"'Pears to me you're mighty particular about your company," said Martin. "Maybe she don't like you any better."
To this Rose didn't reply; but Mrs. Waters, who just then chanced to enter the room, did.
"Your little girl abused my Fanny," she said; "and I had to forbid them playing together. I found them fighting together out in the back yard."
"It wasn't my fault," said Rose.
"Don't tell me that," said Martin. "I know you of old, miss. You're a troublesome lot, you and your brother; but now I've got you back again, I mean to tame you; see if I don't."
"I hope you will," said Mrs. Waters; "my Fanny is a very sweet-dispositioned child, just like what I was at her age; and she never gets into no trouble with nobody, unless they begin to pick on her, and then she can't be expected to stand still, and be abused."
"Of course not," said Martin.
"Your little girl attacked her, and tried to stop her playing with the cat."
"What did you do that for, miss?" said Mr. Martin, menacingly.
"She threw the cat into the cistern," said Rose; "and I was afraid she would drown."