"What business had that barber telling me to go into his old barber-shop ?" demanded he.

"I ain't afraid of all the boys in this one-horse town." "Of course not," said Anderson.
"I did have an elephant when I lived in Hillfield, and I did ride him, and I did have circuses every Saturday," said the boy, with challenge.
Anderson said nothing.
"At least--" said the child, in a modified tone.

Anderson looked at him with an air of polite waiting.

The boy's roses bloomed again.

"At least--" he faltered, "at least--" A maid rang a dinner-bell frantically in the doorway of the house near which they were standing.