“That’s the schoolmaster’s boy. I know that Simon. He’s got an ugly temper, he has. And he’s impudent, too.”
“Did you ever have any trouble with him, Jack?”
The carrier laughed.
“He’s had trouble with me,” he answered. “I’ll tell you how it was. I was drivin’ along one day, just as you see me now, when Simon came up, and, just out of ugliness, picked up a stone and fired it at my ’orse. Well, I wouldn’t stand that, you know, so I jumps off my cart and I ran after the boy whip in hand.”
“Did he run away?”
“No; he stood his ground. He thought I wouldn’t dare to hit him. So when I said: ‘Why did you go to do that?’ he answered, impudent like: ‘Because I chose.’ With that I took my whip and slashed him about the legs till he jumped and swore.”
“You lashed Simon Musgrave?” asked Vivian, almost incredulous.
“Yes, I did. Oh, wasn’t he mad, though! He threatened that he would tell his pa, and have me locked up.”
“I am glad to hear that. It does me good! And you really and truly lashed Simon?”
“Ask him if I didn’t.”