Chester asked her if it was because she wished to usurp the conversation herself; upon which Mr. Kerchey managed to observe, in his very hardest way, that there were some persons of whose talk he could never tire.
He looked intently at Sarah,—just as if he meant her, Lizzie suggested, in a low tone, to James.
At this moment Willie diverted the conversation by crying out,
"Sam's pinching me!"
"Oh, I didn't!" said Sam.
"Why do you tell such a story?" demanded Mrs. Royden, with a slight degree of impatience. "I saw you pinch his arm."
"I was only brushing a fly off," replied Sam.
"He asked me how thick my sleeve was, and he took right hold of skin and all!" whined Willie, rubbing his arm.
Sam was reprimanded and Willie was consoled with rind from his father's plate.