"The police may guess whether that's true."
"Any way, it's no affair of yours. The child don't belong to you."
"I've heard say possession's nine points of the law," John answered. "You may get your reward after all, if you like to go and inform this child's parents how she's in charge of John Randal, blacksmith, Markwood, and if you like to face the police and me. For there'll be a clear understanding before you get that reward, I can tell you."
The other man stood silent for a minute; then he laughed spitefully.
"You're a nice nurse for a young lady," he said, "bullying and swaggering all over the place with an iron bar in your hand, like as if you was going to knock some one on the head. She's had a rough time of it, I guess. Well, I won't say what I'll do, Mr. Randal. One thing I can tell you for certain—you won't have that child long."
"And one thing I know—I shan't part with her to you," John retorted.
He turned round, still holding Lily by the hand, and walked off home.
The schoolmistress, who had again retreated to her doorway, watched the strange man anxiously for a minute, while he stood in the middle of the road, looking sulkily down and muttering between his teeth. Presently he too strolled off in the opposite direction. John walked along silently till Lily pulled at his hand.
"John, did you know it was Dick? Isn't he nasty and cross? I was glad when I saw you coming."
"Never you speak to him again if you can help it," said John.