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〃But I'd rather stay at home and study with Mr。 Morrison。 Then I could follow after the hounds in the afternoon and keep out in the fresh air； as the doctor said I must。〃
〃Now； now； we've had enough of this；〃 said Fletcher decisively。 〃You'll do what I say； mind you； and you'll do it quick。 No haggling over it； do you hear？〃
Will looked at him sullenly； nerved by that reckless anger which so often passes for pure daring。
〃If you make me go you'll be sorry； grandpa；〃 he said； choking。
Fletcher swallowed an uneasy laugh； strangled over it； and finally spat it out with a wad of tobacco。
〃Why； what blamed maggot have you got in your head； son？〃 he inquired； laying his heavy hand on the boy's shoulder。 〃You didn't use to hate school so； and； as sure as you're born； you'll find it first rate sport when you get back。 It's this Blake business； that's what it ishe's gone and stuffed you plum full of notions。 Look here； now； you don't want to grow up to be a dunce like him； do you？〃
He had touched the raw at last； and Will broke out passionately in revolt； inflamed by a boyish admiration for his own bravado。
〃He's got a lot more sense than anybody about here； 〃he cried； backing against the door and holding tightly to the handle； 〃and if he doesn't know that plaguey Greek it's because he says there isn't any use in it。 Why； he can shoot a bird on the wing over his shoulder； and mount a horse at full gallop； and tell stories that make you creep all over。 He's not a dunce； grandpa； he's my friend； and I like him！〃
The last words came in a sudden spurt； for； feeling his artificial courage ooze out of him； the boy had started in a run from the room。 He had barely crossed the threshold； however； when Fletcher reached out with a strong grip and pulled him back； swinging him slowly round until the two stood face to face。
〃Now； here's one thing flat；〃 said the man in a husky voice； if I ever see or hear of you opening your mouth to that rascal again； I'll thrash you until you haven't a sound bone in your body。 You'd better go up now and say your prayers。〃
As he released his grasp； the boy struck out at him with a nerveless gesture and then shot like an arrow through the hall and out into the twilight。 At the moment his terror of Fletcher was forgotten in the paroxysm of his anger。 Short sobs broke from him as he ran； and presently his breath came in pants like those of an overdriven horse； but still； without slackening his pace； he sped on to the old ice…pond and then wheeled past the turning into the sunken road。 Not until he had reached the long gate before the Blake cottage did he stop short suddenly and stand； grasping his moist shirt collar； in an effort to quiet his convulsed breathing。
The hounds greeted him with a single bay； and at the noise Cynthia came out upon the porch and then down into the gravelled path between the old rose…bushes。
〃What do you wish？〃 she demanded stiffly； standing severe and erect in her faded silk。
〃I must speak to ChristopherI must！〃 gasped the boy； breathing hard。 〃I am going away tomorrow； and this is my last chance。〃
〃Well； he's in the stable； I believe；〃 replied Cynthia coolly。 〃If you want him； you must go there to look for him； and be sure not to make a noise when you pass the house。〃 Then； as he darted away； her eyes followed him with a weary aversion。
Will passed the kitchen and the woodpile and； turning into a little path that led from the well； came to the open door of the rudely built stable。 A dim light fell in a square across the threshold； and looking inside he saw that a lantern was hanging from a nail above the nearest stall and that within the circle of its illumination Christopher was busily currying the old gray mare。
At the boy's entrance he paused for an instant； glanced carelessly over the side of the stall； and then went on with his work。
〃Playing night…owl； eh？〃 he remarked indifferently。 〃There's no rubbing…down for you to do； I reckon。〃
〃There's a darn sight worse；〃 returned the boy； throwing out the oath with a conscious swagger as he braced himself against the ladder that ran up to the loft。
His tone arrested Christopher's hand； and； lifting his head； the young man stood attentively regarding him； one arm lying upon the broad back of the old mare。
〃Why； what's up now？〃 he questioned with a smile。 Some fine chaff； which he had brought down from the loft； still clung to his hair and clothes and darkened his upper lip like a mustache。
〃Grandpa's found it out and he's hopping；〃 said the boy。 〃I always told you he would be； you know； and now it's come。 If he ever catches me with you again he swears he'll give it to me like hell。 He pressed tightly against the ladder and wagged his head defiantly。 〃But he needn't think he can bully me like thatnot if I know it！〃
〃Well； he mustn't catch you again；〃 returned Christopher； not troubling to soften his scorn of such cheap heroics； 〃we must manage better next time。 Did you think to remind him； by the way； that I once took the trouble to save your life？〃
〃That's a fact； I didn't think of it。 What would he have said； I wonder？〃
Christopher raised his eyebrows。 〃Knocked your front teeth out； perhaps。 He's like that； isn't he？〃
〃Oh； he's awfully fond of me； you know；〃 protested the boy； 〃but it's his meddling ways that I can't stand。 What business is it of his who my friends are？ He hasn't got to take up with 'em； has he？ Why； what he hates is for me to want to be with anybody but himself or Aunt Saidie。 He'd like to keep me dangling all day to his coat tails； but it's not fair； and I won't have it。 I'll show him whether I'm to be kept a kid forever or not！〃
〃There's spirit for you！〃 drawled Christopher with a laugh； as he applied the currycomb to the mare's flank。
〃You just wait till you hear the worst；〃 returned the other； with evident pride in the thunderbolt about to be delivered。 〃He swears he's going to send me to school tomorrow at sunrise。〃
〃You don't say so？〃 ejaculated Christopher。
〃Oh； but he'll do it； toothe only way to get around him is to fall ill； and I can't work that tomorrow。 I played the trick last week and he saw through it。 I've got to go； that's certain； but I'm going to make him sorry enough before he's done。 Why couldn't he let me keep on studying with Mr。 Morrison； as the doctor said I ought to？ What's the use of this blamed old Latin and Greek； anyway？ Nobody about here knows them； and why should I set myself up for a precious numbskull of a scholar？ I'd rather be a crack shot like you any day！ I tell you one thing；〃 he finished； sucking in his breath in a way that had annoyed Christopher from the first； 〃I've half a mind to run away or fall ill after I get there！〃
Christopher turned suddenly； slapped the mare on the flank； and came out of the stall； the currycomb still in his hand。 His shirt sleeves were rolled above his elbows； and the muscles of his arms stood out like cords under the sunburned skin； which showed a paler bronze from the wrists up。 He was flushed from leaning over； and his clothes smelled strongly of the stable。
〃If you do； come to me； 〃 he said lightly； 〃and I'll hide you in the barn till the storm blows over。 It w