pon my soul, that's a cool way of
putting it, for a man in your place! What do you mean by calling her
'not your style?' You impudent beggar! Naomi Colebrook is meat for your
master!"

John Jago's temper began to give way at last. He approached defiantly a
step or two nearer to Silas Meadowcroft.

"Who is my master?" he asked.

"Ambrose will show you, if you go to him," answered the other. "Naomi
is _his_ sweetheart, not mine. Keep out of his way, if you want to keep
a whole skin on your bones."

John Jago cast one of his sardonic side-looks at the farmer's wounded
left hand. "Don't forget your own skin, Mr. Silas, when you threaten
mine! I have set my mark on you once, sir. Let me by on my business, or
I may mark you for a second time."

Silas lifted his beechen stick. The laborers, roused to some rude sense
of the serious turn which the quarrel was taking, got between the two
men, and parted them. I had been hurriedly dressing myself while the
altercation was proceeding; and I now ran downstairs to try what my
influence could do toward keeping the peace at Morwick Farm.

The war of angry words was still going on when I joined the men
outside.

"Be off with you on your business, you cowardly hound!" I heard Silas
say. "Be off with you to the town! and take care you don't meet Ambrose
on the way!"

"Take _you_ care you don't feel my knife again before I go!" cried the
other man.

Silas made a desperate effort to break away from the laborers who were
holding him.

"Last time you only felt my fist!" he shouted "Next time you shall feel
_this!_"

He lifted the stick as he spoke. I stepped up and snatched it out of
his hand.

"Mr. Silas," I said, "I am an invalid, and I am going out for a walk.
Your stick will be useful to me. I beg leave to borrow it."

The laborers burst out laughing. Silas fixed his eyes on me with a
stare of angry surprise. John Jago, immediately recovering his
self-possession, took off his hat, and made me a deferential bow.

"I had no idea, Mr. Lefrank, that we were disturbing you," he said. "I
am very much ashamed of myself, sir. I beg to apologize."

"I accept your apology, Mr. Jago," I answered, "on the understanding
that you, as the older man, will set the example of forbearance if your
temper is tried on any future occasion as it has been tried today. And
I have further to request," I added, addressing myself to Silas, "that
you will do me a favor, as your father's guest. The