"Say it again, John Hayes, and, by ------ I'll do for you." "Do for me?
Hang me," said Mr.Hayes, flourishing a stick, and perfectly pot-valiant, "do you think I care for a bastard and a-- ?" He did not finish the sentence, for the woman ran at him like a savage, knife in hand.

He bounded back, flinging his arms about wildly, and struck her with his staff sharply across the forehead.

The woman went down instantly.

A lucky blow was it for Hayes and her: it saved him from death, perhaps, and her from murder.
All this scene--a very important one of our drama--might have been described at much greater length; but, in truth, the author has a natural horror of dwelling too long upon such hideous spectacles: nor would the reader be much edified by a full and accurate knowledge of what took place.

The quarrel, however, though not more violent than many that had previously taken place between Hayes and his wife, was about to cause vast changes in the condition of this unhappy pair.
Hayes was at the first moment of his victory very much alarmed; he feared that he had killed the woman; and Wood started up rather anxiously too, with the same fancy.