lf renowned
for his pleasant habit of pouncing down upon boys smaller and poorer than
himself, and knocking their birds' nests out of their hands, or
overturning their little carts of apples, or pouring water down their
backs; but his conduct became singularly the reverse of aggressive the
moment the little boys' mothers ran out to him, brandishing brooms,
frying-pans, skimmers, and whatever else they could lay hands on by way
of weapons. He then fled and hid behind bushes, under faggots, or in
pits till they had gone away; and on one such occasion was known to creep
into a badger's hole quite out of sight, maintaining that post with great
firmness and resolution for two or three hours. He had brought more
vulgar exclamations upon the tongues of respectable parents in his native
parish than any other boy of his time. When other youngsters snowballed
him he ran into a place of shelter, where he kneaded snowballs of his
own, with a stone inside, and used these formidable missiles in returning
their pleasantry. Sometimes he got fearfully beaten by boys his own age,
when he would roar most lustily, but fight on in the midst of his tears,
blood, and cries.

He was early in love, and had at the time of the story suffered from the
ravages of that passion thirteen distinct times. He could not love
lightly and gaily; his love was earnest, cross-tempered, and even savage.
It was a positive agony to him to be ridiculed by the object of his
affections, and such conduct drove him into a frenzy if persisted in. He
was a torment to those who behaved humbly towards him, cynical with those
who denied his superiority, and a very nice fellow towards those who had
the courage to ill-use him.

This stalwart gentleman and Anne Garland did not cross each other's paths
again for a week. Then her mother began as before about the newspaper,
and, though Anne did not much like the errand, she agreed to go for it on
Mrs. Garland pressing her with unusual anxiety. Why her mother was so
persistent on so small a matter quite puzzled the girl; but she put on
her hat and started.

As she had expected, Festus appeared at a stile over which she sometimes
went for shortness' sake, and showed by his manner that he awaited her.
When she saw this she kept straight on, as if she would not enter the
park at all.

'Surely this is your way?' said Festus.

'I was thinking of going round by the road,' she said.

'Why is that?'

She paused, as if sh