Sam had not reckoned on the disastrous consequence of such a seizure. The unsuspecting victim was stepping very quick, and the impediment of the whip-lash threw her head-foremost to the floor. She was not much hurt, but an earthen dish she was carrying was shattered to pieces. Frightened at the catastrophe, Sam hastened to undo the loop; but Mrs. Royden was on the spot before he had put the fatal evidence against him out of his hand.
"You careless creature!" she exclaimed, in a sharp key, regarding Hepsy with contracted features, "can't you walk across the floor without falling down? If you can't——"
"Samuel tripped me," murmured Hepsy, gathering up the fragments of the dish.
"O, I didn't!" cried Sam, putting up his elbows as Mrs. Royden flew to box his ears.
"What are you doing with that lash?" she demanded, after two or three vain attempts to get in a blow.
"Nothing; only, it was lying on the floor, and I went to pick it up just as Hepsy was going along; and, you see," stammered Sam, "she ketched her foot and fell down."
"Give me the lash!" said Mrs. Royden, angrily.
"I won't have it out any more!" and Sam put it in his pocket.
"Give it to me, I say!"
"I don't wan't ter; you'll hit me with it."