As soon as he reached the shop he told his father that Forbes had beaten him without his having even spoken to him, which was as correct as it was untrue, and that the master had taken Forbes's part, and _licked_ him over again, of which latter assertion there was proof enough on his person.

Robert the elder was instantly filled with smouldering wrath, and from that moment hated Alec Forbes.

For, like many others of low nature, he had yet some animal affection for his children, combined with an endless amount of partisanship on their behalf, which latter gave him a full right to the national motto of Scotland.

Indeed, for nothing in the world but money, would he have sacrificed what seemed to him their interests.
A man must learn to love his children, not because they are his, but because they are _children_, else his love will be scarcely a better thing at last than the party-spirit of the faithful politician.

I doubt if it will prove even so good a thing.
From this hatred to Alec Forbes came some small consequences at length.
But for the present it found no outlet save in sneers and prophetic hints of an "ill hinner en'.".