"You want to let me down lower than I would let that Carlo dog of
yours. You're no brother of mine," retorted George fiercely and
bitterly.

"A bargain is a bargain," replied the other sullenly: "I asked
Meadows, and he said No. You fell talking with uncle about Susan, and
never put the question to him at all. Who is the false one, eh?"

"If you call me false, I'll knock your ugly head off, sulky Bill."

"You're false, and a fool into the bargain, bragging George!"

"What, you will have it, then?"

"If you can give it me."

"Well, if it is to be," said George, "I'll give you something to put
you on your mettle. The best man shall farm 'The Grove,' and the other
shall be a servant on it, or go elsewhere, for I am sick of this."

"And so am I!" cried William, hastily; "and have been any time this
two years."

They tucked up their sleeves a little, shook hands, and then retired
each one step, and began to fight.

And how came these two honest men to forget that the blood they
proposed to shed was thicker than water? Was it the farm, money,
agricultural dissension, temper? They would have told you it was, and
perhaps thought it was. It was Susanna Merton!