come here to see if he can't make me give it to him."

"And will you?"

"You ought to know me better than to ask, Frank," said Philip firmly.
"Nick might as well have stayed away, for he won't accomplish anything."

Nick, however, held a different opinion. After Philip left the cottage,
he had gone to Squire Pope, and cunningly asked:

"Are you going to let Philip keep his fiddle in spite of you, squire?"

"What do you mean, Nicholas?" demanded the squire, in a stately way.

"Why, seems to me he's kinder settin' up his will agin yours. You say
the fiddle shall be sold, and he says it shan't. He told me he didn't
care what you said, he should keep it."

"Did he say that, Nicholas?" asked the squire, who felt that his dignity
was outraged by such insolence.

"I'm sartain he did. He's pretty big feelin', Phil is. He always wants
to have his own way."

"He will find that he can't defy me with impunity," said the squire
stiffly.

"Just so. Then you'll sell me the fiddle?"

"I will!" said the squire emphatically.

"You won't ask too much, will you?" asked Nick anxiously.

Now Squire Pope, who knew nothing of the price of violins, and had a
very inadequate idea of their value, after some haggling on the part of
Nick, agreed to sell him the instrument for two dollars and a half, and
to see that it was delivered that evening.

"Do you know where it is, Nicholas?" he asked.

"Why, Phil is staying over at Frank Dunbar's, and I guess he's got it
there somewhere. I guess we'd better go over there and get it."

"Very well, Nicholas. After supper, if you will come to my house, I will
go over there, and see that you have the instrument."

"All right, squire!" said Nick gleefully, "Phil will find that he can't
have his own way this time."

"I apprehend he will," said the squire complacently.

Now the reader understands how it happened that Squire Pope and Nick
Holden made a call on Philip. As to what passed at the interview, we
must refer him to the next chapter.

CHAPTER VI. FUSS ABOUT A FIDDLE.

"Ahem! Good evening!" said Squire Pope to Frank Dunbar, taking no notice
of Philip's cold but polite salutation.

"Good evening! Will you go into the house?" said Frank.

"I believe not. I have not time."

"I am sorry father isn't home. He just started for the village."

"Ahem! it was not to see your father that I called," answered Squire
Pope. "I wish to have a few words with this young man," indicating