You won't dare to go into the saloon after he has forbidden you," he continued, with a sneer.
"What do you mean, James?
Do you suppose I care that"-- snapping his fingers--"for what Frank says, or even thinks, either ?" "I didn't know but you might stand in fear of him." "Do you mean to insult me ?" demanded Mark, hotly.
"Insult you! My dear friend, what can you be thinking of?
Why, I like you ten times as much as that muff, Frank Courtney." "Then what did you mean by what you said ?" asked Mark, more calmly.
"I will tell you.

I got an idea, from what Frank said once, that he was in charge of you--well, not exactly that, but he looked after you." This was a wicked falsehood, as Frank had never intimated any such thing.

In fact, he had generally kept quite aloof from James.
Mark, however, fell into the trail, and never thought of doubting what his companion said.
"If Frank said that, I've a great mind to whip him," said Mark, angrily.
"Oh, I wouldn't notice him, if I were you!" said James.

"For my part, I didn't believe what he said.

I felt sure that a fine, spirited boy like you wouldn't submit to his dictation." "I should say not--the impudent follow!" "When he spoke to you just now," continued James, "one would really have thought he was your uncle, or guardian, and that you were a little boy." "I'll show him what I think of him and his advice.