Sybil by Benjamin Disraeli (book recommendations website TXT) 📕

those interested in the subject. It was a fine summer morning, some three hours from noon, the shop was shut, indeed it had not been opened since the riots, and all the lower windows of the dwelling were closed, barred, and bolted.

A crowd of women had collected. There was Mistress Page and Mistress Prance, old Dame Toddles and Mrs. Mullins, Liza Gray and the comely dame who was so fond of society that she liked even a riot.

“Master Joseph they say has gone to the North,” said the comely dame.

“I wonder if old Diggs is at home?” said Mrs. Mullins.

“He won’t show, I’ll be sworn,” said old Dame Toddles.

“Here are the Hellcats,” said the comely dame. “Well I do declare they march like reglars; two, four, six, twelve; a good score at the least.”

The Hellcats briskly marched up to the elm-trees that shaded the canal before the house, and then formed in line opposite to it. They were armed with bludgeons, crowbars, and hammers. Tummas was at the head and by his side his Wodgate wife. Stepping forth alone, amid the cheering of the crowd of women, the pupil of the Bishop advanced to the door of Diggs’ house, gave a loud knock and a louder ring. He waited patiently for several minutes; there was no reply from the interior, and then Tummas knocked and rang again.

“It’s very awful,” said the comely dame.

“It’s what I always dreamt would come to pass,” said Liza Gray, “ever since Master Joseph cut my poor baby over the eye with his three foot rule.”

“I think there can be nobody within,” said Mrs. Prance.

“Old Diggs would never leave the tommy without a guard,” said Mrs. Page.

“Now lads,” said Tummas looking round him and making a sign, and immediately some half dozen advanced with their crowbars and were about to strike at the door, when a window in the upper story of the house opened and the muzzle of a blunderbuss was presented at the assailants.

The women all screamed and ran away.

“ ’Twas Master Joseph,” said the comely dame halting to regain her breath.

“ ’Twas Master Joseph,” sighed Mrs. Page.

“ ’Twas Master Joseph,” moaned Mrs. Prance.

“Sure enough,” said Mrs. Mullins, “I saw his ugly face.”

“More frightful than the great gun,” said old Dame Toddles.

“I hope the children will get out of the way,” said Liza Gray, “for he is sure to fire on them.”

In the meantime, while Master Joseph himself was content with his position and said not a word, a benignant countenance exhibited itself at the window and requested in a mild voice to know, “What his good friends wanted there?”

“We have come to settle Sam Barlow’s tommy book,” said their leader.

“Our shop is not open today, my good friends: the account can stand over; far be it from me to press the poor.”

“Master Diggs,” said a Hellcat, “canst thou tell us the price of bacon today?”

“Well, good bacon,” said the elder Diggs willing to humour them, “may be eightpence a-pound.”

“Thou are wrong, Master Diggs,” said the Hellcat, “ ’tis fourpence and long credit. Let us see half a dozen good flitches at fourpence, Master Diggs; and be quick.”

There was evidently some controversy in the interior as to the course at this moment to be pursued. Master Joseph remonstrated against the policy of concession, called conciliation, which his father would fain follow, and was for instant coercion; but age and experience carried the day, and in a few minutes some flitches were thrown out of the window to the Hellcats who received the booty with a cheer.

The women returned.

“ ’Tis the tenpence a-pound flitch,” said the comely dame examining the prize with a sparkling glance.

“I have paid as much for very green stuff,” said Mrs. Mullins.

“And now Master Diggs,” said Tummas, “what is the price of the best tea a-pound? We be good customers, and mean to treat our wives and sweethearts here. I think we must order half a chest.”

This time there was a greater delay in complying with the gentle hint; but the Hellcats getting obstreperous, the tea was at length furnished and divided among the women. This gracious office devolved on the wife of Tummas who soon found herself assisted by a spontaneous committee of which the comely dame was the most prominent and active member. Nothing could be more considerate, good-natured, and officious, than the mode and spirit with which she divided the stores. The flitches were cut up and apportioned in like manner. The scene was as gay and hustling as a fair.

“It’s as good as a grand tommy day,” said the comely dame with a self-complacent smile as she strutted about smiling and dispensing patronage.

The orders for bacon and tea were followed by a very popular demand for cheese. The female committee received all the plunder and were very active in its distribution. At length a rumour got about that Master Joseph was entering the names of all present in the tommy books, so that eventually the score might be satisfied. The mob had now very much increased. There was a panic among the women, and indignation among the men: a Hellcat advanced and announced that unless the tommy books were all given up to be burnt, they would pull down the house. There was no reply: some of the Hellcats advanced; the women cheered; a crowbar fell upon the door; Master Joseph fired, wounded a woman and killed a child.

There rose one of those universal shrieks of wild passion which announce that men have discarded all the trammels of civilization, and found in their licentious rage new and unforseen sources of power and vengeance. Where it came from, how it was obtained, who prompted the thought, who first accomplished it, were alike impossible to trace; but as it were in a moment, a number of trusses of straw were piled up before the house and set on fire, the gates of the timber-yard were forced, and a quantity of scantlings and battens soon fed the flame. Everything indeed that could stimulate the fire was employed; and every one was occupied in