They did well enough by him . He was sent to school and taken to church and treated like one of themselves . Some folks think they made too much of him . It does n't always do with that kind , for ` what 's bred in bone is mighty apt to come out in flesh , ' if ` taint kept down pretty well . Neil 's smart and a great worker , they tell me . But folks hereabouts do n't like him . They say he ai n't to be trusted further 'n you can see him , if as far . It 's certain he 's awful hot tempered , and one time when he was going to school he near about killed a boy he 'd took a spite to -- choked him till he was black in the face and Neil had to be dragged off . '' `` Well now , father , you know they teased him terrible , '' protested Mrs. Williamson . `` The poor boy had a real hard time when he went to school , Master . The other children were always casting things up to him and calling him names . '' `` Oh , I daresay they tormented him a lot , '' admitted her husband . `` He 's a great hand at the fiddle and likes company . He goes to the harbour a good deal . But they say he takes sulky spells when he has n't a word to throw to a dog . ` Twould n't be any wonder , living with the Gordons . They 're all as queer as Dick 's hat-band . '' `` Father , you should n't talk so about your neighbours , '' said his wife rebukingly . `` Well now , Mother , you know they are , if you 'd only speak up honest . But you 're like old Aunt Nancy Scott , you never say anything uncharitable except in the way of business .
You know the Gordons ai n't XXXXX other people and never were and never will be .
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