Steve grunted.
"It was, then," he muttered.
"I didn't say so," protested Tom.
"I say so, though." Steve was silent a moment.

Then, "Look here, Tom, there's no use your fighting every fellow who says things about me," he said.

"If you try that, you'll have your hands full.

I--I don't care what they say, anyway.

Just you keep out of it.