“You will, eh? I should like to see you do it!” replied Jim Rawdon, not in the least terrified by Musgrave’s threats, even if he were the son of the head master.
Simon Musgrave scowled at the intrepid boy, but he knew very well that it would not do to treat him as he had Vivian Bell. Simon was a born bully, and bullies are generally cowards.
He took advantage of Vivian Bell’s gentleness, but he held in unwilling respect James Rawdon’s strength and pluck.
“I’ll report your insolence to my father,” he said, biting his nether lip.
“Do,” retorted Rawdon. “Go and complain to your pa like an overgrown baby!”
Simon was in such a passion that he ached to strike Rawdon, but prudence got the better of temper, and he refrained.
Turning to Vivian, he said: “You heard what I told you to do. Go and do it!”
“What did you tell him to do?” asked Rawdon.
“I told him to go to the village on an errand for me.”
“Why don’t you go yourself?”