"Good-bye, Alice! Good-bye, Nora darlin'," she said.

Then she marched in a stately way towards the vehicle, with the children forming a bodyguard round her.

A group of men hung about uneasily, looked sheepish, and waved large, helpless red hands, till a young fellow about seven feet high--who looked more uneasy and had even larger hands than the rest--was hustled forward, and began to mutter something that nobody could hear.
"Speak up, George," said a friend.

The young man raised his voice to a shout, and said-- "And so I propose three cheers and long life to the Hopal Queen!" As he spoke he ran two or three paces forward towards a stump, meaning, no doubt, to get on it and lead the cheering; but, just as he was going to jump, a wretched little mongrel that had been in and out among the people's feet made a dash at him, fixed its teeth in the calf of his leg, and ran away howling at its own temerity.

The young giant rushed after it, but the Opal Queen interposed.
"George," she said, "don't ye dare go for to kick my dog!" "Well, what did he bite me for, then ?" said the giant, speaking out now in a voice that could be heard half a mile off.