“Yes. She is very angry.”
“I think I have more reason to be angry, sir.”
“She says you dragged him into the house by the collar, and afterward threw water in his face.”
“Did she tell you what Tommy did to me?” asked Andy.
“She said he was rather playful, and that you got mad.”
“He playfully fired stones at my head,” said Andy. “If he had hit me I should have been severely hurt. I don’t like that kind of playfulness.”
“I know he is a mischievous boy. Still, you should remember that he is a little boy, much younger and smaller than you are.”
“So I did, and for that reason I wouldn’t hurt him. I don’t think,” continued Andy, “I could make up my mind to hurt a little boy. But I can’t let him fire stones at me.”
“I guess there has been no harm done, but you must try not to provoke Mrs. Brackett. She can’t see any fault in Tommy, though I am not so blind.”
“I certainly shall let him alone if he will let me alone, and I won’t hurt him, at any rate. I will only defend myself if he tries to play any tricks on me.”