"Yes," acknowledged the boy.
"Well, that blamed temper o' your'n got away with you again, and you're well spanked for not heading it off. Pick up the board. Ken, my lad, and let's try it again."
The boy hesitated. Then he looked around and saw Lawyer Watson, who had stood motionless by the doorway, and with a cry that was half a sob Kenneth threw himself into his old friend's arms and burst into a flood of tears.
Uncle John struck a match, and lighted his pipe.
"A bargain's a bargain," he observed, composedly.
"He whipped me!" sobbed the boy. "He whipped me like a child."
"Your own fault," said Uncle John. "You wanted me to play a game with you, and I agreed, providin' you behaved yourself. And you didn't. Now, look here. Do you blame me any?"
"No," said the boy.
"No harm's done, is there?"
"No."