“But you did not come out well, my boy,” said Sir Edward irritably. “The young cub has some good in him, and he behaved splendidly.”
“Yes, father; that made me feel so mad against him, and all the time I was feeling as if I would have given anything to shake hands, for he was very brave.”
“Well, it would have been, if he had not been a Darley.”
“And, of course, I could not shake hands and say thank you to a boy like him.”
“Shake hands—an Eden with a Darley! Impossible, my boy, impossible. There, it’s all over, and you must never give them the opportunity of insulting you again. That family has done us endless injury.”
“And we’ve done them a deal, too, father.”
“Yes, my boy, as much as ever we could. I mean in the old days; for I’m beginning to think that it’s best to let them go their way, if they let us go ours.”
“Yes, father.”
“I wish they lived on the other side of the county, instead of so near. But there, promise me that you will not run foul of any of the savages again.”
“Yes, father, I promise you,” said the lad quietly.