“There is one thing to be thankful for, and that is our neighbors on both sides are as nice as can be.”
“You haven’t met Bessie Todd yet,” returned Miss Rindy grimly.
This was true, and Ellen appreciated the sly reference not long after when a great ki-yiing in the garden took her out to see what was going on. She discovered that Wipers had wreathed himself around the neck of Mrs. Todd’s little dog, Bunty. Wipers had borne much from Bunty, who, once too often, had intruded himself into Miss Crump’s premises, for the sole purpose of worrying his furry neighbor, and now was receiving entirely unexpected but well-deserved punishment.
Ellen rushed to the gap in the fence where the affray was going on and was confronted by a large, irate woman who screamed out: “Drive off your cat. The horrid, savage beast, to attack a harmless little dog like Bunty!”
“He’s been teasing the cat,” Ellen defended. “He’s been doing it for days.”
“But he’s never done the creature any harm.”
“Because Wipers was too smart for him; he would have done it fast enough if he’d been given a chance.”
“I wish he had. Let me catch that cat on my premises and I’ll let it know what boiling water feels like.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t be so cruel,” cried Ellen. “Would you like us to throw hot water on your dog when he comes in here? He does it every day, and has no business to.” Ellen’s dander was up.
“Who are you, miss, to give impudence, I’d like to know?” retorted the woman.