"Give over!" muttered the paragon, removing a root and dividing a pink worm into two parts, both of which hastened to places of comparative safety.
"How dare you speak to me like that, sir!" said the Duke. "How dare you do it, sir! Do you suppose that because you have me out here in the depths of the country you can intimidate me, sir?"
"Get along with you!" muttered the paragon, patting the earth on the head with majestic condescension.
The visage of the Duke became empurpled.
"I shall do nothing of the kind, sir!" he exclaimed. "Take a hoe, sir—take a hoe, and stand to your defence this instant!"
"For Heaven's sake, Duke, be calm!" cried Mr. Rodney. "Don't make a scene!"
"Rodney," said his Grace, "you are an egregious ass! Take a hoe—do you hear me, sir?"
"Pull up them weeds, Jacob," said the paragon to Mr. Minnidick, "or they'll choke the rhubub."
"Darn 'em!" rejoined Mr. Minnidick composedly.