"
"I know that, 'squire, and therefore it provokes me to think that the
skunk should get off. Can't you, now, lay aside the gentleman just long
enough to wing him? Now, do try!"
The youth smiled as he shook his head negatively. Forrester, with great
anxiety, proceeded:--
"But, 'squire, they won't know your reason for refusing, and they will
set you down as afear'd. They will call you a coward!"
"And what if they do, Forrester? They are not exactly the people about
whose opinions I give myself any concern. I am not solicitous to gain
credit for courage among them. If any of them doubt it, let him try me.
Let one of them raise a hand or lift a finger upon me, and make the
experiment. They will then find me ready and willing enough to defend
myself from any outrage, come from what quarter it may."
"I'm afraid, 'squire, they can't be made to understand the difference
between a gentleman and a squatter. Indeed, it isn't reasonable that
they should, seeing that such a difference puts them out of any chance
of dressing a proud fellow who carries his head too high.
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