“Let her alone too!” retorted Mr. Riderhood, eyeing him all over. “Do you know she’s my daughter?”

“Yes.”

“And don’t you know that I won’t have no Poll Parroting on the part of my daughter? No, nor yet that I won’t take no Poll Parroting from no man? And who may you be, and what may you want?”

“How can I tell you until you are silent?” returned the other fiercely.

“Well,” said Mr. Riderhood, quailing a little, “I am willing to be silent for the purpose of hearing. But don’t Poll Parrot me.”