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〃It's only that Will's taken to him； I think。 Thar's no harm in this hunting rabbits that I can see； and it keeps the child out of doors； anyway。 Fresh air is what the doctor said he needed； you know。〃
〃I don't like it； I don't like it；〃 protested Fletcher； 〃those Blakes are as mad as bulldogs； and they've been so as far back as I can remember。 The sooner a stop's put to this thing the better it'll be。 How long has it been going on； I wonder？〃 〃About ten days； I believe； and it does seem to give the boy such an interest。 I can't help feeling it's a pity to break it up。〃
〃Oh； bother you and your feelings！〃 was Fletcher's retort。 〃If you'd had the sense you ought to have had； it never would have started； but you've always had a mushy heart； and I ought to have allowed for it； I reckon。 Thar're two kind of women in this world； the mulish and the pulish； an' when it comes to a man's taking his pick between 'em； the Lord help him。 As for that young Blakewell； if I had to choose between him and the devil； I'd take up with the devil mighty fast； that's all。〃
〃Oh； Brother Bill； he saved the child's life！〃
〃Well； he didn't do it on purpose； he told me so himself。 I tried to settle that fair and square with him； you know； and he had the face to tear my check in half and send it back。 Oh； I don't like this thing； I tell you； and I won't have it。 I've no doubt it's at the bottom of all Will's cutting up about school； too。 He was not well enough to go yesterday； he said； and here he's getting up this morning at daybreak and streaking； heaven knows whar； with a beggar。 You may as well pack his thingsI'll ship him off to…morrow if I'm alive。〃
〃I hope you won't scold him； anyway； he's not strong； you know； and it's good for him to have a little pleasure。 I'm sure I can't see what you have against the Blakes； as far as that goes。 I remember the old gentleman when I was a childso fine； and clean； and pleasant； it was a sight just to see him ride by on his dappled horse。 He always lifted his hat to me； too； when he passed me in the road； and once he gave me some peaches for opening the red gate for him。 I never could help liking him； and I was sorry when he lost his money and they had to sell the Hall。〃
Fletcher choked over his coffee and grew purple in the face。
〃Hang your puling！〃 he cried harshly。 〃I'll not stand it； do you hear？ The old man was a beggarly； cheating spendthrift； and the young one is a long sight worse。 I'd rather wring Will's neck than have him mixed up with that batch of paupers。〃
Miss Saidie shrunk back； frightened； behind the silver service。
〃Of course you know best； brother；〃 she hastened to acknowledge； with her unfailing good…humour。 〃I'm as fond of the child as you are； I reckonand of Maria； too； for that matter。 Have you seen this photograph she sent me yesterday； taken at some outlandish place across the water？ I declare； I had no idea she was half so handsome。 She has begun to wear her hair low and has filled out considerable。〃
〃Well； there was room for it；〃 commented Fletcher； as he glanced indifferently at the picture and laid it down。 〃Get Will's clothes packed to…day； remember。 He starts off tomorrow morning； rain or shine。〃
Pushing back his chair； he paused to gulp a last swallow of coffee； and then stamped heavily from the room。
At dinner Will did not appear； and when at last the supper bell jangled in the hall and Fletcher strode in to find the boy's place still empty； the shadow upon his brow grew positively black。 As they rose from the table there were brisk； light steps along the hall； and Will entered hurriedly； warm and dusty after the day's hunt。 Catching sight of his grandfather； he started nervously； and the boyish animation he had brought in from the fields faded quickly from his face； which took on a sly and dogged look。
〃Whar in the devil's name have you been； suh？〃 demanded Fletcher bluntly。
The boy hesitated； seeking the inevitable defenses of the weak pitted against the strong。 〃I've been teaching my hounds to hunt rabbits；〃 he replied； after a moment。 〃Zebbadee was with me。〃
〃So you were too sick to start for school this morning； eh？〃 pursued Fletcher； hurt and angry。 〃Only well enough to go traipsing through the bushes after a pack of brutes？〃
〃I had a headache； but it got better。 May I go up now to wash my hands？〃
For an instant Fletcher regarded him in a brooding silence； then； with that remorseless cruelty which is the strangest manifestation of wounded love； he loosened upon the boy's head all the violence of his smothered wrath。
〃You'll do nothing of the kind！ I ain't done with you yet； and when I am I reckon you will know it。 Mark my words； if you warn't such a girlish looking chap I'd take my horsewhip to your shoulders in a jiffy。 So this is the return I get； is it； for all my trouble with you since the day you were born！ Tricks and lies are all the reward I'm to expect； I reckon。 Well； you'll learn once for all； nowthat when you undertake to fool me it's a clear waste of time。 I've found out whar you've been to…day； and I know you've been sneaking across the county with that darn Blake！〃
The boy looked at him steadily； first with speechless terror； then with a cowed and sullen rage。 The glare in Fletcher's eyes fascinated him； and he stood motionless on his spot of carpet as if he were held there in an invisible vise。 Weakling as he was； he had been humoured too long to bear the lash submissively at last； and beneath the tumult of words that overwhelmed him he felt his anger flow like an infusion of courage in his veins。 The greater share of love was still on his grandfather's side； and the knowledge of this lent a sullen defiance to his voice。
〃You bluster so I can't hear；〃 he said； blinking fast to shut out the other's eyes。 〃If I did go with Christopher Blake； what's the harm in it？ I only lied because you make such a fuss it gives me a headache。〃
〃It's the first fuss I ever made with you； I reckon；〃 returned Fletcher； softening before the accusation。 〃If I ever fussed with you before； sonny； you may make mighty certain you deserved it。〃
〃You frighten me half to death when you rage so；〃 persisted the boy； snatching craftily at his advantage。
〃There； there； we'll get it over；〃 said Fletcher； quieting instantly。 〃I didn't mean to scare you that way； but the truth is it put me in a passion to hear of you mixing up with that scamp Blake。 Jest keep clear of him and I'll ask nothing more of you。 You may chase all your rabbits between here and kingdom come for aught I care； but if I ever see you alongside of Christopher Blake again； I tell you； I'll lick you until you're black and blue。 And now hurry up and git your supper and go to bed； for you start to school to…morrow morning at sunrise。〃
Will flushed； and stood blinking his eyes in the lamplight。
〃I don't want to go to school； grandpa；〃 he said persuasively。
〃That's a pity； sonny； because you've got to go whether you like it or not。 Your Aunt Saidie has gone and packed your things； and I'll give you a month's pocket money to start with。〃
〃But I'd rather stay at home and study with Mr。 Morrison。 Then I could follow after the hounds in the afternoon and keep