Alexander Abraham made a frantic lunge at the brindled streak as it whirled past him , with the result that he overbalanced himself and went sprawling on the floor with a crash . I ran to help him up , which only seemed to enrage him further . `` Woman , '' he spluttered viciously , `` I wish you and your fiend of a cat were in -- in -- '' `` In Avonlea , '' I finished quickly , to save Alexander Abraham from committing profanity . `` So do I , Mr. Bennett , with all my heart . But since we are not , let us make the best of it like sensible people . And in future you will kindly remember that my name is Miss MacPherson , NOT Woman ! '' With this the end came and I was thankful , for the noise those two animals made was so terrific that I expected the policeman would be rushing in , smallpox or no smallpox , to see if Alexander Abraham and I were trying to murder each other . Mr. Riley suddenly veered in his mad career and bolted into a dark corner between the stove and the wood-box , William Adolphus let go just in time . There never was any more trouble with Mr. Riley after that . A meeker , more thoroughly chastened dog you could not find . William Adolphus had the best of it and he kept it . Seeing that things had calmed down and that it was five o'clock I decided to get tea . I told Alexander Abraham that I would prepare it , if he would show me where the eatables were . `` You need n't mind , '' said Alexander Abraham . `` I 've been in the habit of getting my own tea for twenty years . '' `` I daresay . But you have n't been in the habit of getting mine , '' I said firmly . `` I would n't eat anything you cooked if I starved to death . If you want some occupation , you 'd better get some salve and anoint the scratches on that poor dog 's back . '' Alexander Abraham said something that I prudently did not hear .
Seeing that he had no information to hand out I went XXXXX an exploring expedition into the pantry .
If With between for in into like on since to