ot
ashamed of yourself, Mr Curate; you that ought to set an example to
your parishioners!"

But Mr Dragwell did not admire such remonstrance; so taking his pipe
out of his mouth, he retorted--"If your husband does put up a sign, I
recommend him to stick you up as the `Good Woman;' that would be without
your head--Ha, ha, ha!"

"He, he, he!"

"He, he, he! you pitiful 'natomy," cried Mrs Forster, in a rage,
turning to the clerk, as she dared not revenge herself upon the curate.
Take that for your He, he, he! and she swung round the empty pewter-pot
which she snatched from the table, upon the bald pericranium of Mr
Spinney, who tumbled off his chair, and rolled upon the sanded floor.

The remainder of the party were on their legs in an instant. Newton
jerked the weapon out of his mother's hands, and threw it in a corner of
the room. Nicholas was aghast: he surmised that his turn would come
next; and so it proved.--"An't you ashamed of yourself, Mr Forster, to
see me treated in this way--bringing a parcel of drunken men into the
house to insult me? Will you order them out, or not, sir?--Are we to
have quiet or not?"

"Yes, my love," replied Nicholas, confused, "yes, my dear, by and bye,
as soon as you're--"

Mrs Forster darted towards her husband with the ferocity of a mad cat.
Hilton perceiving the danger of his host, put out his leg so as to trip
her up in her career, and she fell flat upon her face on the floor. The
violence of the fall was so great, that she was stunned. Newton raised
her up; and, with the assistance of his father (who approached with as
much reluctance as a horse spurred towards a dead tiger), carried her up
stairs, and laid her on her bed.

Poor Mr Spinney was now raised from the floor. He still remained
stupified with the blow, although gradually recovering. Betsy came in
to render assistance. "O dear, Mr Curate, do you think that he'll
die?"

"No, no; bring some water, Betsy, and throw it in his face."

"Better take him home as he is," replied Betsy, "and say that he is
killed; when Missis hears it, she'll be frightened out of her life. It
will keep her quiet for some time at least."

"An excellent idea, Betty; we will punish her for her conduct," replied
Hilton. The curate was delighted at the plan. Mr Spinney was placed
in an arm-chair, covered over with a table-cloth, and carried away to
the parsonage by two men, who were provided by Betsy before Nicholas or
Newton had qu