Duffgruntedathim，andpassedonintothestore。
\"Iamverygladtohavemetyou，\"saidBayne，shakinghandswarmlywithhim。\"Youhavedoneusbothagreatservice。Heismyfriend，youknow。\"
\"IamafraidIhaveoffendedhim，allthesame。ButyouseeI
couldn’thelpit，couldI？\"
Baynelookedathisyoung，earnestfaceforamomentortwoasifstudyinghim，thensaidwithacurioussmile，\"No，Idon’tbelieveyoucouldhavehelpedit。\"Andwiththathepassedintothestore。
\"Whatsortofachapisthatpreacherofyours？\"heaskedofthestorekeeper。
\"Idon’tknow；heain’tmychurch。AskInnesthere。He’sapillar。\"
Bayneturnedtoalong，lean，hard—facedmanleaningagainstthecounter。
\"MynameisBayne，fromRedPine，Mr。Innes。Iaminterestedinknowingwhatsortofachapyourpreacheris。Hecomesouttooursection，butInevermethimtillto—day。\"
\"Oh，he’snothatbad，\"saidInnescautiously。
\"Notworthacent，\"saidalittle，redheadedmanstandingnear。
\"Hecan’tpreachforsourapples。\"
\"Iwadnajustsaythat，Mr。Hayes，\"saidInnes。
\"Howdoyouknow，Innes？\"retortedHayes。\"Youknowyoufallasleepbeforehegetsrightlystarted。\"
\"Iayelistenbetterwithmaeyesshut。\"
\"Yes，andsnorebetter，too，Mac，\"saidHayes。\"ButIdon’tblameyou。Mostofthemgotosleepanyway。That’sthekindofpreacherheis。\"
\"Whatsortofachapishe？Imeanwhatsortofman？\"
\"Well，foronething，he’salwaysbuttin’in，\"volunteeredasquare—builtmilitarylookingmanstandingnear。\"Ifhe’dsticktohisgospelitwouldn’tbesobad，buthe’salwayspokin’hisnoseintoeverything。\"
\"Buthe’snothatbad，\"saidInnesagain，\"andasforbuttin’in，McFettridge，andpreachin’thegospel，Idoubtthecountryisagooddealthebetterforthebuttin’inthathimandhislikeshavedonethispastyear。Andbesides，thebairnsalllikehim。\"
\"Well，that’snotabadsign，Mr。Innes，\"saidSandyBayne，\"andI’mnotsurethatIdon’tlikehimmyself。ButIguesshebuttsin，allright。\"
\"Oh，ay！hebuttsin，\"agreedInnes，\"butI’mnososurethatthat’snoapartofhisjob，too。\"
CHAPTERIII
AQUESTIONOFCONSCIENCE
TheDunbarslivedinacottageonabackstreet，whichhadthedistinctionofbeingtheonlyhomeonthestreetwhichpossessedtheadornmentofagarden。Auniquegardenitwas，too。Indeed，withthesingleexceptionofJudgeHepburn’sgarden，whichwasquiteanelaborateaffair，andwhichwassaidtohavecosttheJudgea\"pileofmoney，\"therewasnonetocomparewithitinthevillageofWapiti。
Anygardenonthatbare，wind—sweptprairiemeanttoilandinfinitepains，butagardenlikethatoftheDunbarsrepresentedinadditionsomethingofgenius。Inconception，indesign，andinexecutiontheDunbars’gardenwassomethingapart。Visitorsweretaken’roundtothebackstreettogetaglimpseoftheDunbars’
cottageandgarden。
Thegardenwasintwosections。Thatatthebackofthecottage，shelteredbyahigh，closeboardfencecoveredwithVirginiacreeper，wasgivenovertovegetables，anditwasquitemarvelloushow，underRichardDunbar’scare，aquarterofanacreofgroundcouldgrowsuchenormousquantitiesofvegetablesofallkinds。
Nexttothevegetablegardencametheplotforsmallfruits——
strawberries，raspberries，currants，ofrarevarieties。
