Friend Phineas perceived the effect that he had made, but set a wrong meaning on it.

Taking it as a ground for encouragement, he loosed his tongue yet more outrageously, and so battered the unhappy subject of his censures that my ears tingled, and suddenly I strode quickly up to the group, intent on silencing him; but a great brawny porter, with a dirty red face, was beforehand with me.

Elbowing his way irresistibly through the ranks, he set himself squarely before Phineas, and, wagging his head significantly enough, growled out: "Say what you will of Castlemaine and the rest, Master Ranter, but keep your tongue off Nelly." A murmur of applause ran round.

They knew Nelly: here in the Lane was her kingdom.
"Let Nelly alone," said the porter, "if you value whole bones, master." Phineas was no coward, and threats served only to fan the flame of his zeal.

I had started to stop his mouth; it seemed likely that I must employ myself in saving his head.