“Now you know me. Don’t you ever dare to tell me again that I haven’t a right to wallop you! Start for the village at once, or you’ll get another!”
But there was an unexpected champion in the person of one of the older boys, who had come up while Simon was gratifying his brutal instincts.
“I say, Musgrave, what are you doing to Bell?”
“None of your business!”
“Isn’t it, though? You have made him cry.”
“Oh, he’s a cry-baby, anyway,” said Simon, scornfully.
“What has he been doing to you, Vivian?” asked the other boy, kindly.
“He hit me twice!”
“What did you do that for?”
“I told you before it was none of your business,” returned Simon Musgrave, sullenly. “If you’re not careful, I’ll serve you the same way!”