Thefrontgardenwasdevotedtoflowers。Hereweretobefoundtheoldfashionedflowersdeartoourgrandmothers，andmoreparticularlytheoldfashionedflowersnativetoEnglishandScottishsoil。
Betweenthetwogardensathickrowoftall，splendidsunflowersmadeastatelyhedge。Thencamelarkspur，peonies，stocks，andsweet—williams，verbenasandmignonette，withbordersoflobeliaandheliotrope。Alongthefenceweresweetpeas，forwhichAlbertaisfamous。
ButitwasthepartofthegardencloseaboutthefrontporchandverandahwheretheparticulargeniusofRichardDunbarshoweditself。Heretheflowersnativetotheprairie，thecoulee，thecanyon，weregathered；theearlywindflower，thecrowfootandthebuffalobean，wildsnowdropsandviolets。Overtrellisesranthetinymorning—glory，withvetchandtrailingarbutus。Abedofwildrosesgrewtowonderfulperfection。Laterintheyearwouldbeseentheyellowandcrimsonlilies，daisieswhiteandgolden，andwhenotherflowershadfaded，goldenrodandastersingorgeouscontrast。Theapproachtothedoorofthehousewasbyagravelwalkborderedbytheseprairieflowers。
Thehouseinsidefulfilledthepromiseofthegarden。Thelivingroom，simpleinitsplan，plaininitsfurnishing，revealedeverywherethattouchindecorativeadornmentthatspokeofthecultivatedmindandrefinedtaste。Agroupofrareetchingshadtheirplaceoverthemantelabovealarge，openfireplace。Onthewallsweretobeseenreallyfinecopiesoftheworld’smostfamouspictures，andonthepanelswhichran’roundthewallswerebitsofpotteryandchina，relicsofotherdaysandofotherhomes。
Butwhatwasmostlikelytostriketheeyeofastrangeronenteringthelivingroomwasthearrayofdifferentkindsofmusicalinstruments。Atoneendoftheroomstoodasmalluprightpiano，a’celloheldonecorner，aguitaranother；uponatableacornetwasdeposited，andonthepianoaviolincasecouldbeseen，whileabanjohungfromanailonthewall。
Nearthefireplaceacuriouslycarvedpipe—rackhung，withsomehalfdozenpipesofweirddesign，evidentlythecollectionofyears，whilejustunderitasmalltableheldtheutensilssacredtothesmoker。
WhenBarryenteredhefoundthetablesetandeverythinginreadinessfortea。
\"AwfullysorryI’mtoolatetohelpyouwithtea，dad。Ihavehadalongwalk，andquiteadeuceofatimegettinghome。\"
\"Allright，boy。Gladyouarehere。Thetoastisready，teawaitingtobeinfused。Butwhathappened？No，don’tbegintellingmetillyougetyourselfready。Buthurry，yourmeetinghourwillbeoninnotime。\"
\"Right—o，dad！Shametomakeaslaveyofyouinthisway。I’llbeoutinajiffy。\"
Hethrewoffhiscoatandvest，shirtandcollar，tookapailofwatertoabigblockinthelittleshedattheback，sousedhisheadandshouldersinitwithloudsnortingandpuffing，andemergedinafewminuteslookingrefreshed，cleanandwholesome，hishandsomefaceshiningwithvigoroushealth。
Togethertheystoodatthetablewhilethesonsaidafewwordsofreverentgrace。
\"I’mravenous，dad。What！Friedpotatoes！Oh，youareabrick。\"
\"Tired，boy？\"
\"No。Thatremindsmeofmythrillingtale，whichIshallbeginaftermythirdsliceoftoast，andnotbefore。Youcanoccupythepreciousminutes，dad，intellingmeofyourexcitementsintheofficethisafternoon。\"
