“No.”
“Nor yet the fiddle, if I borrow it?”
“No.”
“I say, don’t be so snarky with me. I can’t help it. I was obliged to do what I did, same as you’d have been if it had been t’other way on. Look here; let you and me be friends, and I could come often and sit with you. I’ll stay now if you like. Let’s have a game at cards.”
Archy made no reply, and Ram sighed.
“I’m very sorry,” he said sadly; “and I’d leave you the lanthorn if you like to ask me.”
“I’m not going to ask favours of such a set of thieves and scoundrels,” cried the midshipman passionately; “and once more I warn you that, if you come pestering me with your proposals, I shall knock you down with a stone, and then escape.”
“Not you,” replied Ram, with a quiet laugh.
“Not escape?”
“I meant couldn’t knock me down with a stone.”