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‘Who wants to get away！’ cried John； shaking him。 ‘Why you do；
sir； you do。 You’re the boy； sir；’ added John； collaring with one
band； and aiding the effect of a farewell bow to the visitor with the
other； ‘that wants to sneak into houses； and stir up differences
between noble gentlemen and their sons； are you； eh？ Hold your
tongue； sir。’
Joe made no effort to reply。 It was the crowning circumstance
of his degradation。 He extricated himself from his father’s grasp；
darted an angry look at the departing guest； and returned into the
house。
‘But for her；’ thought Joe； as he threw his arms upon a table in
the common room； and laid his head upon them； ‘but for Dolly；
who I couldn’t bear should think me the rascal they would make
me out to be if I ran away； this house and I should part to…night。’
It being evening by this time； Solomon Daisy； Tom Cobb； and
Long Parkes； were all in the common room too； and had from the
window been witnesses of what had just occurred。 Mr Willet
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joining them soon afterwards； received the compliments of the
company with great composure； and lighting his pipe； sat down
among them。
‘We’ll see； gentlemen；’ said John； after a long pause； ‘who’s the
master of this house； and who isn’t。 We’ll see whether boys are to
govern men； or men are to govern boys。’
‘And quite right too；’ assented Solomon Daisy with some
approving nods； ‘quite right； Johnny。 Very good； Johnny。 Well
said； Mr Willet。 Brayvo； sir。’
John slowly brought his eyes to bear upon him； looked at him
for a long time； and finally made answer； to the unspeakable
consternation of his hearers； ‘When I want encouragement from
you； sir； I’ll ask you for it。 You let me alone； sir。 I can get on
without you； I hope。 Don’t you tackle me； sir； if you please。’
‘Don’t take it ill； Johnny； I didn’t mean any harm；’ pleaded the
little man。
‘Very good； sir；’ said John； more than usually obstinate after his
late success。 ‘Never mind； sir。 I can stand pretty firm of myself； sir；
I believe； without being shored up by you。’ And having given
utterance to this retort； Mr Willet fixed his eyes upon the boiler；
and fell into a kind of tobacco…trance。
The spirits of the company being somewhat damped by this
embarrassing line of conduct on the part of their host； nothing
more was said for a long time； but at length Mr Cobb took upon
himself to remark； as he rose to knock the ashes out of his pipe；
that he hoped Joe would thenceforth learn to obey his father in all
things； that he had found； that day； he was not one of the sort of
men who were to be trifled with； and that he would recommend
him； poetically speaking； to mind his eye for the future。
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‘I’d recommend you； in return；’ said Joe； looking up with a
flushed face； ‘not to talk to me。’
‘Hold your tongue； sir；’ cried Mr Willet； suddenly rousing
himself； and turning round。
‘I won’t； father；’ cried Joe； smiting the table with his fist； so that
the jugs and glasses rung again； ‘these things are hard enough to
bear from you； from anybody else I never will endure them any
more。 Therefore I say； Mr Cobb； don’t talk to me。’
‘Why； who are you；’ said Mr Cobb； sneeringly； ‘that you’re not
to be talked to； eh； Joe？’
To which Joe returned no answer； but with a very ominous
shake of the head； resumed his old position； which he would have
peacefully preserved until the house shut up at night； but that Mr
Cobb； stimulated by the wonder of the company at the young
man’s presumption； retorted with sundry taunts； which proved too
much for flesh and blood to bear。 Crowding into one moment the
vexation and the wrath of years； Joe started up； overturned the
table； fell upon his long enemy； pummelled him with all his might
and main； and finished by driving him with surprising swiftness
against a heap of spittoons in one corner； plunging into which；
head foremost； with a tremendous crash； he lay at full length
among the ruins； stunned and motionless。 Then； without waiting
to receive the compliments of the bystanders on the victory be had
won； he retreated to his own bedchamber； and considering himself
in a state of siege； piled all the portable furniture against the door
by way of barricade。
‘I have done it now；’ said Joe； as he sat down upon his bedstead
and wiped his heated face。 ‘I knew it would come at last。 The
Maypole and I must part company。 I’m a roving vagabond—she
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hates me for evermore—it’s all over！’
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Chapter 31
ondering on his unhappy lot； Joe sat and listened for a
long time； expecting every moment to hear their creaking
Pfootsteps on the stairs； or to be greeted by his worthy
father with a summons to capitulate unconditionally； and deliver
himself up straightway。 But neither voice nor footstep came； and
though some distant echoes； as of closing doors and people
hurrying in and out of rooms； resounding from time to time
through the great passages； and penetrating to his remote
seclusion； gave note of unusual commotion downstairs； no nearer
sound disturbed his place of retreat； which seemed the quieter for
these far…off noises； and was as dull and full of gloom as any
hermit’s cell。
It came on darker and darker。 The old…fashioned furniture of
the chamber； which was a kind of hospital for all the invalided
movables in the house； grew indistinct and shadowy in its many
shapes； chairs and tables； which by day were as honest cripples as
need be； assumed a doubtful and mysterious character； and one
old leprous screen of faded India leather and gold binding； which
had kept out many a cold breath of air in days of yore and shut in
many a jolly face； frowned on him with a spectral aspect； and stood
at full height in its allotted corner； like some gaunt ghost who
waited to be questioned。 A portrait opposite the window—a queer；
old grey…eyed general； in an oval frame—seemed to wink and doze
as the light decayed； and at length； when the last faint glimmering
speck of day went out； to shut its eyes in good earnest； and fall
sound asleep。 There was such a hush and mystery about
everything； that Joe could not help following its example； and so
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went off into a slumber likewise； and dreamed of Dolly； till the
clock of Chigwell church struck two。
Still nobody came。 The distant noises in the house had ceased；
and out of doors all was quiet； save for the occasional barking of
some deep…mouthed dog； and the shaking of the branches by the
night wind。 He gazed mournfully out of window at each well…
known object as it lay sleeping in the dim light of the moon； and
creeping back to his former seat； thought about the late uproar；
until； with long thinking of； it seemed to have