f the utmost excitement and irritation, for
there had been a rebellion in the town; all the day-scholars at the
largest day-school had conspired to break the windows of an obnoxious
apple-seller, and had hooted the beadle and pelted the constabulary--an
elderly gentleman in top-boots, who had been called out to repress
the tumult, and who had been a peace-officer, man and boy, for half
a century at least. And Mr. Nupkins was sitting in his easy-chair,
frowning with majesty, and boiling with rage, when a lady was announced
on pressing, private, and particular business. Mr. Nupkins looked calmly
terrible, and commanded that the lady should be shown in; which command,
like all the mandates of emperors, and magistrates, and other great
potentates of the earth, was forthwith obeyed; and Miss Witherfield,
interestingly agitated, was ushered in accordingly.

'Muzzle!' said the magistrate.

Muzzle was an undersized footman, with a long body and short legs.

'Muzzle!' 'Yes, your Worship.'

'Place a chair, and leave the room.'

'Yes, your Worship.'

'Now, ma'am, will you state your business?' said the magistrate.

'It is of a very painful kind, Sir,' said Miss Witherfield.

'Very likely, ma'am,' said the magistrate. 'Compose your feelings,
ma'am.' Here Mr. Nupkins looked benignant. 'And then tell me what legal
business brings you here, ma'am.' Here the magistrate triumphed over the
man; and he looked stern again.

'It is very distressing to me, Sir, to give this information,' said Miss
Witherfield, 'but I fear a duel is going to be fought here.'

'Here, ma'am?' said the magistrate. 'Where, ma'am?'

'In Ipswich.' 'In Ipswich, ma'am! A duel in Ipswich!' said the
magistrate, perfectly aghast at the notion. 'Impossible, ma'am; nothing
of the kind can be contemplated in this town, I am persuaded. Bless my
soul, ma'am, are you aware of the activity of our local magistracy? Do
you happen to have heard, ma'am, that I rushed into a prize-ring on the
fourth of May last, attended by only sixty special constables; and, at
the hazard of falling a sacrifice to the angry passions of an infuriated
multitude, prohibited a pugilistic contest between the Middlesex
Dumpling and the Suffolk Bantam? A duel in Ipswich, ma'am? I don't
think--I do not think,' said the magistrate, reasoning with himself,
'that any two men can have had the hardihood to plan such a breach of
the peace, in this town.'

'My information is, unfortunately, but too