\"Don’tsniffatme。Ihadafew，thoughapparentlyyouthinkitimpossibleinmyhumdrumgreylife。\"
\"Good！\"saidBarry，hismouthfulloftoast。\"Goon。\"
\"YoungNeilFraserisbuying，orhasjustbought，theS。Q。R。
ranch。Filedthetransferto—day。\"
\"NeilFraser？He’sinmytale，too。BoughttheS。Q。R。？Wheredidhegetthestuff？\"
\"Stuff？\"
\"Dough，thedirt，thewherewithal，inshortthecurrency，dad。\"
\"Barry，youareruiningyourEnglish，\"saidhisfather。
\"Yum—yum。Bully！Didyounoticethat，dad？I’mcomingon，eh？
OnethingIalmostprayabout，thatImightbecomeexpertinslingingthemodernjawhash。I’mappallinglycorrectinmyformsofspeech。Butgoon，dad。I’mthrowingtoomuchvocalisationmyself。YouweretellingmeaboutNeilFraser。Giveusthechorusnow。\"
\"Idon’tlikeit，boy，\"saidhisfather，shakinghishead，\"andespeciallyinaclergyman。\"
\"Butthat’swhereyouareoff，dad。Thetroubleis，whenIcomewithinrangeofanyofmyflockallmyflipvocabularyabsolutelyvanishes，andIfindmyselftalkinglikeaprofessorofEnglishoramaidenladyschoolma’amofverycertainage。\"
\"Idon’tlikeit，boy。CorrectEnglishistheonlyEnglishforagentleman。\"
\"Iwonder，\"saidthelad。\"ButIdon’twanttoworryyou，dad。\"
\"Oh，asforme，thatmattersnothingatall，butIamthinkingofyouandofyourprofession，yourstanding。\"
\"Iknowthat，dad。Isometimeswishyouwouldthinkalittlemoreaboutyourself。ButwhatofNeilFraser？\"
\"Hehascomeintosomemoney。Hehasboughttheranch。\"
Barry’stoneexpresseddoubtfulapproval。\"Neilisagoodsort，dad，awfullyreckless，butIlikehim，\"saidBarry。\"Heisupandupwithitall。\"
\"Now，whataboutyourafternoon？\"saidhisfather。
\"Well，tobeginwith，Ihadadoseofmyoldfriend，theenemy。\"
\"Barry，youdon’ttellme！Yourasthma！\"Hisfathersatbackfromthetablegazingathimindismay。\"AndIthoughtthatwasalldonewith。\"
\"SodidI，dad。Butitreallydidn’tamounttomuch。Probablysomestomachderangement，morelikelysomeofthatpollenwhichisfloatingaroundnow。Ipassedthroughabeavermeadowwheretheywerecuttinghay，andawayIwentinagaleofsneezing，fortymilesanhour。ButI’mallrightnow，dad。I’mtellingyouthetruth。YouknowIdo。\"
\"Yes，yes，Iknow，\"saidhisfather，concernandreliefminglinginhisvoice，\"butyoudon’tknowhowtotakecareofyourself，Barry。
Butgoonwithyourtale。\"
\"Well，asIwaspantingalonglikea’heaveyhorse，’asHarryHobbswouldsay，——notreallytoobad，dad，——alongcomesthatbigrancher，StewartDuff，drivinghisteamofpintobronchos，andwithhimachapnamedBayne，fromRedPineCreek。Heturnedouttobeanawfullydecentsort。AndDuff’sdog，Slipper，rangingonahead，abeautifulsetter。\"
\"Yes，Ihaveseenhim。\"
TheydiscussedforafewmomentsthebeautiesandpointsofDuff’sSlipper，forbothwerekeensportsmen，andbothweredevotedtodogs。ThenBarrywentbacktohistaleandgaveanaccountofwhathadhappenedduringtheridehome。
\"YouseeSlipperrangingaboutgot’onpoint’andbeautifulworkitwas，too。OutjumpedDuffwithhisgun，readytoshoot，though，ofcourse，heknewitwasoutofseasonandthathewasbreakingthelaw。Well，justasSlipperflushedthebirds，IshoutedtoDuffthathewasshootingoutofseason。Hemissed。\"
\"Oh，hewasproperlywrathfulatmyspoilinghisshot，\"criedtheyoungman。
