"That will do for the present," cried Miss Dragwell; "now here's the cat, take it in your arms, go to the window, and nurse it like a baby.

I'll throw it open--you come forward and make them a curtsey; that will spread the report through the town that you are mad, and the rest will then be easy." "Oh! I can't--I can't go to the window, I can't, indeed." "I'll open the window and speak to the people," said Miss Dragwell; and she threw up the sash, informing the gaping multitude that Mrs Forster was quite out of her senses, but perfectly harmless.
"Perfectly harmless, after killing a man!" observed one of the party below.
"They won't believe me, Mrs Forster; come, you must, or you will certainly be _hanged_." Urged by her fears, Mrs Forster approached the window, and showed herself to the astonished crowd.

"Curtsey to them," said Miss Dragwell, holding her handkerchief before her mouth.
Mrs Forster curtsied.
"Smile upon them," continued the malicious young lady.
Mrs Forster grinned horribly.
"Now dance your cat." Mrs Forster obeyed the injunction.
"Now give a loud shriek, and toss the cat out of window." Mrs Forster uttered a hideous yell, and threw the animal at the heads of the spectators, who retreated with alarm in every direction.
"Now burst into a fit of laughter, curtsey to them, and wave your hand, and that will be sufficient." Mrs Forster obeyed the last order, and Miss Dragwell shut the window.

In a few minutes the report spread that Mrs Forster had gone out of her senses; and the murder of Mr Spinney--a topic which was nearly exhausted--was dismissed for the time to dwell and comment upon the second catastrophe..