“Faix, sor, an’ isn’t it jist yersilf that wad betther be afther moindin’ yer own business, an’ lavin’ an honest man, that pays as good money an’ honest fer his mate as anny in yer purse, to moind hisn?” queried Barney, with air and tone of sturdy independence. “An’ I’m not a sodger no longer, sor; nor is yersilf the colonel o’ me rigiment, to have it in yer power to thrate me loike a brute baste intirely, as yez did in the war that’s over an’ done wid, thank the blissid Vargin an’ all the howly saints.”
Bangs replied with a volley of oaths and curses, while Barney stepped leisurely past him to the outer door and into the street, as if he heeded them no more than the idle whistling of the wind.
Bangs shook his fist after the retreating form, then turned and poured out the vials of his wrath upon Hicks. He had never in all his life been so shamefully treated! The idea of a man of his circumstances and standing in society having his wishes set aside for the gratification of those of a low-born foreigner; a fellow without means or brains!
“I’ll not stand it, sir,” he concluded. “I’ll take my custom elsewhere.”
“All right, Mr. Bangs; I’m able to do without it,” returned Hicks, with cheerful indifference; “there’s always a plenty of folks wantin’ meat for themselves and their families.”
“Of course, people must eat to live,” remarked a bystander. “And hard words are not the sort to win favors with,” he added, with a meaning glance at Bangs—a glance that spoke ill-concealed contempt and aversion; for the latter—never a favorite with his neighbors and townsmen—was growing more and more unpopular day by day; at least, with the better class.
“I ask no favors from any man, but neither will I submit to injustice,” he retorted, stalking haughtily into the street and away.
Meanwhile, Barney was hastening homeward, chuckling over Bangs’s discomfiture, which on his arrival he described with great glee to Nora and the children.
Nora had cleaning to do at Lakeside that day, and an hour or two later rehearsed the story in the ears of Mrs. Heath and Miriam.
“Mr. Hicks was quite right,” was the old lady’s comment, and Miriam echoed it in her heart, though she said nothing.