"This blackguard has been annoying you, Miss Layard," said he, spurning the prostrate man with his foot.
"O, thank you, Mr. Bramwell! I thought he was going to kill me."
"I came out to fetch Freddie back, but found it wasn't quite time, and then I heard your voice and this wretch's angry words, and came round and crossed. He hasn't touched you?" asked Bramwell fiercely. The whole man was roused now, and he looked large in stature and irresistible in force.
"O, no! He has not touched me, but he threatened me, and I felt as though I should die."
"What shall I do with him. Give him to the police?"
"Don't do that, guv'nor," said the prostrate man. He had made no attempt to rise. He did not want to have his other ear deaf and the inside of his head at the other side ringing like a sledge-bell. "Don't do that, guv'nor, for they have something against me about a trifle of canvas and a few copper bolts I never had anything to do with."
"Very well. Now, Miss Layard, if you will go into the house, I'll attend to this gentleman. I shall take him across my place to the tow-path, and then come back to see how you are."
"But you won't harm him, Mr. Bramwell?" asked Hetty in a tremulous voice as she moved away.
"You hear what the lady says?" whined Jim. "Good, kind lady, don't go away and leave me to him. He has half killed me already, and if you leave me to him he'll murder me. Do let me go through your house. I was only joking. Indeed, it was only a little joke, and I only went on as I did to make your beautiful face smile. That's all, indeed."
"I promise you, Miss Layard, not to hurt him in the least. He shall be much better off when he leaves me than he is now."