'Have I, indeed! 'cried the woman, bridling again at a hint of sarcasm; 'can't you see I have?'
'Madam, you are very obvious.'
'Am I, then! Well, look here, you; you've got to cane the hide off that boy.'
'You surprise me, Mrs. Steven. For what?'
'For breakin' into my garden an' robbin' me. Nice way you're teachin' these boys, ain't you? Makin' thieves an' stealers of 'em. Now, tell me, do you mean to thrash him?'
Joel considered the matter calmly, pinching his under lip and blinking at
Mrs. Ben in a pensive, studious way.
'No, ma'am, I do not.'
'For why?' cried the woman.
'I am not the public hangman, Mrs. Steven.'
Mrs. Steven could not see the relevance of the excuse, and her anger rose again.