"It really does not seem much use to preach to them." "We must not say that, my dear," said his wife, but her tone was none too hopeful.

"I must confess I am disappointed in Ranald.

Well," she continued, "we can only wait and trust." From Hughie, who had had the story from Don, and who had been pledged to say nothing of it, she learned more about the fight.
"It was Aleck's fault, mother," he said, anxious to screen his hero.
"He said something about Maimie, that Don wouldn't tell me, at the blacksmith shop in the Sixteenth, and Ranald struck him and knocked him flat, and he could not get up for a long time.

Yankee has been showing him how.

I am going to learn, mother," interjected Hughie.