be it?
Theer's the work, an' I'd rather 'twas yourn than mine. Light your pipe
an' go ahead. Not a purty job, more 'tis; but beggars mustn't be
choosers in this hard world."

Billy bolted after these remarks. He heard a growl behind him, but did
not look round. Half an hour later, he crept back again by a circuitous
route, watched Will awhile unseen, then stole grinning away to milk the
cows.

The young man, honestly thunderstruck at the task planned for him,
judged that thinking would not mend matters, and so began to work
quickly without stopping to reflect. But his thoughts could not be
controlled, any more than his disposition changed. A growing
consciousness of deep and deliberate insult surged up in him. The more
he brooded the slower he worked, and finally anger mastered
determination. He flung down his spade, saluted a red sunrise with the
worst language at his command, and strode down to the river. Here, for
some time and until blue smoke began to climb from the kitchen chimney
of the farm, Will paced about; then with a remarkable effort returned to
his task. He actually started again, and might have carried the matter
to completion; but an evil demon was abroad, and Billy, spying the young
man at work anew, reappeared.

"You'm makin' poor speed, my son," he said, viewing the other's progress
with affected displeasure.

It proved enough, for Will's smouldering fires were ready to leap at any
fuel.

"Go to blue, blazing hell!" he cried. "You'm at the bottom of this
business, I'll lay a pound. Get out o' my sight, you hookem-snivey auld
devil, or I'll rub your dirty ginger poll in it, sure's death!"

"My stars! theer's crooked words! Do 'e try an' keep tighter hand on
your temper, Blanchard. A man should knaw hisself anyways 'fore he has
the damn fulishness to take a wife. An' if you ax me--"

Mr. Blee's remarks were here brutally arrested, for the contents of
Will's spade saluted his furrowed features, and quite obliterated the
old man. He fled roaring, and the other flung his spade twenty yards
away, overturned his wheelbarrow, and again strode to the river. He was
fairly bubbling and boiling now, nor did the business of cleaning
gaiters and boots, arms and hands, restore him to peace. A black pig
gazed upon him and grunted as he came up from the water. It seemed to
him a reincarnation of Billy, and he kicked it hard. It fled screaming
and limping, while Will, his rage at full flood, proceeded through