Tom got up rather dazedly, and Gard took him by the shoulders and ran
him outside before he had time to pull himself together.

"Now," said Gard, shaking him as a bull-dog might a calf. "See here!
You're not wanted here at present, and if you make any more trouble
you'll suffer for it," and he gave him a final whirl away from the house
and went in and closed the door.

Tom stood gazing at it in dull fury, thought of smashing the window,
picked up a stone, remembered just in time that it would be his window,
so flung the stone and a curse against the door and departed.

"I'm sorry," said Gard, looking deprecatingly at Nance. "I'm afraid I
lost my temper."

"It was all his fault," said Nance. "Did he hurt you?"

"Only my feelings. He had no right to say such things or do what he
did."

"It's always good to see him licked," said Bernel with gusto. "Nance and
I used to try, but he was too big for us."

Mrs. Hamon had gone in with a white face to explain things to Grannie.

She came back presently and said briefly to Gard, "She wants you," and
he went in to the old lady.

"You did well, Stephen Gard," she chirped. "Stand by them, for they'll