is feet, and the rest gave way. But the
poor man, seeing one of his foes thus fallen, instead of pursuing his
victory, again paused, and forgetful of the precious burdens he carried,
let drop the sack and books, and took up the child in his arms. On
seeing their companion in the embrace of the wizard, a simultaneous cry
of horror broke from the assemblage, "He is going to curse poor Tim!"

"My child! my boy!" shrieked a woman, from one of the casements; "let go
my child!"

On his part, the boy kicked and shrieked lustily, as Adam, bending his
noble face tenderly over him, said, "Thou art not hurt, child. Poor
boy! thinkest thou I would harm thee?" While he spoke a storm of
missiles--mud, dirt, sticks, bricks, stones--from the enemy, that had
now fallen back in the rear, burst upon him. A stone struck him on the
shoulder. Then his face changed; an angry gleam shot from his deep, calm
eyes; he put down the child, and, turning steadily to the grown people
at the windows, said, "Ye train your children ill;" picked up his sack
and books, sighed, as he saw the latter stained by the mire, which he
wiped with his long sleeve, and too proud to show fear, slowly made for
his door. Fortunately Sibyll had heard the clamour, and was ready to
admit her father, and close the door upon the rush which instantaneously
followed his escape. The baffled rout set up a yell of wrath, and the
boys were now joined by several foes more formidable from the adjacent
houses; assured in their own minds that some terrible execration
had been pronounced upon the limbs and body of Master Tim, who still
continued bellowing and howling, probably from the excitement of finding
himself raised to the dignity of a martyr, the pious neighbours poured
forth, with oaths and curses, and such weapons as they could seize in
haste, to storm the wizard's fortress.

From his casement Marmaduke Nevile had espied all that had hitherto
passed, and though indignant at the brutality of the persecutors, he
had thought it by no means unnatural. "If men, gentlemen born, will read
uncanny books, and resolve to be wizards, why, they must reap what they
sow," was the logical reflection that passed through the mind of that
ingenuous youth; but when he now perceived the arrival of more important
allies, when stones began to fly through the wicker lattice, when
threats of setting fire to the house and burning the sorcerer who
muttered spells over innocent little boys were heard,