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fellow so bullied； badgered； worried； fretted； and brow…beaten； so
constantly beset； or made so tired of his life； as poor Joe Willet。
This had come to be the recognised and established state of
things； but as John was very anxious to flourish his supremacy
before the eyes of Mr Chester； he did that day exceed himself； and
did so goad and chafe his son and heir； that but for Joe’s having
made a solemn vow to keep his hands in his pockets when they
were not otherwise engaged； it is impossible to say what he might
have done with them。 But the longest day has an end； and at
length Mr Chester came downstairs to mount his horse； which was
ready at the door。
As old John was not in the way at the moment； Joe； who was
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sitting in the bar ruminating on his dismal fate and the manifold
perfections of Dolly Varden； ran out to hold the guest’s stirrup and
assist him to mount。 Mr Chester was scarcely in the saddle； and
Joe was in the very act of making him a graceful bow； when old
John came diving out of the porch； and collared him。
‘None of that； sir；’ said John； ‘none of that； sir。 No breaking of
patroles。 How dare you come out of the door； sir； without leave？
You’re trying to get away； sir； are you； and to make a traitor of
yourself again？ What do you mean； sir？’
‘Let me go； father；’ said Joe； imploringly； as he marked the
smile upon their visitor’s face； and observed the pleasure his
disgrace afforded him。 ‘This is too bad。 Who wants to get away？’
‘Who wants to get away！’ cried John； shaking him。 ‘Why you do；
sir； you do。 You’re the boy； sir；’ added John； collaring with one
band； and aiding the effect of a farewell bow to the visitor with the
other； ‘that wants to sneak into houses； and stir up differences
between noble gentlemen and their sons； are you； eh？ Hold your
tongue； sir。’
Joe made no effort to reply。 It was the crowning circumstance
of his degradation。 He extricated himself from his father’s grasp；
darted an angry look at the departing guest； and returned into the
house。
‘But for her；’ thought Joe； as he threw his arms upon a table in
the common room； and laid his head upon them； ‘but for Dolly；
who I couldn’t bear should think me the rascal they would make
me out to be if I ran away； this house and I should part to…night。’
It being evening by this time； Solomon Daisy； Tom Cobb； and
Long Parkes； were all in the common room too； and had from the
window been witnesses of what had just occurred。 Mr Willet
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joining them soon afterwards； received the compliments of the
company with great composure； and lighting his pipe； sat down
among them。
‘We’ll see； gentlemen；’ said John； after a long pause； ‘who’s the
master of this house； and who isn’t。 We’ll see whether boys are to
govern men； or men are to govern boys。’
‘And quite right too；’ assented Solomon Daisy with some
approving nods； ‘quite right； Johnny。 Very good； Johnny。 Well
said； Mr Willet。 Brayvo； sir。’
John slowly brought his eyes to bear upon him； looked at him
for a long time； and finally made answer； to the unspeakable
consternation of his hearers； ‘When I want encouragement from
you； sir； I’ll ask you for it。 You let me alone； sir。 I can get on
without you； I hope。 Don’t you tackle me； sir； if you please。’
‘Don’t take it ill； Johnny； I didn’t mean any harm；’ pleaded the
little man。
‘Very good； sir；’ said John； more than usually obstinate after his
late success。 ‘Never mind； sir。 I can stand pretty firm of myself； sir；
I believe； without being shored up by you。’ And having given
utterance to this retort； Mr Willet fixed his eyes upon the boiler；
and fell into a kind of tobacco…trance。
The spirits of the company being somewhat damped by this
embarrassing line of conduct on the part of their host； nothing
more was said for a long time； but at length Mr Cobb took upon
himself to remark； as he rose to knock the ashes out of his pipe；
that he hoped Joe would thenceforth learn to obey his father in all
things； that he had found； that day； he was not one of the sort of
men who were to be trifled with； and that he would recommend
him； poetically speaking； to mind his eye for the future。
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‘I’d recommend you； in return；’ said Joe； looking up with a
flushed face； ‘not to talk to me。’
‘Hold your tongue； sir；’ cried Mr Willet； suddenly rousing
himself； and turning round。
‘I won’t； father；’ cried Joe； smiting the table with his fist； so that
the jugs and glasses rung again； ‘these things are hard enough to
bear from you； from anybody else I never will endure them any
more。 Therefore I say； Mr Cobb； don’t talk to me。’
‘Why； who are you；’ said Mr Cobb； sneeringly； ‘that you’re not
to be talked to； eh； Joe？’
To which Joe returned no answer； but with a very ominous
shake of the head； resumed his old position； which he would have
peacefully preserved until the house shut up at night； but that Mr
Cobb； stimulated by the wonder of the company at the young
man’s presumption； retorted with sundry taunts； which proved too
much for flesh and blood to bear。 Crowding into one moment the
vexation and the wrath of years； Joe started up； overturned the
table； fell upon his long enemy； pummelled him with all his might
and main； and finished by driving him with surprising swiftness
against a heap of spittoons in one corner； plunging into which；
head foremost； with a tremendous crash