“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. “I’m Ellen North, and I live at Miss Crump’s. Wipers has just as good a right to defend himself as your dog has.” “Well, let him keep his own side the fence;” Mrs. Todd was cooling off a little. “Exactly what he was doing when your dog chased him. The dog was the intruder, not Wipers.” By this time Wipers had relinquished his hold upon the whimpering Bunty. Ellen picked him up and bore him back to the house, hearing Mrs. Todd’s angry tones growing fainter and fainter as she retreated to her own door. With flushed cheeks and excited voice Ellen, almost in tears, gave her account of the fracas. Miss Rindy listened attentively. “I like dogs, but I like cats, too, and better than any other dog or cat I like Wipers, so I’m glad he has put the fear of cats into Bunty’s cowardly little soul. I’ll warrant he’ll not venture into this yard again, not when Wipers is there. One lesson will be enough for him.” “But Mrs. Todd said she would throw hot water on Wipers if he went in there again, and cats will prowl.” “She won’t. She’s like her dog, her bark is worse than her bite. That’s Bessie Todd all over. You’d think she was going to tear you to pieces, and the next thing she’ll be handing you a plate of fried chicken over the fence. I haven’t been her neighbor all this while for nothing. It doesn’t do any good to bandy words with her. It’s best to wait till she gets over her pepper-jig before you say anything. The Irish will crop out when she gets mad.” “Is she Irish?”