You came robbing a hen-roost, and the dog drove you off.

You ran away from him, but he bit your legs.
No wonder he growled when he saw you again.

He knew what you were.
I wish now I hadn't held him in.

I wish I'd let him go at you, then p'raps it would have been you lying in the road howling, not him.
Oh, you thieves and cowards!" Her voice rang out clear and loud, but how much the men heard no one will ever know.

Probably they did not stay to hear much, for the last thing they wanted was to meet people, or to run any risk of being seen.
The wheels drew nearer, then the vicarage pony-carriage came round the bend.