The maid held back: the landlady feared.
'We can but try,' she said.
'Oh! I wish, mum, you'd face him, 'stead o' me,' said Mary; 'I do dread that old bear's den.' 'Here, I will go,' said Mrs.Mel.

'Has he got his ale?
Better draw it fresh, if he drinks any.' And upstairs she marched, the landlady remaining below to listen for the commencement of the disturbance.

An utterance of something certainly followed Mrs.Mel's entrance into the old bear's den.

Then silence.

Then what might have been question and answer.