150 MANNISH FLING. 
not long in discovering their approaching enemies. 
The young one could run but slowly, and the 
mother would not leave it ; but, in her solicitude, 
ran back and forth, always keeping her body be- 
tween it and their foes. 
“ Pretty, ain’t they ? ” said Mr. H — — . “ Preju- 
dice aside, I think anybody would say the old 
lady is gotten up in a ‘ nifty ’ manner. Dress — 
sable, striped with ermine — and that plume ! My ! 
it must make every female in her neighborhood 
sick with envy, every time they see it ! ” 
“ How perfectly mannish you are, to end with a 
fling at feminine vanity a remark which shows 
you yourself think of nothing but external ap- 
pearances ! See the poor creature’s anxiety for 
her kitten ! It is certainly more charming than 
her dress. I declare it is a shame to kill any- 
thing capable of manifesting so much affection. 
But she must die some time, and if that time is 
now, she may be saved the pangs that are so 
often caused by ungrateful children.” 
“ So, you don’t imagine the youngster any 
more appreciative than I of spiritual graces ! 
Well, if we are a ‘bad lot,’ we don’t want to get 
too near together ; can’t we hit them from here ? ” 
“ I guess so. What kind of charges have you 
in your gun ?” 
“ One barrel B. B., and the other No. 10. What 
have you ?” 
