“Do as you like about that,” replied Colin: “I don't care for you, nor anybody like you. I didn't come here to be beaten by you!” And another burst of tears, arising from vexation at his own helplessness, followed these words. “You don't care for me, don't you?” savagely demanded Palethorpe. “Come, then, let's try if I can't make you.” He then lifted Colin by the arms from the floor, with the intention of carrying him out; but the farm-labourers, who had hitherto sat by in silence, though with rising feelings of indignation, now began to watch what was going on. “You shan't hurt him any more,” cried old George, “or else you shall kill me first!” “Kill you first, you old fool!” contemptuously repeated Palethorpe. “Why, if you say another word, I 'll double your crooked old back clean up, and throw you and him an' all both into th' brook together!” “Then I 'm danged if you: do, and that's all about it!” fiercely exclaimed another of the labourers, striking his clenched fist upon his thigh, and throwing the chair on which he sat some feet behind him, in his sudden effort to rise. “If you dare to touch old George,” he added, with an oath, “I 'll knock you down, if I leave this service to-night for it.” [Illustration: 213] “Ay,--what you an' all, Abel!” cried Palethorpe, somewhat paler in the cheeks than he was sixty seconds before. “Why, what will _you_ do, lad?” “What will _I_ do?” said Abel, “Why, if you don't set that lad loose, you cowardly brute, and sit down in quietness, I'll thump you into a jelly in three minutes!--Dang you! everybody hates you, and I 'll tell you so now; for you are the biggest nuisance that ever set foot on a farm. Talk of that old man being idle!--why, what do you call yourself, you skulking vagabond? You never touch plough nor bill-hook once a-week, nor anything else that's worth a man's putting his hand to. Your business is to abuse everybody under you, and sneak after your missis's tail like a licked spaniel.--I wish I was your mester, instead of your being mine, I'd tickle your ears with a two-inch ash plant every morning, but I 'd make you do more in a day than you ever did in a week yet!”