Mrs Bramble flew to the dog, and, snatching
him in her arms, presented him to her brother saying, 'This is
all a concerted scheme against this unfortunate animal, whose
only crime is its regard for me -- Here it is, kill it at once, and
then you'll be satisfied.'
Clinker, hearing these words, and taking them in the literal
acceptation, got up in some hurry, and seizing a knife from the
side-board, cried, 'Not here, an please your ladyship -- It will
daub the room -- Give him to me, and I'll carry him to the ditch by
the roadside' To this proposal he received no other answer, than
a hearty box on the ear, that made him stagger to the other side
of the room. 'What! (said she to her brother) am I to be
affronted by every mangy hound that you pick up on the highway? I
insist upon your sending this rascallion about his business
immediately' 'For God's sake, sister, compose yourself (said my
uncle) and consider that the poor fellow is innocent of any
intention to give you offence' 'Innocent as the babe unborn'
(cried Humphry). 'I see it plainly (exclaimed this implacable
maiden), he acts by your direction; and you are resolved to
support him in his impudence This is a bad return for all the
services I have done you; for nursing you in your sickness,
managing your family, and keeping you from ruining yourself by
your own imprudence -- But now you shall part with that rascal or
me, upon the spot, without farther loss of time; and the world
shall see whether you have more regard for your own flesh and
blood, or for a beggarly foundling taken from the dunghill.
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