The moment Rafe caught sight of her he began to squall,
supposedly like an infant, crying:
"Ma-ma! Ma-ma! Tum an' take Too-tums. Waw! Waw! Waw!"
After all her hurt pride and sorrow, Nan would have called up a
laugh at this. But Tom, who was drinking at the water bucket,
wheeled with the full dipper and threw the contents into Rafe's
face. That broke off the teasing cousin's voice for a moment;
but Rafe came up, sputtering and mad.
"Say! You big oaf!" he shouted. "What you trying to do?"
"Trying to be funny," said Tom, sharply. "And you set me the
example."
"Now, boys!" begged Aunt Kate. "Don't quarrel."
"And, dear me, boys," gasped Nan, "please don't squabble about
me."
"That big lummox!" continued Rafe, still angry. "Because dad
backs him up and says he ought to lick me, he does this. I'm
going to defend myself. If he does a thing like that again, I'll
fix him."
Tom laughed in his slow way and lumbered out. Uncle Henry did
not hear this, and Nan was worried. She thought Aunt Kate was
inclined to side with her youngest boy. Rafe would always be
"the baby" to Aunt Kate.
At any rate Nan was very sorry the quarrel had arisen over her.
And she was careful to say nothing to fan further the flame of
anger between her cousins.
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