"So I've got to stay at home and work!" he exclaimed bitterly.
"Well, you might behave better when you are out, then," I said. "It's your own fault."
"What have I done?" he exclaimed.
"Picked a quarrel with 'Enoch' on Fourth o' July," said I, to refresh his memory.
"I don't care; he stoned me!" Halse exclaimed.
"But you began the fuss," I put in.
"Oh, you say that because Ad does. You and he are about alike!" cried Halse, angrily.
"Then there was town-meeting night," I went on to say. "I think you came home intoxicated that night; I think you had been gambling, too."
"You say that again and I'll thrash you!" exclaimed Halse, now very hot.
"Well, I think so, or I shouldn't say it," I repeated.