Bess was true to him, Bess was the mother of his child ... and he waited for his adversary to come on.
For he knew well enough that the word he had spoken would not pass unnoticed; the man to whom he had said it was in drink, and his rage was the quicker and the more unreasoning.
But lest there should be any mistake, Charley repeated the word.
“You lie,” he said again. “And if ye don’t like that ye may come on.”
And the man came on. The others no longer attempted to hold him back; they only watched to see fair play.
But they did not watch long.
Charley’s adversary was a little man, but he had the strength of two ordinary men, and, if the poor lad had known it, was the best boxer in the county.
He did not know it, but it would not have made any difference.
He staggered under the first blow, but dealt a good one in return, and prepared for the second. But the second threw him.
There was a laugh, and they looked to see this man, who was so quick to take offence yet was so easily beaten, get up to defend himself.