Then Tinker sat quietly down on the threshold of the kennel, and fanned himself with his hat.

The empurpled Alloway grew purpler at the sight of a coolness he did not share.
"You young rip!" he roared, dancing lightly in his exasperation, "I'll larrup you if I stay here till to-morrow morning!" "If you're speaking to me, Mr.Alloway, you needn't speak so loud.

I'm not deaf," said Tinker with gentle severity.
Mr.Alloway in his violent, rustic way, uttered a good many remarks quite unfit for boyish ears.
Tinker paid no heed to him, but chirrupped to Blazer, who came to him in a wondering sulkiness, and with many protesting growls suffered himself to be patted.

Alloway put his hands in his pockets, and stood stolidly with his legs wide apart, a picture of florid manliness and grim, but whiskered determination.

Some small boys, heavy with their midday meal, came to the gate of the yard, and in an idle repletion exhausted themselves in conjectures as to the true inwardness of Tinker's relation with Blazer, and Alloway's absorption in it.