duck and dodge as Peter struck at him as if he (the Sergeant) were in a state of the most abject fear.
"Sergeant," said Peter, "please don't be angry; but indeed I can't help it."
And he hit the Sergeant straight between the eyes.
"I sincerely trust that this will not hurt you much!"
And he struck the Sergeant full upon his military nose.
"I earnestly hope that you will derive no inconvenience from this round-hander."
And he planted a round-hander just on the Sergeant's left ear, as that officer ducked and dodged about, apparently in a great state of terror, but really boiling with indignation and thirsting for his adversary's blood.
"Well," said Jenny, hugging the odd-man (who was the only other person within sight, and who did not resist as the Sergeant and Peter had resisted, but who, on the contrary, patiently allowed her to do what she pleased)—"Well," said she, "I did think the Sergeant was a brave man; and see how Peter is giving it to him—Peter, who is such a coward!"
And she ran into the house, determined to have nothing to do with either of them.
In the house she met Verditter the miser, whom she heartily detested, the more so because there was every prospect that he would some day be her step-father; but nevertheless she ran up to him, and explaining that he was not to misinterpret the compliment as she was acting under an irresistible impulse, threw her arms round his neck and began to kiss him as she had kissed the others. Verditter was delighted (for he was a
