Hark to me, Mr.Ford! I reckon to stand between you and both the Davises till the cows come home--only--mind YOU give him the go-by when he happens to meander along towards you." "I'm very much obliged to you," said Ford with disproportionately sudden choler; "but I don't propose to alter my habits for a ridiculous school-boy whom I have dismissed." The unjust and boyish petulance of his speech instantly flashed upon him, and he felt his cheek burn again.
McKinstry regarded him with dull, red, slumbrous eyes.

"Don't you go to lose your best holt, Mr.Ford--and that's kam.

Keep your kam--and you've allus got the dead wood on Injin Springs.

I ain't got it," he continued, in his slowest, most passionless manner, "and a row more or less ain't much account to me--but YOU, you keep your kam." He paused, stepped back, and regarding the master, with a slight wave of his crippled hand over his whole person, as if indicating some personal adornment, said, "It sets you off!" He nodded, turned, and re-entered the ball-room.

Mr.Ford, without trusting himself to further speech, elbowed his way through the crowded staircase to the street.