"
"Tell her I'm busy."
"I shall tell her nothing of the kind. You know she is very ill, and
has not seen you yet; and now she wants to. So come along at once, like
a good fellow."
"Youngster," said Reginald, "it is a rule with me never to leave a
young woman for an old one."
"Not for your mother?"
"No, nor my grandmother either."
"Then you were born without a heart. But you shall come, whether you
like it or not--though I have to drag you there by the throat."
"Learn to spell 'able' first."
"I'll spell it on your head, if you don't come."
"Oh, that is the game, young un, is it?"
"Yes."
"Well, don't let us have a shindy on the bricks; there is a nice little
paddock outside. Come out there and I'll give you a lesson."
"Thank you; I don't feel inclined to assist you in degrading our
family."
"Chaps that are afraid to fight shouldn't threaten. Come now, the first
knock-down blow shall settle it. If I win, you stay here and dance with
us. If you win, I go to the old woman."
Compton consented, somewhat reluctantly; but to do him justice, his
reluctance arose entirely from his sense of relationship, and not from
any fear of his senior.
The young gentlemen took off their coats, and proceeded to spar without
any further ceremony.
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