he had
never expected it.

"I won't do it, there!" said Gilks, now fairly at bay and determined
enough.

Silk glared at him for a moment, then laughed scornfully.

"You won't? You know what you are saying?"

"Yes, I know," said Gilks.

"And you know what I shall do?"

"Yes, you'll tell--"

Silk's face fell. He was beginning to discover that once more he had
overdone his part, and that the ground was taken from under him. But he
made one last effort to recover himself.

"I say, Gilks," said he, half coaxing, half warning, "don't be a fool.
Don't ruin yourself. I didn't mean to be offensive. You know it's as
much in your interest as mine. If we can get hold of young Wyndham
again--"

"If you want him, get him yourself, I'm not going to do it," once more
said Gilks, with pale face and clenched teeth.

Silk's manner changed once more. His face became livid, and his eyes
flashed, as he sprang at Gilks, and with a sudden blow, exclaimed, "Take
that, then!"

It was as good as proclaiming that the game was over. As Gilks's guilty
confidant he had retained to the last some sort of influence; but now,
with that blow, the last shred of his superiority had gone, and he stood
there beaten before ever the fight began.

Gilks had expected the blow, but had not been prepared for its
suddenness. It struck him full on the cheek, and for a moment staggered
him--but only for a moment. Wasting no words, he returned it
vehemently, and next moment the fight had begun.

That fight was not the growth of a day or a week. For many weeks it had
been getting nearer and nearer, sometimes by rapid strides, sometimes by
imperceptible steps; but always getting nearer, until now it had
suddenly reached its climax; and the cry, "A fight--Gilks and Silk!"
spread like wildfire over Willoughby.

The Welchers, in the heyday of their triumph, heard it above even the
chorus of the glorious Bouncer; and hearing it, forsook their revelry
and hurried towards it. The Parretts quitted their melancholy teapot,
and rushed with one accord to the spot. And ere they reached it Telson
was there, and many a schoolhouse Limpet, and Game, and Ashley, and
Wibberly, from Parrett's; and Tucker, and I know not what crowds from
Welch's. And they crowded round, and took sides, and speculated on the
result, and cheered impartially every hit.

Far be it from me to describe that fight. It was no different from
twenty other fights that same term, e