I shouldn't like it if you came home with your collar torn off." "I don't care, our mother; I never did it a-purpose." The boy was rather miserable at being reprimanded.
"No--well, you be more careful." William fled away, glad to be exonerated.

And Mrs.Morel, who hated any bother with the neighbours, thought she would explain to Mrs.Anthony, and the business would be over.
But that evening Morel came in from the pit looking very sour.

He stood in the kitchen and glared round, but did not speak for some minutes.
Then: "Wheer's that Willy ?" he asked.
"What do you want HIM for ?" asked Mrs.Morel, who had guessed.
"I'll let 'im know when I get him," said Morel, banging his pit-bottle on to the dresser.
"I suppose Mrs.Anthony's got hold of you and been yarning to you about Alfy's collar," said Mrs.Morel, rather sneering.
"Niver mind who's got hold of me," said Morel.

"When I get hold of 'IM I'll make his bones rattle." "It's a poor tale," said Mrs.Morel, "that you're so ready to side with any snipey vixen who likes to come telling tales against your own children." "I'll learn 'im!" said Morel.

"It none matters to me whose lad 'e is; 'e's none goin' rippin' an' tearin' about just as he's a mind." "'Ripping and tearing about!'" repeated Mrs.Morel.