Part 14 (1/2)

”Once more, will you pick up those berries?”

”No, I won't!”

Harry's only answer was to seize Philip round the middle, and, despite his struggles, to lay him down on the ground.

”You'll suffer for this!” said Philip, almost screaming with rage.

”You can go now,” said Harry, contemptuously, ”and take care how you interfere with Tommy and Rose again.”

Philip rose from the ground, angry and humiliated, yet not daring to attack Harry, whom he knew to be his superior in strength.

”You haven't heard the last of this,” he said, shaking his fist.

Harry deigned no reply, and Philip, instead of keeping on his way to the river, turned and walked homeward.

Harry helped the children pick up their berries, and remained with them through the forenoon.

CHAPTER XI

THE TWO CONSPIRATORS

Philip thirsted for revenge upon Harry, but it did not seem very clear in what way it was to be obtained. The trouble was that Harry was always in the right in all the difficulties they had had, and was likely to have popular sympathy on his side.

As Philip walked home, fuming with anger, it occurred to him to make a formal complaint against Harry before a justice of the peace. But the examination which would ensue would disclose his unjustifiable conduct in the berry field, and he reluctantly abandoned the idea.

While in this state of mind he met a recent acquaintance, some three years older than himself, named James Congreve.

Congreve was boarding at the village hotel, with apparently no business on hand more pressing than smoking, fis.h.i.+ng and lounging about the village.

He came from the city of Brooklyn, and had been sent to this quiet village to remove him from the temptations of the city.

He had been in several business positions, but had given satisfaction in none, and, so far as usefulness was concerned, was perhaps as well off here as anywhere else.

As James Congreve wore good clothes, and had a showy gold watch and chain, which indicated worldly prosperity, Philip was glad to make his acquaintance, for Congreve taught him to smoke and play cards for money.

So when the two met James Congreve asked, languidly:

”What are you up to, Philip?”

”Not much,” answered Philip, suddenly.

”You look out of sorts.”

”Oh, I've just had a fight with a boy in the berry pasture.”

”I hope you didn't hurt him much,” said Congreve, smiling.

”No; but I'd like to,” replied Philip, spitefully.