"Yes," said Luke, flushing deeply during this tirade but holding his own temper admirably in check. "Yes, I understand. But I'd like to talk with you about it—"
"You can't talk to me about any girl!"
"But I must," insisted Luke. "You see, I—I love her. And if I can possibly do it, I am going to win her for a wife—some day."
The old gentleman arose in anger.
"Do you mean to stand there and deliberately defy me?"
"I am not defying you, Neighbor; I'm only telling you," Luke said, rather doggedly, it must be confessed. But his own eyes were glowing.
"After my declaration to you that I will have nothing more to do with you if you fool with any girls—"
"I'm not!" snapped Luke. "It is only one girl. The best girl in the world. I wish you'd go to Milton to see her."
"Go to Milton? Indeed! I wouldn't go there—"
He stopped and glowered at Luke for a moment without speaking. Then he asked harshly: