“Oh, he pretended to be very much hurt!” said James.
“Couldn’t you manage young Raymond alone?”
“No; he’s as strong as a bull. He’s had to work for a living, and that has given him muscle.”
“Then you and Tom had better watch your chance, and give him a sound thrashing. I am perfectly willing.”
This was not quite what James wanted. The result of the first contest had not been such as to encourage him much to renew it, even with Tom’s assistance, and this might fail him at a critical moment as on a former occasion.
“Haven’t you got a mortgage on his mother’s place?” he asked, hesitating.
“Well, what of it?” said the squire.
“Can’t you call for the money, and if she can’t pay it turn her out of the house?”
“I don’t care to do it at present,” said the squire. “You must settle your quarrel in some other way.”