"I'll carry it for ye as fur as the road; I'd carry it all the way, if 't was anywhere else." And he actually took up the pail.
"You seem to have a very bad opinion of my relations," Vinnie said.
"Good reason! They hate us, too!"
"And think they have good reason. But I'm sure you are not so bad as they believe; and you may possibly be mistaken about them. Let me take the pail now. You are very kind."
Dud gave up the pail with reluctance, and gazed after her up the road, his stupid mouth ajar with an expression of wistful wonder and pleasure.
"Hurry now and git up the team, Dud!" his father called from the door. "What ye stan'in' there for? Didn't ye never see a gal afore?"
When Vinnie reached home with her pail of water, all gathered around, eager to hear her adventure.
"The lions were not very savage, after all," she said, laughing.