_Will._ Been what? Say that again. Show me the man, woman, or child that has insulted Hen Douglas,--hip, hip, hooray!--and I’ll--I’ll wipe him out. Fetch ’em on, one at a time, or all together. I’m the friend of the oppressed--I am. Feel my muscle! so don’t you be afraid. Say, who’s the feller or fellerers?
_Douglas._ Fellow, indeed! That miserable whelp, Ned Hartshorn, here in this place, and in the presence of your sister. But I’ve done with you all. I’ll not be disgraced by such associates. Good by, Will. You I like, and if ever you get into trouble, come to me in the city, and I’ll stand your friend.
_Will._ Say! hold on! Let’s settle this thing. You shall have satisfaction. If Ned Hartshorn has dared to insult my friend,--my friend, Hen Douglas; hip, hip, hooray!--I’ll trounce him. Now you just wait and see me do it. Going to the city? All right. I’ll go with you, spite of the old man.
_Douglas._ No, no, don’t pick a quarrel on my account. Perhaps he didn’t mean to insult me. Perhaps he was blinded by his love for your sister.
_Will._ What? Ned Hartshorn in love with my sister! I’ll trounce him for that. Now you see me do it. Insult my friend, and in love with my sister! O, I’ll fix him!
_Will._ Ay, back again, you sneaking thief!
_Will._ Indeed! You forgot yourself when you made love to my sister and insulted my friend, you mean, contemptible sneak!
_Will._ (_Throws off his coat._) You’re right. I’ve just enough liquid lightning in my hide to rouse my manhood. You’ve insulted my friend. Beg his pardon at once.
_Ned._ I shall do nothing of the kind. If he has told you I insulted him, he must have told you, also, that I made love to your sister; and he’s a liar.
_Ned._ Ay, to you. ’Tis you who have turned Will’s head, you who have tempted him to drink, you who, with a lying tongue, now seek to make us quarrel. Bah! you’re a coward! You dare not face me yourself; you dare not ask me to beg your pardon; for, if you did, you know I’d knock you down quicker than I did when you insulted Patty Moore.
_Will._ But I dare, and mean you shall. So, solemn, pious, temperate Ned Hartshorn, obey at once!
_Ned._ Will, I’d do anything in reason to oblige _you_. But I can’t do that.
_Will._ Then I’ll thrash you within an inch of your life.