“Won't you? Then all I can say is, Britisher, look out for a busy arternoon. I told you what our people was. I warned you that if they struck work an hour earlier to listen to a preacher, it would fare ill with him if he wanted the mill to turn without water.”
“I repeat, I 'll not lecture, come what may of it,” said Layton, firmly.
“Well, it ain't so very hard to guess what will come of it,” replied the other.
“This is all nonsense and folly, sir,” said Layton, angrily. “I have taken no man's money; I have deceived no one. Your people, when I shall have left this place, will be no worse than when I entered it.”
“If that 's your platform, stranger, come out and defend it; we 'll have a meetin' called, and I promise you a fair hearin'.”
“I have no account to render to any. I am not responsible for my conduct to one of you!” said Layton, angrily.
“You're a-beggin' the whole question, stranger; so jest keep these arguments for the meetin'.”
“Meeting! I will attend no meeting! Whatever be your local ways and habits, you have no right to impose them upon a stranger. I am not one of you; I will not be one of you.”
“That's more of the same sort of reasonin'; but you 'll be chastised, Britisher, see if you ain't!”
“Let me have some sort of conveyance, or, if need be, a horse. I will leave this at once. Any expenses I have incurred I am ready to pay. You hear me?”