I was for turning on her, for my blood was up at this silliness, when the vintner got upon his legs unsteadily.
"I will have no murder done in my house," says he, with a hiccough. "I will fight any man that is for doing murder in my house."
But ere I could answer Booby rushed at me. "I'll have your blood," he cried. And when I would have treated him as I had done the grocer, the widow put her arms about me and squealed that I was being killed, while miss clung to Booby behind and strove to pull him off with her hands and nails.
"Oh, sir, oh, sir, 'tis a Christian house," cries aunt, wringing her hands.
But, Christian or not, I was not for being choked by the old cat, and so I threw her off roughly; but a blow from the vintner took me in the stomach, so that all my wind was out. He was whirling his arms like a mill.
"I'll learn you to do murder," cries he.
'Twas too much for me. I had been sorely tried by their stupidity, and to have them falling on me was more than I could stand.
"Rip me," says I, "as sure as my name is Dick Ryder I'll lay a corpse out if you do not leave me."
"Dick Ryder!" cries Miss Nancy, letting go of Booby, who toppled over upon the grocer.