came in.

"Get out of this, you little beast!" said he to Blinks, and putting the
toe of his boot under the little dog, he kicked him clear out of the
door of the cabin. Then turning to Holly, he looked at her pretty much
as if he intended to kick her out too. But he didn't. He put out one of
his big red hands and said to her:

"Shake hands."

Holly obeyed without a word, and then snatching her wooden child from
the floor, she darted out of the door and reached the village almost as
soon as poor Blinks.

In a minute or two Aunt Matilda made her appearance at the door. She had
heard the barking and the screaming, and had come to see what was the
matter.

When she saw the man, she exclaimed:

"Why, Mah'sr George! Is dat you?"

"Yes, it's me," said the man. "Shake hands, Aunt Matilda."

"I thought you was down in Mississippi; Mah'sr George," said the old
woman; "and I thought you was gwine to stay dar."

"Couldn't do it," said the man. "It didn't suit me, down there. Five
years of it was enough for me."