Again Ralph's eyes flashed. It was bad enough to have insults heaped upon his own head, but when they touched his mother——
"Squire Paget, you are no gentleman!" he burst out. "You haven't the least spark of a gentleman in your whole composition!"
"Wha—what——" stammered the village dignitary.
"Oh, Ralph——" began his mother.
"Hush, mother, I will handle him as he deserves. Let me alone."
"You young rascal! What do you mean?" burst out the squire, in a rage.
"I mean just what I say. You may be rich and influential, but you can't come here and insult my mother, understand that!"
"Why—why, you young vagabond——" spluttered the squire.
For the moment he could not find words to express himself.
"I am no vagabond, Squire Paget, not half as much a one as your son, who drinks, smokes cigarettes, and keeps company with all sorts of questionable village sports."