or a woman lift up. Well, Mr. Hamlin, I kicked it away, and"--the boy
stopped, with rounded eyes and bated breath, and added--"I just had time
to give one jump and save myself! For under that pail, cramped down so
he couldn't get out, and just bilin' over with rage, and chockful of
pizen, was William Henry! If it had been anybody else less spry, they'd
have got bitten,--and that's just what the sneak who put it there knew."

Mr. Hamlin uttered an exclamation under his breath, and rose to his
feet.

"What did you say?" asked the boy quickly.

"Nothing," said Mr. Hamlin.

But it had sounded to Leonidas like an oath.

Mr. Hamlin walked a few steps, as if stretching his limbs, and then
said: "And you think Burroughs would have been bitten?"

"Why, no!" said Leonidas in astonished indignation; "of course not--not
BURROUGHS. It would have been poor MRS. Burroughs. For, of course, HE
set that trap for her--don't you see? Who else would do it?"

"Of course, of course! Certainly," said Mr. Hamlin coolly. "Of course,
as you say, HE set the trap--yes--you just hang on to that idea."

But something in Mr. Hamlin's manner, and a peculiar look in his eye,
did not satisfy Leonidas. "Are you going to see her now?" he said
eagerly. "I can show you the house, and then run in and tell her you're
outside in the laurels."