\"Idon’tknowthatIblamehim，Barry，\"saidhisfatherthoughtfully。
\"Itisanannoyingthingtobeshoutedatwithyourgunonabird，youknow，extremelyannoying。\"
\"Buthewasbreakingthelaw，dad！\"criedBarryindignantly。
\"Iknow，Iknow。Butafterall——\"
\"But，dad，youcan’tsitthereandtellmethatyoudon’tcondemnhimforshootingoutofseason。Youknownothingmakesyoumorefuriousthanhearingaboutchapswhopotchickenoutofseason。\"
\"Iknow，Iknow，myboy。\"Thefatherwasapparentlyquitedistressed。\"Youarequiteright，but——\"
\"Now，dad，Iwon’thaveit！YouarenottotellmethatIhadnobusinesstostophimifIcould。Besides，thelawisthelaw，andsportissport。\"
\"Iquiteagree，Barry。Believeme，Iquiteagree。Yetallthesame，achapdoeshatetohavehisshotspoiled，andtoshoutatafellowwithhisgunonabird，——well，you’llexcuseme，Barry，butitishardlythesportingthing。\"
\"Sporting！Sporting！\"saidBarry。\"IknowthatIhatedtodoit，butitwasright。Besidestalkabout’sporting’——whataboutshootingoutofseason？\"
\"Yes，yes。Well，wewon’tdiscussit。Goon，Barry。\"
\"ButIdon’tlikeit，dad。Idon’tliketothinkthatyoudon’tapproveofwhatIdo。Itwasabeastlyhardthingtodo，anyway。
Ihadtomakemyselfdoit。Itwasmyduty。\"Theyoungmansatlookinganxiouslyathisfather。
\"Well，myboy，\"saidhisfather，\"Imaybewrong，butdoyouthinkyouarealwayscalledupontoremonstratewitheverylawbreaker？
No，listentome，\"hecontinuedhurriedly。\"WhatImeanis，mustyouoranyofusassumeresponsibilityforeverycriminalintheland？\"
Barrysatsilentamoment，consideringthisproposition。
\"IwishIknew，dad。Youknow，IhaveoftensaidthattoexcusemyselfafterIhavefunkedathing，andletsomethinggobywithoutspeakingupagainstit。\"
\"Funkedit！\"
\"Yes。Funkedstandingupfortherightthing，youknow。\"
\"Funkedit！\"saidhisfatheragain。\"Youwouldn’tdothat，Barry？\"
\"Oh，wouldn’tI，though？Iamafraidyoudon’tknowmeverywell，dad。However，IratherthinkIhadstartedhimupbeforethat，youknow。Youwon’tlikethiseither。ButImayaswellgothroughwithit。Youknow，hewasswearingandcursingmostawfully，justinhisordinarytalkyouknow，andthatisathingIcan’tstand，soIupandtoldhimhewasusingtoomany’damns。’\"
\"Youdid，eh？\"Inspiteofhimselfthefathercouldnotkeepthesurpriseoutofhisvoice。\"Well，thattooksomenerve，atanyrate。\"
\"Thereyouareagain，dad！YouthinkIhadnorighttospeak。ButsomehowIcan’thelpfeelingIwasright。Fordon’tyousee，itwouldhaveseemedabitlikeloweringtheflagtohavekeptsilent。\"
\"ThenforGod’ssakespeakout，lad！Idonotfeelquitethesamewayasyou，butitiswhatyouthinkyourselfthatmustguideyou。
Butgoon，goon。\"
\"Well，Iassureyouhewasinaproperrage，andifithadn’tbeenforBayneIbelievehewouldhavetrimmedmetoapeak，administeredafittingcastigation，Imean。\"
\"Hewould，eh？\"saidthefatherwithagrimsmile。\"Ishouldliketoseehimtry。\"
\"SoshouldI，dad，ifyouwerearound。IthinkIseeyou——feintwiththeright，thenleft，right，left！bing！bang！bung！Alloverbuttheshiver，eh，dad？Itwouldbesweet！But，\"headdedregretfully，\"that’stheverythingafellowcannotdo。\"
