Page:Moonfleet - John Meade Falkner.pdf/92

 perhaps, did Mr. Maskew, for he fell into a worse rage, thrust his hand in the basket, whipped out a great sole he had there, and in a twinkling dashes it in Mr. Glennie's face, with a "Then, take that for an unmannerly parson, for I would not foul my fist with your mealy chops."

But to see that stirred my choler, for Mr. Glennie was weak as wax, and would never have held up his hand to stop a blow, even were he strong as Goliath. So I was for setting on Maskew, and being a stout lad for my age, could have had him on the floor as easy as a baby; but as I rose from my seat, I saw he held Grace by the hand, and so hung back for a moment, and before I got my thoughts together he was gone, and I saw the tail of Grace's cape whisk round the screen door.

A sole is at the best an ugly thing to have in one's face, and this sole was larger than most, for Maskew took care to get what he could for his money; so it went with a loud smack on Mr. Glennie's cheek, and then fell with another smack on the floor. At this we all laughed, as children will; and Mr. Glennie did not check us, but went back and sat very quiet at his desk. And soon I was sorry I had laughed, for he looked sad, with his face sanded and a great red patch on one side; and besides that, the fin had scratched him and made a blood-drop trickle down his cheek. A few minutes later the thin voice of the almshouse clock said twelve, and away walked Mr. Glennie without his usual "Good-day, children," and there was the sole left lying on the dusty floor in front of his desk.

It seemed a shame so fine a fish should be wasted,