ith instant expulsion
if she uttered a word of complaint, or mentioned the increase of her
rent, and on her hesitation actually lifting his large heavy stick.

We both cried out and sprang forward, though I scarcely suppose that he
would have actually struck her. But much more efficient help was at
hand. Bullock's broad back was to the gate, and he little knew that at
the moment he raised his stick Harold, attracted by his loud railing
voice, leaped over the gate, and with one bound was upon the fellow,
wresting the stick from his hand and laying it about his shoulders with
furious energy. We all screamed out. Dora, it was suspected, bade him
go on and give it to him well, and perhaps my wrath with the man made
me simply shriek; but the sense of our presence did (whatever we
wished) check Harold's violence so far that he ceased his blows,
throwing the man from him with such force that he fell prone into the
poor dame's gooseberry-bush, and had to pick himself up through
numerous scratches, just as we had hurried round through the garden.

He had regained his feet, and was slinking up to the gate as we met
him, and passionately exclaimed: "Miss Alison, you have seen this; I
shall call on you as my witness."

Dora called out something so vituperative that my energies went in
silencing her, nor do I think I answered Bullock, though at least it
was a relief to see that, having a great sou'-wester over all his other
clothes, the force of the blows had been so broken that he could not
have any really serious injury to complain of. It was not unfortunate,
however, that he was so shaken and battered that he went first to
exhibit himself to Dr. Kingston's new partner, and obtain a formidable
scientific account of his sprains and bruises; so that Eustace had
heard an account of the affray in the first place, and Dora, with a
child's innate satisfaction in repeating personalities, had not spared
the epithets with which Bullock had mentioned the "fool of a squire."
The said squire, touched to the quick, went out invulnerable to his
interview, declaring that the agent had been rightly served, only
wishing he had had more, and indignantly refusing Bullock's offer to
abstain from prosecuting Mr. Harold Alison on receiving a handsome
compensation, and a promise never to be interfered with again. Eustace
replied--too much, I fear, in his own coin--with orders to send in his
accounts immediately and to consider himself dismissed