At this instant, Judge Bigelow came in.
“Henry! Ralph!” he exclaimed—“what is the meaning of this?”
“Your nephew insulted me, and in the heat of anger I struck him in the face. In attempting to return that blow, he missed his aim, and fell against the wall, as you see.”
Wallingford spoke without excitement, but in a stern, resolute way. By this time, Dewey was on his feet again. The sight of his uncle, and the unflinching aspect of the person he had ventured to insult, had the effect to cool off his excitement many degrees.
“What is the meaning of this, young men?” sternly repeated Judge Bigelow, looking from one to the other.
“I have answered your question as far as I am concerned,” replied Henry.
“Ralph! Speak! Did you offer him an insult?”
To this demand, the nephew replied, with no abatement of his originally offensive manner—
“If he chooses to consider my words as an insult, let him do so. I shall in no case take them back.”
“What did you say?”