Jack had a lovely disposition and never seemed to suspect any one of evil intentions; as often as Jill played tricks upon him he was always surprised. Jill was much more quick-witted and far better able to take care of herself, but not half so pleasant a companion, Anne thought. Jack made friends very slowly and dodged into the burrow if a stranger came near; but when his confidence was won, he did not forget. Jill was all airs and graces; flatteringly friendly one minute and a little spitfire the next. Happy took care that the pups should have plenty of exercise to develop their muscles, and when she thought they had dozed long enough in the cooling house, she would get them out and incite them to play by running round in a circle, keeping to the outside edge at each round so that the course gradually widened until it took in the whole lawn. There were boxing and wrestling matches, also, in which Jill again usually had the advantage, for though Jack was the heaviest and had the longest reach, she was quick as a flash and invariably lost her temper and fought in earnest before the finish; then Happy interfered and began her endless task of washing the pair and crushing the fleas with her searching front teeth. [Illustration] At about four months the twins began to cut their grown-up teeth. This time was a period of disaster, for no one could predict what they would next choose for teething purposes. One day the barn was the scene of action. Baldy’s new rubber boots, a carriage sponge, and a horse blanket that hung low enough to be pulled from the rack were the sufferers. The next week, after rolling very thoroughly on some linen that was spread to bleach, they turned their attention to what hung from the line. Jill discovered that swinging to and fro by fastening to a pyjama leg was good sport. Jack, trying to imitate her, unluckily chose for his swing the waitress’s best apron with an embroidered frill. Immediately there was a tearing sound, the slam of a door, and a much grieved pup assisted by a swinging slap from a wet towel disappeared in the burrow. Jill immediately scented danger, and dropped the pyjama leg. The tears she had made were not discovered until the garment was ironed, and then it was laid to Jack’s account. Anne, meanwhile, was obliged to make the waitress a new apron, because she had been in charge of the twins at the time the mischief was done, the rule now being that they must not play at large until they had learned how to behave. Anne had fully intended to watch them closely, but a strange bird song had floated over from the next field, and with a reassuring look at the pups who were pursuing the poor patient toad, she dashed off for only ten minutes, but that was quite enough.