TALE XI - BEATRICE AND HERO; THE COUSINS

Summary

“A pleasant-spirited lady. There's little of the melancholy element in her.”

“Is she not a modest young lady? she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.”

Much ado about nothing.

A sound cuff.

“What do you hit me for?”

Another. “Give it up! Will you give it up?”

“No!”

Another cuff. And a box on the ear. “Give it up, I say!”

Another “No” was about to be bawled; and a look in the lout's eye gave token that it would probably be accompanied by a return of the blows he had received; but suddenly he seemed to think better of it. Muttering something about being “too near master constable's house, or he'd ha' kept it as sure as he was alive,” the boy flung down the demanded toy, turned on his heel, and made off.

The little girl who was thus left victress of the field, picked up the doll, brushed the dust off its smart skirts, arranged its rumpled head-dress, ascertained that its nose was neither cracked nor flattened, nor its eyes damaged, and then triumphantly walked up to another little girl, who had stood aloof during the affray, and restored the plundered favorite to her arms.