CHAPTER V.
A CRISIS.
Nothing more was said about the woodpile. Apparently Mr. Talbot concluded that he was not likely to carry his point, and prudently withdrew from the conflict. But his sense of defeat only made him the more incensed against his rebellious step-son.
"I would give five dollars to see that boy thrashed," he said to himself moodily, as from the window he watched Robert playing ball in the street with his friend Sam Jones.
As Robert seemed to be enjoying himself, he could not resist the temptation to interfere.
So he opened the window and called out, "Robert, I wish you would stop playing ball in the street."
"Why?" asked his step-son.
"Because the ball might come this way and break one of the windows."
"There is no chance of it, Mr. Talbot. We are sending the ball up and down the street."