'Who cares? Who's
afraid? Let 'em come, I say, let 'em come. The more, the merrier. Give
me bold Barnaby at my side, and we two will settle the military, without
troubling any of you. Barnaby's the man for the military. Barnaby's
health!'
But as the majority of those present were by no means anxious for a
second engagement that night, being already weary and exhausted, they
sided with Mr Tappertit, and pressed him to make haste with his supper,
for they had already delayed too long. Knowing, even in the height of
his frenzy, that they incurred great danger by lingering so near the
scene of the late outrages, Hugh made an end of his meal without more
remonstrance, and rising, stepped up to Mr Tappertit, and smote him on
the back.
'Now then,' he cried, 'I'm ready. There are brave birds inside this
cage, eh? Delicate birds,--tender, loving, little doves. I caged 'em--I
caged 'em--one more peep!'
He thrust the little man aside as he spoke, and mounting on the steps,
which were half let down, pulled down the blind by force, and stared
into the chaise like an ogre into his larder.
'Ha ha ha! and did you scratch, and pinch, and struggle, pretty
mistress?' he cried, as he grasped a little hand that sought in vain to
free itself from his grip: 'you, so bright-eyed, and cherry-lipped, and
daintily made? But I love you better for it, mistress.
Pages:
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782