He did not hesitate in the least; and I could not help feeling what a ragged dejected-looking object I seemed, and how much appearances were against me.
"I said to Phil that we ought to try and catch the thieves, and he said we would, so we crept up and charged them, and I had this boy, and I suppose Phil brought that man, but it was so dark I could not see what he did." "Well, sir ?" "Well, papa, this boy knocked me about shamefully, and called me all sorts of names." "And you knocked him about too, I suppose ?" said Sir Francis.
"Yes, I suppose I did, sir.

He hurt me, and I was in a passion." "Now, Philip, what have you to say ?" Philip looked uneasy as he glanced at his brother and then at Sir Francis.
"Well, go on, sir." "We were up by the big con--" "Yes, yes, we have heard all about that," cried Sir Francis.
"Yes, pa; and we heard whistles, and Courtenay said, `What's that ?'" "I thought it was you said `What's that ?'" "No, pa, it was Courtenay," cried the boy quickly: "he said it.

And then I wanted to go down and catch the thieves, and Courtenay came too, and we could hear them shaking down the pears.

Then I went one way and Courtenay went the other, and I saw that new labourer--that man--" "Fine eyes for his age," said Ike in a low growl.
"How dare you speak, sir, till you are called upon for your defence!" cried Sir Francis.
"Oh, all right, your worship!" growled Ike.

"On'y you know how dark it weer." "Silence, man!" _Plop_! That was Ike's hand over his mouth again to enforce silence.
"Go on, Philip," said Sir Francis quietly.
"Yes, pa," cried the boy excitedly.