The goblin laughed the harder.
“Stop it, I say!” the boy shouted, loud enough to waken all the sleepers about the house, he thought.
The goblin continued to laugh and rub his fists and kick his heels.
“Oh, you think you’re smart!” the lad pouted, tears in his eyes, his lips quivering. “Old Fits! Old Spasms! Old Convulsions! Yeah! Yeah!”
“Here—here!” cried the goblin, springing to his feet and frowning darkly. “You mustn’t call me such names, boy.”
“I will!” sturdily.
“If you do, I’ll go away and leave you, just as you are.”
“I don’t care.”
“You don’t?”
“No, I don’t.”