But Mrs. Jeckyl drew her arm the more tightly around Madeline, and with her steady eye sought to throw a spell over Agnes.
Grown desperate with fear, Agnes now exerted all her strength, and with a single violent jerk succeeded in wresting the half-insensible form of her sister from the arms of Mrs. Jeckyl.
“You’re a polite young lady!” said Mrs. Jeckyl, in a sneering manner. “This is American good-breeding, I suppose!”
“And you’re a wicked woman,” replied Agnes, indignantly confronting the enemy.
“Snakes! Snakes!” It was the ringing, exultant voice of little “don’t-care” George, who had circled the square in a trot, and just returned to the place where he had left his sisters.
Mrs. Jeckyl turned with a start upon this unwelcome intruder.
“Old Snakes!” said the boy, stooping before the woman, with his hands upon his knees, and a grin of exultation on his face. “Old Snakes!”
Fierce as a tiger did she advance upon George; but she had an antagonist to deal with who was an over-match for her.
“Take care!” exclaimed the boy, as he darted around a lady who was passing, thus putting her between him and Mrs. Jeckyl; “take care, ma’am: that’s Old Snakes!”
The lady started, and looked half frightened.