\"Cannotdo？Andwhynot，pray？Itiswhateveryfellowisindutyboundtodotoabullyofthatsort。\"
\"Yes，buttobequitefair，dad，youcouldhardlycallDuffabully。Atleast，hewasn’tbullyingme。Asamatteroffact，I
wasbullyinghim。Oh，Ithinkhehadreasontobeangry。Whenachapundertakestopullanotherchapupforlawbreaking，perhapsheshouldbepreparedtotaketheconsequences。Buttogoon。
Baynesteppedin——awfullydecentofhim，too，——whenjustatthatmoment，asnovelistssay，withstartlingsuddennessoccurredaneventthatavertedtheimpendingcalamity。AlongcameNeilFraser，noless，inthatnewcarofhis，inawhirlwindofnoiseanddust，honkinglikeaflockofwildgeese。Well，youshouldhaveseenthosebronchos。Onelurch，andwewereontheground，abeautifulupset，andthebronchosinanincipientrunaway，fortunatelycheckedbyyourhumbleservant。Duff，inanewandrealragethistime，upwithhisgunandbangedoffbothbarrelsafterthemotorcar，bythistimehonkingdownthetrail。\"
\"ByJove！hedeservedit，\"saidthefather。\"Thosemotorfellowsmakemelongtodomurderattimes。\"
\"That’sbecauseyouhavenocar，Dad，ofcourse。\"
\"Didhehithim，doyouthink？\"
\"No。Myarmhappenedtoflyup，thegunbangedtowardthezenith。
Nothingdoing！\"
\"Well，Barry，youdoseemtohaverunfoulofMr。Duff。\"
\"Threetimes，dad。Buteachtimepreventedhimfrombreakingthelawanddoinghimselfandothersinjury。Wouldyouhavelethimoffthislasttime，dad？\"
\"No，no，boy。Humanlifehasthefirstclaimuponourcare。Youdidquiteright，quiteright。Ungovernablefoolhemustbe！
Shouldn’tbeallowedtocarryagun。\"
\"SoBaynedeclared，\"saidBarry。
\"Well，youhavehadquiteanexcitingafternoon。Butfinishyourteaandgetreadyforthemeeting。Iwillwashup。\"
\"NotifIknowit，dad。Youtakeyoursaw—horseanddomealittleHandelorSchubert。Do，please，\"entreatedhisson。\"Iwantthatbeforemeetingmorethananythingelse。Iwantachangeofmood。
IconfessIamslightlyrattled。Myaddressisallprepared，butI
musthaveatmospherebeforeIgointothemeeting。\"
Hisfathertookthe’cello，andafterafewmomentsspentincarefullytuningup，beganwithHandel’simmortalLargo，thenhewanderedintotheAdagioMovementinHaydn’sthirdSonata，fromthencetoSchubert’sImpromptuinCMinor，afterwhichhebegantheSerenade，whenhewascheckedbyhisson。
\"No，notthat，dad，that’ssickening。IconsiderthatthemostmorallyrelaxingbitofmusicthatIknow。Itfraysthewholemoralfibre。GiveusoneofChopin’sBallades，orbetterstillabitofthatposthumousFantasieImpromptu，thelargomovement。Ah！
fine！fine！\"
Heflunghisdish—clothaside，rantothepianoandbegananaccompanimenttohisfather’splaying。
\"Now，dad，theLargooncemorebeforeweclose。\"TheydidtheLargoonceandagain，thenspringingfromthepianoBarrycried：
\"ThatLargoisameansofgracetome。Therecouldbenobetterpreparationforareligiousmeetingthanthat。Ifyouwouldonlycomeinandplayforthem，itwoulddothemmuchmoregoodthanallmypreaching。\"
\"Ifyouwouldonlytakeyourmusicseriously，Barry，\"repliedhisfather，somewhatsadly，\"youwouldbecomeagoodplayer，perhapsevenagreatplayer。\"
\"Andthenwhat，dad？\"
Hisfatherwavedhimaside，puttinguphis’cello。
\"Nousegoingintothatagain，boy。\"
