so, then; or, if not I shall not survive your refusal five minutes."

"I will, papa," she replied, laying her head upon his breast and
sobbing; "I will marry him; but put those vile and dangerous weapons
away, and never talk so again."

At this moment the door opened, and Alice, who had been listening,
entered the room in a high and towering passion. Her eyes sparkled: her
complexion was scarlet with rage; her little hands were most heroically
clenched; and, altogether, the very excitement in which she presented
herself, joined to a good face and fine figure, made her look
exceedingly interesting and handsome.

"How, madam," exclaimed the baronet, "what brings you here? Withdraw
instantly!"

"How, yourself, sir," she replied, walking up and looking him fearlessly
in the face; "none of your 'how, madams,' to me any more; as there's
neither man nor woman to interfere here, I must only do it myself."

"Leave the room, you brazen jade!" shouted the baronet; "leave the room,
or it'll be worse for you."

"Deuce a one toe I'll lave it. It wasn't for that I came here, but to
tell you that you are a tyrant and a murdherer, a mane old schemer, that
would marry your daughter to a common swindler and reprobate, because
he's a lord. But here I stand, the woman that will prevent this
marriage, if there wasn't another faymale from here to Bally-shanny."

"Alice!" exclaimed Lucy, "for heaven's sake, what do you mean?--what
awful language is this? You forget yourself."

"That may be, miss, but, by the life in my body, I won't forget you. A
ring won't go on you to that titled scamp so long as I have a drop of
manly blood in my veins--deuce a ring!"

Amazement almost superseded indignation on the part of the baronet, who
unconsciously exclaimed, "A ring!"

"No--pursuin' to the ring!" she replied, accompanying the words with
what was intended to be a fearful blow of her little clenched hand upon
the table.

"Let me go, Lucy," said her father, "till I put the termagant out of the
room."

"Yes, let him go, miss," replied Alley; "let us see what he'll do. Here
I stand now," she proceeded, approaching him; "and if you offer to lift
a hand to me, I'll lave ten of as good marks in your face as ever a
woman left since the creation. Come, now--am I afeard of you?" and as
she spoke she approached him still more nearly, with both her hands
close to his face, her fingers spread out and half-clenched, reminding
one of a hawk's talons.