"I aint speakin' to you, you vagabone!" said Mother Watson, "so you needn't give me no more of your impertinence. I'm a-speakin' to him."
"I'm not going to live with you any more," said Mark, gaining a little courage from the coolness of his friend, the boot-black.
"Aint a goin' to live with me?" gasped the old woman, who could hardly believe she heard aright. "Come right away, sir, or I'll drag you home."
"Don't you stir, Mark," said Ben.
Mother Watson drew out her strap, and tried to get at the match boy, but Ben put himself persistently in her way.
"Clear out, you vagabone!" said the old lady, "or I'll give you something to make you quiet."
"You'd better keep quiet yourself," said Ben, not in the least frightened. "Don't you be afraid, Mark. If she kicks up a rumpus, I'll give her over to a copp. He'll settle her."
Mother Watson by this time was very much incensed. She pulled out her strap, and tried to get at Mark, but the boot-black foiled her efforts constantly.
Carried away with anger, she struck Ben with the strap.
"Look here, old lady," said Ben, "that's goin' a little too far. You won't use that strap again;" and with a dexterous and vigorous grasp he pulled it out of her hand.