“Insolent, eh?” said the man. “Ah! you call that insolent, do you?” he continued, raising his voice. “What would you call it, then, if I was to speak out a little plainer?”
“Look here, Zekle Wynn,” said Penelly; “there are times when I come down to the harbour, and into the boats, and go fishing with the men; but recollect, please, whom you are talking to.”
“Oh, I know who I’m talking to,” said Zekle; “I ain’t blind.”
“If you speak to me again like that I’ll kick you out of the house. How dare you come in here and address me in this way?”
“Where’s your father?” said Zekle; “suppose I talk to him.”
“Go and talk to him, then; and mind how you speak, sir, or you’ll get different treatment to that you receive from me.”
“All right, then!” said Zekle mockingly. “I shall go to him and tell him that, while I was busy shaking out fish in our boat to-night, young Harry Paul come swimming up, and our mas’r says, ‘Come aboard,’ he says; but Mas’r Harry Paul he says, ‘No,’ he says, ‘I shall swim round,’ he says, and he swims round our boat.”
“Well, he knows that,” said Penelly, looking at him strangely.
“And then I’m going to tell him,” continued Zekle, “that as soon as ever a certain person who was aboard our boat sees young Mas’r Harry coming, he goes and sits on the other side.”
“Yes, I did,” said Penelly sharply.