rout with sticks and
stones, and evince, in all emergencies, an adventurous spirit and an
alacrity for battle.

For her, indeed, as for others, the spell of 'M. M.'s' evil eye and
witchlike presence was at first too much; but Moggy rallied, and, thus
challenged, she turned about at the door and stoutly confronted the
intruder.

'Minx, yourself, you black baste; I'm goin' just wherever it plases me
best, and I'd like to know who'll stop me; and first, Ma'am, be your
lave, I'll tell the mistress to lock her door, and keep you and your
rake-helly squad at the wrong side of it, and then, Ma'am, wherever the
fancy takes me next--and that's how it is, and my sarvice to your
ladyship.'

Off went Moggy, with a leer of defiance and a snap of her fingers,
cutting a clumsy caper, and rushed like a mad cow up the stairs,
shouting all the way, 'Lock your door, Ma'am--lock your door.'

Growing two or three degrees whiter, M. M., so soon as she recovered
herself, glided in pursuit, like the embodiment of an evil spirit, as
perhaps she was, and with a gleam of insanity, or murder, in her eye,
which always supervened when her wrath was moved.

The sullen face of the bailiff half lighted up with a cynical grin of
expectation, for he saw that both ladies were game, and looked for a
spirited encounter. But Dirty Davy spoiled all by interposing his
person, and arresting the pursuit of his client, and delivering a wheezy
expostulation close in her ear.

''Tis a strange thing if I can't do what I will with my own--fine laws,
i'faith!'

'I only tell you, Madam, and if you do, it may embarrass us mightily
by-and-by.'

'I'd wring her neck across the banister,' murmured M. M.

'An' now, plase your ladyship, will I bring your sarvice to the ladies
and gentlemen down in the town, for 'tis there I'm going next,' said
Moggy, popping in at the door, with a mock courtesy, and a pugnacious
cock in her eye, and a look altogether so provoking and warlike as
almost tempted the bailiff at the door to clap her on the back, and cry,
had he spoken Latin, _macte virtute puer_!

'Catch the slut. You sha'n't budge--not a foot--hold her,' cried M. M. to
the bailiff.

'Baugh!' was his answer.

'See, now,' said Davy, 'Madam Nutter's not serious--you're _not_, Ma'am?
We don't detain you, mind. The door's open. There's no false
imprisonment or duress, mind ye, thanking you all the same, Miss, for
your offer. We won't detain you, ah, ah. No, I thank yo