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 like other people and never were and never will be . They 're about the only queer folks we have in Lindsay , Master , except old Peter Cook , who keeps twenty-five cats . Lord , Master , think of it ! What chanct would a poor mouse have ? None of the rest of us are queer , leastwise , we hai n't found it out if we are . But , then , we 're mighty uninteresting , I 'm bound to admit that . '' `` Where do the Gordons live ? ''
asked Eric , who had grown used XXXXX holding fast to a given point of inquiry through all the bewildering mazes of old Robert 's conversation .
about at except in like of so to up with