" This speech, which takes some time
to write down, was made in about the fifth part of a second; and, at
the end of it, the young gentleman hurled down his pipe, and, advancing
towards Jemmy, doubled his fist, and seemed to challenge her to fight.
My dearest girl now turned from red to be as pale as white Windsor,
and fell into my arms. What was I to do? I called "Policeman!" but a
policeman won't interfere in Thames Street; robbery is licensed there.
What was I to do? Oh! my heart beats with paternal gratitude when I
think of what my Tug did!
As soon as this young cab-chap put himself into a fighting attitude,
Master Tuggeridge Coxe--who had been standing by laughing very rudely,
I thought--Master Tuggeridge Coxe, I say, flung his jacket suddenly into
his mamma's face (the brass buttons made her start and recovered her
a little), and, before we could say a word was in the ring in which we
stood (formed by the porters, nine orangemen and women, I don't know
how many newspaper-boys, hotel-cads, and old-clothesmen), and, whirling
about two little white fists in the face of the gentleman in the red
waistcoat, who brought up a great pair of black ones to bear on the
enemy, was engaged in an instant.
But la bless you! Tug hadn't been at Richmond School for nothing; and
MILLED away one, two, right and left--like a little hero as he is, with
all his dear mother's spirit in him.
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