\"Well，Icouldn’thavebeenagreatplayer，atanyrate，dad。\"
\"Perhapsnot，boy，perhapsnot，\"saidhisfather。\"Greatplayersareveryrare。Butitistimeforyourmeeting。\"
\"Soitis，dad。AwfullysorryIdidn’tfinishupthosedishes。
LetthemgotillIreturn。Iwishyouwould，dad，andcomealongwithme。\"Hisvoicehadawistfulnoteinit。
\"Notto—night，boy，Ithink。Wewillhavesometalkafter。Youwillonlybeanhour，youknow。\"
\"Allright，dad，\"saidBarry。\"Sometimeyoumaycome。\"Hecouldnothidethewistfulregretofhistone。
\"PerhapsIshall，boy，\"repliedhisfather。
Itwastheonepointuponwhichtherewasalackofperfectharmonybetweenfatherandson。Whentheboywenttocollegeitwaswiththeintentionofenteringtheprofessionoflaw，forwhichhisfatherhadbeenreadinginhisyoungmanhoodwhenthelureofCanadaandherbroad，freeacrescaughthim，andhehadabandonedthelawandwithhiswifeandbabyboyhademigratedtobecomealandownerinthegreatCanadianwest。
Alas！death，thatrudespoilerofsomanyplans，brokeinuponthesanctityandperfectpeaceofthathappyranchhomeandravisheditofitstreasure，leavingabrokenheartedmanandalittleboy，orphanedandsickly，tobecaredfor。Theranchwassold，theranchermovedtothecityofEdmonton，thenceinafewyearstoalittlevillagesometwenty—fivemilesnearertotheFoothills，wherehebecametheRegistrarandHomesteadInspectorforthedistrict。
Herehehadlivedeversince，trainingthetorntendrilsofhisheartaboutthelad，tillpeacecamebackagain，thoughnevertheperfectjoyoftheearlierdays。EveryMayDaythetwowerewonttogouponanexpeditionmanymilesintotheFoothills，toalittle，sunnyspot，whereastrong，palisadedenclosureheldalittlegrave。Solittleitlooked，andsolonelyamidthegreathills。There，notinanabandonmentofgrief，butinlovingandgratefulremembranceofherwhosedustthelittlegravenowheld，ofwhatshehadbeentothem，andhaddoneforthem，theyspenttheday，returningtotakeupagainwithheartssolemn，tenderandchastened，thedailyroutineoflife。
Thathissonshouldgrowtotakeuptheprofessionoflawhadbeenthefather’sdream，butduringhisuniversitycoursetheboyhadcomeunderthecompellinginfluenceofaspiritualawakeningthatswepthimintoaworldfilledwithnewimpressionsandotherdesires。Obeyingwhathefelttobeanimperativecall，theboychosethechurchashisprofession，andaftercompletinghistheologicalcourseinthecityofWinnipeg，andspendingayearinstudyinGermany，whilestillamereyouthhehadbeenappointedasmissionarytothedistrictofwhichhisownvillagewasthecentre。
Butthoughwidelyseparatefromeachotherinthematterofreligion，thereweremanypointsofcontactbetweenthem。Theywerebothmenofthegreatout—of—doors，andunderhisfather’sinspirationanddirectiontheboyhadcometoloveathleticexercisesofallkinds。
Theywerebothmusic—mad，thefatherhavinghadinearlyyouthathoroughmusicaleducation，theboypossessingmusicaltalentofahighorder。Suchtrainingaswashishehadreceivedfromhisfather，butitwasconfinedtoonesingleinstrument，theviolin。
