Part 18 (1/2)
”Ay, 'M'Adam's Wull'! And why not 'M'Adam's Wull'? Ha' ye ony objections to the name?”
”I didn't know yo' was theer,” said David, a thought sheepishly.
”Na; or ye'd not ha' said it.”
”I'd ha' thought it, though,” muttered the boy.
Luckily, however, his father did not hear. He stretched his hands up tenderly for the Cup, lifted it down, and began reverently to polish the dimmed sides with his handkerchief.
”Ye're thinkin', nae doot,” he cried, casting up a vicious glance at David, ”that Wullie's no gude enough to ha' his name alangside o'
they cursed Gray Dogs. Are ye no? Let's ha' the truth for aince--for a diversion.”
”Reck'n he's good enough if there's none better,” David replied dispa.s.sionately.
”And wha should there be better? Tell me that, ye muckle gowk.”
David smiled.
”Eh, but that'd be long tellin', he said.
”And what wad ye mean by that?” his father cried.
”Nay; I was but thinkin' that Mr. Moore's Bob'll look gradely writ under yon.” He pointed to the vacant s.p.a.ce below Red Wull's name.
The little man put the Cup back on its pedestal with hurried hands. The handkerchief dropped unconsidered to the floor; he turned and sprang furiously at the boy, who stood against the wall, still smiling; and, seizing him by the collar of his coat, shook him to and fro with fiery energy.
”So ye're hopin', prayin', nae doot, that James Moore--curse him!--will win ma Cup awa' from me, yer ain dad. I wonder ye're no 'shamed to cra.s.s ma door! Ye live on me; ye suck ma blood, ye foul-mouthed leech. Wullie and me brak' oorsel's to keep ye in hoose and hame--and what's yer grat.i.tude? Ye plot to rob us of oor rights.”
He dropped the boy's coat and stood back.
”No rights about it,” said David, still keeping his temper.
”If I win is it no ma right as muckle as ony Englishman's?”
Red Wull, who had heard the rising voices, came trotting in, scowled at David, and took his stand beside his master.
”Ah, _if_ yo' win it,” said David, with significant emphasis on the conjunction.
”And wha's to beat us?”
David looked at his father in well-affected surprise.
”I tell yo' Owd Bob's rinin',” he answered.
”And what if he is?” the other cried.
”Why, even yo' should know so much,” the boy sneered.
The little man could not fail to understand.