Mary wondered how he looked at her, and would perhaps have asked, had she not been prevented by the sudden appearance of Henry Lincoln, who directly in front of her leaped across the brook.  He was evidently not much improved in his manners, for the moment he was safely landed on terra firma, he approached her, and seizing her round the waist, exclaimed, “Hallo, little pauper!  You’re glad to see me back, I dare say.”

Then drawing her head over so that he could look into her face, he continued, “Had your tusks out, haven’t you!  Well, it’s quite an improvement, so much so that I’ll venture to kiss you.”

Mary struggled, and Jenny scolded, while Henry said “Don’t kick and flounce so, my little beauty.  If there’s any thing I hate, it’s seeing girls make believe they’re modest.  That clodhopper Bill kisses you every day, I’ll war rant.”

Here Jenny’s wrath exploded; and going up to her brother, she attempted to pull him away, until bethinking her of the brook, she commenced sprinkling him with water, but observing that more of it fell upon Mary than her brother, she desisted, while Henry, having accomplished his purpose, began spitting and making wry faces, assuring Mary that “she needn’t be afraid of his ever troubling her again, for her lips were musty, and tasted of the poor-house!”

Meanwhile Tasso, who had become a great favorite with Mary, and who, on this occasion, had accompanied her to the woods, was standing on the other side of the brook, eyeing Henry’s movements, and apparently trying to make up his mind whether his interference was necessary or not.  A low growl showed that he was evidently deciding the matter, when Henry desisted, and walked leisurely off.

Erelong, however, he returned, and called out, “See, girls, I’ve got an elegant necklace for you.”

Looking up, they saw him advancing towards them, with a small water snake, which he held in his hand; and, readily divining his purpose, they started and ran, while he pursued them, threatening to wind the snake around the neck of the first one he caught.  Jenny, who was too chubby to be very swift-footed, took refuge behind a clump of alder bushes but Mary kept on, and just as she reached a point where the brook turned, Henry overtook her, and would perhaps have carried his threat into execution, had not help arrived from an unexpected quarter.  Tasso, who had watched, and felt sure that this time all was not right, suddenly pounced upon Henry, throwing him down, and then planting himself upon his prostrate form, in such a manner that he dared not move.

“Oh, good, good,” said Jenny, coming out from her concealment; “make Tasso keep him there ever so long; and,” she continued, patting the dog, “if you won’t hurt him much, you may shake him just a little.”

“No, no,” said Henry, writhing with fear, “call him off, do call him off.  Oh, mercy!” he added, as Tasso, who did not particularly care to have the case reasoned, showed two rows of very white teeth.