"I could be, but it has not yet the force of imperative duty, and it would hurt Ann more than I feel willing to do. Talk of something else. She would cease her mild canvass if she thought it annoyed me."
"I see—sir. I think I ought to tell you that John has had another battle with Tom McGregor."
"Indeed?" The Squire sat up, all attention. "He does not show any marks of it."
"No, but Tom does."
"Indeed! What happened?"
"Well, I believe, Tom thought John told you what boys were in that joke on Billy. I fancy something was said about you—something personal, which John resented."
"That is of no moment. What else? I ought to be clear about it."
"Well, Squire, Tom was badly mauled and John was tired when I arrived as peacemaker. I stopped the battle, but he was not at all disposed to talk about it. I am sure of one thing—he has had a grudge against Tom—since he was rude to Leila."
The Squire rose and walked about the room. "H'm! very strange that—what a mere child he was when he got licked—boys don't remember injuries that way." Then seeming to become conscious of Rivers' presence, he stopped beside him and added, "What with my education and Leila's, he has grown amazingly. He was as timid as a foal."
"He is not now, Squire, and John has been as useful mentally to Leila.
She is learning to think."