“No, nor my grandmother either.”
“Then you were born without a heart. But you shall come, whether you like it or not—though I have to drag you there by the throat.”
“Learn to spell 'able' first.”
“I'll spell it on your head, if you don't come.”
“Oh, that is the game, young un, is it?”
“Yes.”
“Well, don't let us have a shindy on the bricks; there is a nice little paddock outside. Come out there and I'll give you a lesson.”
“Thank you; I don't feel inclined to assist you in degrading our family.”
“Chaps that are afraid to fight shouldn't threaten. Come now, the first knock-down blow shall settle it. If I win, you stay here and dance with us. If you win, I go to the old woman.”
Compton consented, somewhat reluctantly; but to do him justice, his reluctance arose entirely from his sense of relationship, and not from any fear of his senior.