erned, you would
be a ruined man in this part of the country--you would, you know it!
Now I will spare you this--not from any tenderness towards _you_--on
condition that you take yourself off quietly, and never let us hear from
you again. I strongly advise you to go at once; for if you wait till the
constable comes, I will not answer for it that my sense of duty may not
force me into giving you into custody." With which words Doctor Joyce
threw open the door, and pointed to the hall.

Throughout the delivery of this speech, violent indignation,
ungovernable surprise, abject terror, and impotent rage ravaged by
turns the breast of Mr. Jubber. He stamped about the room, and uttered
fragments of oaths, but did not otherwise interrupt Dr. Joyce, while
that gentleman was speaking to him. When the rector had done, the
fellow had his insolent answer ready directly. To do him justice, he was
consistent, if he was nothing else--he was bully and blackguard to the
very last.

"Magistrate or parson," he cried, snapping his fingers, "I don't care a
damn for you in either capacity. You keep the child here at your peril!
I'll go to the first lawyer in Rubbleford, and bring an action against
you. I'll show you a little legal law! _You_ ruin me indeed! I can prove
that I only thrashed the little toad, the nasty deaf idiot, because she
deserved it. I'll be even with you! I'll have the child back wherever
you take her to. I'll show you a little legal law! (Here he stepped
to the hall door.) I'll be even with you, damme! I'll charge you with
setting on your menial servants to assault me. (Here he looked fiercely
at the gardener, a freckled Scotch giant of six feet three, and
instantly descended five steps.) Lay a finger on me, if you dare! I'm
going straight from this house to the lawyer's. I'm a free Englishman,
and I'll have my rights and my legal law! I'll bring my action! I'll
ruin you! I'll strip your gown off your back I'll stop your mouth in
your own pulpit!" Here he strutted into the front garden; his words grew
indistinct, and his gross voice became gradually less and less audible.
The coachman at the outer gate saw the last of him, and reported that
he made his exit striking viciously at the flowers with his cane, and
swearing that he would ruin the rector with "legal law."

After leaving certain directions with his servants, in the very
improbable event of Mr. Jubber's return, Doctor Joyce repaired
immediately to his dining-r