The speaker, who was Ronald Rose, eyed the little girl aggressively, mindful of Hugh's instructions.
The kitten, which the child was clasping in her arms, suddenly took fright at the small dog by Ronnie's side, and scrambling away from its little mistress, it ran across the meadow as fast as its small legs could go. Immediately the dog was in full pursuit.
"TAKE YOUR HORRID, WICKED OLD DOG AWAY."
Opening the garden gate, the little girl rushed after her treasure, with Ronnie following close on her heels.
If Ronnie had one weakness, it was a love for kittens, and all enmity was forgotten in the common bond of protecting the helpless.
But pussy was soon in safety; with marvellous agility she scrambled into the branches of a tall tree at the end of the meadow, and there her little palpitating heart beat in security.
"Take your horrid, wicked old dog away, the then come and help me get my kitty down," said e child tearfully.
Ronnie thus imperiously addressed, humbly obeyed, and in less than ten minutes a little lad and lass were seated under the shade of the tree, with the kitten safe in its owner's arms.
"Why did you say just now, mine was a silly old hat?" questioned the girl, when at last she could think of something else besides her pussy.