Tothisinstrument，uponwhichhisfatherhadreceivedthetuitionofareallyexcellentmaster，thesondevotedlonghoursofstudyandpracticeduringhisboyhoodyears，andhisattainmentsweresuchastogivepromiseofsomethingmorethananamateur’smasteryofhisinstrument。Hiscollegework，however，interferedwithhismusic，andtohisfather’sgreatdisappointmentandregrethewasforcedtolayasidehisstudyoftheviolin。Onthepiano，however，theboydevelopedanextraordinarypowerofimprovisationandofsightreading，andwhilehistechniquewasfaultyhisinsight，hispowerofinterpretationwerefarinexcessofmanyartistswhowerehissuperiorsinmusicalknowledgeandpowerofexecution。Manywerethehoursthefatherandsonspenttogetherthroughthelongeveningsofthewesternwinter，andamongthemanybondsthatheldtheminclosecomradeship，nonewasstrongerthantheircommondevotiontomusic。
Longafterhissonhaddepartedtohismeetingthefathersatdreamingoverhis’cello，wanderingamongthefamiliarbitsfromtheoldmastersasfancyledhim，norwasheawareofthelapseoftimetillhissonreturned。
\"Hello！Nine—thirty？\"heexclaimed，lookingathiswatch。\"Youhavegiventhemanextradoseto—night。\"
\"Businessmeetingafterwards，whichdidn’tcomeoffafterall，\"
saidhisson。\"PostponedtillnextSunday。\"Withthiscurtannouncement，andwithoutfurthercommenthesatdownathisdesk。
Butafterafewmomentsherosequickly，saying，\"Letusdosomerealwork，dad。\"
Hetookuphisviolin。Hisfather，whowasusedtohismoods，withoutquestionorremarkproceededtotuneup。Anhour’shardpracticefollowed，withoutwordfromeitherexceptasregardedtheworkinhand。
\"Ifeelbetternow，dad，\"saidtheyoungmanwhentheyhadfinished。
\"Andnowforaroundwithyou。\"
\"Butwhataboutyourwind，boy？Idon’tlikethatasthmaofyoursthisafternoon。\"
\"Iamquiteallright。It’squitegone。Ifeelsureitwasthepollenfromthebeavermeadow。\"
Theyclearedbackthetableandchairsfromthecentreoftheroom，strippedtotheirshirts，putontheglovesandwentateachotherwithvim。Theirstylewassimilar，forthefatherhadtaughtthesonallheknew，exceptthatthefather’swasthefightingandtheson’sthesparringstyle。To—nighttherolesappearedtobereversed，thesonpressinghardatthein—fighting，thefathertrustingtohisfootworkandcounteringwiththelighttouchofamanmakingpoints。
\"YouAREboringin，aren’tyou？\"saidthefather，stoppingafiercerally。
\"Youarenotplayingup，dad，\"saidhisson。\"Idon’tfeellikesoftworkto—night。Cometome！\"
\"Asyousay，\"repliedthefather，andforthenextfiveminutesBarryhadnoreasontocomplainofsoftwork，forhisfatherwentafterhimwithallthefightthatwasinhim，sothatinspiteofavigorousdefencethesonwasforcedtotakerefugeinarunawaygame。
\"Nowyou’regoing！\"shoutedtheson，makingafiercecounterwithhisrighttoaharddrivenleft，whichheside—stepped。Itwasafatalexposure。Likethedartofasnaketherighthandhookgothimbelowthejaw，andhewashurledbreathlessonthecouchatthesideoftheroom。
\"Gotyounow！\"saidhisfather。
\"Notquiteyet，\"criedBarry。Likeacathewasonhisfeet，breathingdeepbreaths，dodgingabout，fightingfortime。
\"Enough！\"criedhisfather，puttingdownhishands。
\"Playup！\"shoutedBarry，whowasrapidlyrecoveringhiswind。\"Nosoftwork。Watchout！\"
