Nobody replied.
"Because if you do," I said, "I can tie both hands behind me and lick any six of you right now."
The crowd melted away slowly. One man did stay a moment, but he didn't want to fight. He offered to feel my pulse.
In spite of his sarcasm, and in the face of all criticism, I insist that I was beginning to learn. For instance, shall I tell you of the time I astonished Campbell?
Campbell was raised in the country. The smell of sod is strong in his nostrils, and he is a handy man with a hoe. Campbell is an agent for the Duke, but time hangs on his hands at moments and he dropped around in a casual sort of way to look at our back yard.
"I'm thinking of planting a turnip and some onions," said my wife pleasantly.
Campbell smiled.
"In that soil," he said, "you'll never make them completely happy. They'll be crying for home all the time."
"What's the matter with the soil?" demanded my wife.
"Well, it wasn't built for farming. You always have to put in richer soil. I'll show you."