Murtagh surveyed Mr. Plunkett for a minute, and then replied coolly:
Again an irritating titter ran through the crowd, and Mr. Plunkett answered hotly:
"Let me tell you, for the future, when you are aware of my commands, you will be wise if you obey them. I have forgiven you often enough, and henceforth every disobedience shall be punished as it deserves. Little boys seldom gain much by setting themselves up in rebellion against their elders."
He paused. Murtagh's face had grown blacker, but he only twirled a straw between his lips, and without speaking looked straight at Mr. Plunkett.
Dead silence reigned for a minute, then Winnie gave a provoking little laugh. Her face was as distinctly visible as Murtagh's for her lantern rested upon her knee; her eyes were sparkling, her mouth ready to break again into laughter; she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the scene.
At the sound of her laughter Mr. Plunkett continued:
"But I should have thought that even you would have known better than to drag your sisters into such companionship as this.
"If you choose to pick your own companions from among the rabble of the village, you might at least have sufficient gentlemanly feeling to induce you to shield your sisters."
"Well, you are polite," laughed Winnie, while Murtagh replied, with an angry tone in his voice:
"Don't talk about my friends, if you please, unless you can talk more civilly."
"Friends!" returned Mr. Plunkett. "They are certainly charming friends for a young gentleman of your position! But till you learn to choose your society from a different rank you must hold your entertainments somewhere else. I give you all fair warning," he continued, turning to the group of children, "that the next time I catch one of you hanging about here, I send you off to prison for trespassing."
"You shall do nothing of the sort," retorted Murtagh. "They _are_ my friends; real, true friends, who love me, and who would do anything I told them to. Aren't you?" he added, appealing to the followers.
"That are we so!" they cried with one voice, while Murtagh continued:
"I am proud of them; they are honest and real. They love me, and I love them. What do we care about positions? They shall come here when they please, and you are not to insult them."