“I say, Lom, look at us both,” said Mercer. “See anything?”
“Well, yes, I do, plain, my lads. You two don’t want any teaching. You’ve got swelled lips, and mousy eyes rising, and your noses are a bit puffy. You have both been fighting.”
“Yes, Lom, and see how we’ve been knocked about.”
“Well, boys who will fight must take what they get and not grumble.”
“But we didn’t want to fight. They made us.”
“Why, I thought you two were such friends and mates already. Bah! lads, you shouldn’t fight without there’s good reason.”
“But we didn’t fight,” cried Mercer angrily.
“Why, just look at you both! your faces say it as plain as your lips.”
“But I mean not together. Eely Burr and big Dicksee came and thrashed us. They would not leave us alone.”
“Oh, come: that’s bullying,” said Lomax, shaking his head, “and it isn’t a fair match; they’re a good two years older than you, and used to fighting, and you ain’t.”