urn, which was upset in the opposite direction, and, notwithstanding a
rapid movement on the part of Mr Easy, he received a sufficient
portion of boiling liquid on his legs to scald him severely, and
induce him to stamp and swear in a very unphilosophical way. In the
meantime Sarah and Mrs Easy had caught up Johnny, and were both
holding him at the same time, exclaiming and lamenting. The pain of
the scald, and the indifference shown towards him, were too much for
Mr Easy's temper to put up with. He snatched Johnny out of their
arms, and, quite forgetting his equality and rights of man, belaboured
him without mercy. Sarah flew into interfere, and received a blow
which not only made her see a thousand stars, but sent her reeling on
the floor. Mrs Easy went off into hysterics, and Johnny howled so as
to be heard at a quarter of a mile.

How long Mr Easy would have continued it is impossible to say; but the
door opened, and Mr Easy looked up while still administering the
punishment, and perceived Dr Middleton in mute astonishment. He had
promised to come in to tea, and enforce Mr Easy's arguments, if it
were necessary; but it certainly appeared to him, that in the argument
which Mr Easy was then enforcing, he required no assistance. However,
at the entrance of Dr Middleton, Johnny was dropped, and lay roaring
on the floor; Sarah, too, remained where she had been floored, Mrs
Easy had rolled on the floor, the urn was also on the floor, and Mr
Easy, although not floored, had not a leg to stand upon.

Never did a medical man look in more opportunely. Mr Easy at first
was not certainly of that opinion, but his legs became so painful that
he soon became a convert.

Dr Middleton, as in duty bound, first picked up Mrs Easy, and laid her