tongue to. And so--well, sir, there was unpleasantness, as they
say--"

He hesitated, Warburton eyeing him with a twinkle of subdued
amusement.

"A quarrel, in fact, eh?"

"It did about come to that, sir!"

"You lost your temper, of course."

"That's about the truth, sir."

"And Boxon turned you out?"

Allchin looked hurt.

"Well, sir, I've no doubt he'd have liked to, but I was a bit
beforehand with him. When I see him last, he was settin' on the
pavement, sir, rubbin' his 'ead."

In spite of his inclination to laugh, Will kept a grave countenance.

"I'm afraid that kind of thing won't do, Allchin. You'll be in
serious trouble one of these days."

"That's what my wife says, sir. I know well enough as it's hard on
her, just after we've lost the baby--as perhaps Mrs. Hopper'll
have told you, sir."