"An ey repeat my order to yo," cried Bess, "to set the bottle down, or ey'st may ye."
"Make me! ha, ha! I like that," cried Potts. "Let me tell you, woman, I am not accustomed to be ordered in this way. I shall do no such thing. If you will not bring the eggs I shall drink the wine, neat and unsophisticate." And he filled a flagon near him.
"If yo dun, yo shan pay dearly for it," said Bess, putting aside the frying-pan and taking down the horsewhip.
"I daresay I shall," replied Potts merrily; "you hostesses generally do make one pay dearly. Very good sherris this, i' faith!—the true nutty flavour. Now do go and fetch me some eggs, my good woman. You must have plenty, with all the poultry I saw in the farm-yard; and then I'll teach you the whole art and mystery of brewing sack."
"Ey'n teach yo to dispute my orders," cried Bess. And, catching the attorney by the collar, she began to belabour him soundly with the whip.
"Holloa! ho! what's the meaning of this?" cried Potts, struggling to get free. "Assault and battery; ho!"
"Ey'n sawt an batter yo, ay, an baste yo too!" replied Bess, continuing to lay on the whip.
"Why, zounds! this passes a joke," cried the attorney. "How desperately strong she is! I shall be murdered! Help! help! The woman must be a witch."
"A witch! Ey'n teach yo' to ca' me feaw names," cried the enraged hostess, laying on with greater fury.
"Help! help!" roared Potts.