“You’ll catch it when father comes home!” screamed Andrew furiously. “You almost killed me!”
“Oh, Andrew, I’m so sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
By this time Mrs. Badger had come to the door, and Andrew, catching a glimpse of her, gave a yell as if in extreme anguish.
His mother came flying out of the house.
“What’s the matter, my darling?” she cried in alarm.
“Bill knocked me down with a hoe, and I think I’m going to die!” answered Andrew with a fresh burst of anguish.
Mrs. Badger was almost paralyzed with astonishment and wrath. She could hardly believe her ears. What! Her Andrew assaulted by a beggarly bound boy!
“Bill knocked you down with a hoe?” she repeated. “You don’t mean it?”
“Yes, I do. Ask him if he didn’t.”
“Bill Benton,” said Mrs. Badger in an awful voice, “did you strike Andrew with a hoe?”