"That isn't what we're talking about."

"I bet," said Georgie emphatically, "I bet if he wanted to see any of
'em, he'd haf to go around to the side door!"

"No, dear, they--"

"Yes, they would, mamma! So what does it matter if I did say somep'm'
to him he didn't like? That kind o' people, I don't see why you can't
say anything you want to, to 'em!"

"No, Georgie. And you haven't answered me whether you said that
dreadful thing he says you did."

"Well--" said Georgie. "Anyway, he said somep'm' to me that made me
mad." And upon this point he offered no further details; he would not
explain to his mother that what had made him "mad" was Mr. Smith's
hasty condemnation of herself: "Your mother ought to be ashamed,"
and, "A woman that lets a bad boy like you--" Georgie did not even
consider excusing himself by quoting these insolences.

Isabel stroked his head. "They were terrible words for you to use,
dear. From his letter he doesn't seem a very tactful person, but--"

"He's just riffraff," said Georgie.

"You mustn't say so," his mother gently agreed "Where did you learn
those bad words he speaks of? Where did you hear any one use them?"