You needn't feel obliged to deal with him.

He and father got into a talk over the 'lection, and they had words about it.

He didn't talk any worse than father, not a mite.

Father started it, anyway, and he knew better; he knew just how set Barney was on his own side, and how set he was on his; he wanted to pick a quarrel." "Charlotte!" shouted Cephas.
"You keep still, father," returned Charlotte, with steady fierceness.
"I've never set myself up against you in my whole life before; but now I'm going to, because it's just and right.

Father wanted to pick a quarrel," she repeated, turning to Deborah; "he's been kind of grouty to Barney for some time.