He did not want to fight.

He hated this house and its inhabitants.

The other boy was stripping off his jacket with a good-humoured smile.
"I--I don't want--" Taffy began fumbling with a button.

"Please--" "Off with your coat, boy! You were game enough t'other day.

If you lick en, I'll put a new roof on your father's church." Taffy was still fumbling with his jacket-button when a bell sounded, clanging through the house.
"The parson!" Squire Moyle clutched at his Bible like a child who has been caught playing in school.