, “that you have waited to speak till Mr. Truscomb was not in a position to defend himself.”

“I never had the chance before. It was at Mrs. Westmore’s own suggestion that I took her over the mills, and feeling as I do I should have thought it [ 76 ]