Your best plan is to continue the conversation as follows: “I suppose
you don’t really want to fight, do you? Now, I have a plan that seems a
good one. I think it will work all right, and then there will be no need
for any one to get hurt. You go to Willie and say, ‘I’m sorry that snow
ball hurt you’; then reach out your hand and shake hands. He will not
want to throw snow balls at you any more and he’ll think a lot more of
you than he would if you fought him. You try this plan, then come and
tell me how it works.”
Keep your ear open until you get a report from Francis. Almost certainly
he will announce that the proposed fight is off. If so, say:
“I’m glad you have fixed that up like gentlemen.”