"Yes, sir?"
The other wheeled his face on him.
"If you will have it," he said, "I was speaking to my two good friends who dined here on Sunday. I was plain with them and they were plain with me. 'I shall not pay for my brat of a son,' I said. 'Then he must pay for himself,' said they, 'unless we lay him by the heels.' 'Not in my house, I hope,' I said; and they laughed at that. We were very merry together."
"Yes, sir?"
"Good God! have I a fool for a son? I ask you again, Who is it to pay?"
"When will they demand it?"
"Why, they may demand it next week, if they will! You were not at church on Sunday!"
"I was not in Matstead," said the lad.
"But—"
"And Mr. Barton will not, I think—"