per
of their intention had got about among those interested in the subject.
It was a fine summer morning, some three hours from noon, the shop was
shut, indeed it had not been opened since the riots, and all the lower
windows of the dwelling were closed, barred, and bolted.

A crowd of women had collected. There was Mistress Page and Mistress
Prance, old Dame Toddles and Mrs Mullins, Liza Gray and the comely dame
who was so fond of society that she liked even a riot.

"Master Joseph they say has gone to the North," said the comely dame.

"I wonder if old Diggs is at home?" said Mrs Mullins.

"He won't show I'll be sworn," said old Dame Toddles.

"Here are the Hell-cats," said the comely dame. "Well I do declare they
march like reglars; two, four, six, twelve; a good score at the least."

The Hell-cats briskly marched up to the elm-trees that shaded the canal
before the house, and then formed in line opposite to it. They were
armed with bludgeons, crowbars, and hammers. Tummas was at the head and
by his side his Wodgate wife. Stepping forth alone, amid the cheering
of the crowd of women, the pupil of the Bishop advanced to the door of
Diggs' house, gave a loud knock and a louder ring. He waited patiently
for several minutes; there was no reply from the interior, and then
Tummas knocked and rang again.

"It's very awful," said the comely dame.

"It's what I always dreamt would come to pass," said Liza Gray, "ever
since Master Joseph cut my poor baby over the eye with his three foot
rule."

"I think there can be nobody within," said Mrs Prance.

"Old Diggs would never leave the tommy without a guard," said Mrs Page.

"Now lads," said Tummas looking round him and making a sign, and
immediately some half dozen advanced with their crowbars and were about
to strike at the door, when a window in the upper story of the house
opened and the muzzle of a blunderbuss was presented at the assailants.

The women all screamed and ran away.

"'Twas Master Joseph," said the comely dame halting to regain her
breath.

"'Twas Master Joseph," sighed Mrs Page.

"'Twas Master Joseph," moaned Mrs Prance.

"Sure enough," said Mrs Mullins, "I saw his ugly face."

"More frightful than the great gun," said old Dame Toddles.

"I hope the children will get out of the way," said Liza Gray, "for he
is sure to fire on them."

In the meantime, while Master Joseph himself was content with his
position and said not a word, a benignan