ough to avenge her injuries on some one, she gave the child a rap
over a certain portion of his anatomy that presented the broadest disk,
and his wild howls were heard for half a mile.

"If there's law to be had in this country I'll have it," Judy continued,
growing more excited as she recited her wrongs. "If ye want yer tax, why
don't ye come here after it in a dacent fashion, and not begin by
insulting me and me own, and then frightening the child out of its wits.
Didn't yer mothers larn ye manners at all, and do ye think we can stand
all sorts of barbarities?"

Before the inspector could return an answer, a stout, broad-shouldered
fellow sneaked to the door, and his appearance was greeted with
laughter.

"We have unkennelled the fox, have we?" the sergeant of the squad said.
"Hitherto we have had to dig for him."

"Come, Mike, where is your tax?" asked the inspector, in a mild tone.

"He's no money, I tell ye," screamed the woman, shaking one of her huge
fists at the officer in a defiant manner, and glancing towards her lord,
as though warning him of the consequences of gainsaying her word. "I've
told ye that he'd no money, and now be off, and the divil go wid ye."

"Pace, Judy, dear," remonstrated Mike, in a subdued tone; "it's the
police who always behave like rale gentlemen."

"Hear him," screamed the indignant woman, "turn upon his own lawful,
married wife, and abuse her like a baste. Why don't ye bite me in two,
ye little brat?"

She gave her child a shake that made him think there was an earthquake,
and then supplied him with a liberal allowance of food that kind nature
had wisely provided for the purpose of keeping children quiet, even for
a few minutes.

"Whist, Judy; don't be after trating the child that way," remonstrated
the father, who appeared to have some spirit when the welfare of his
heir was concerned.

"Ah, go on insulting me--don't spare reproaches. I'm defenceless now."

Woman's last resource, tears, were quickly called up, and under their
shadow Mike sneaked towards us, as though about to pay his money and
have done with the trouble; but before he could accomplish his good
resolution the woman had cleared her eyes, and in a voice that started
us, yelled,--

"Mike, ye divil, come here this instant."

The hen-pecked husband did not dare to disobey. He cast an imploring,
half-sheepish look towards his wife.

"We have delayed long enough," Mr. Brown said. "Sergeant, put on the
irons