A small crowd was collected round the spot where Billy was usually in the habit of pursuing his business, and loud voices proclaimed that the occasion was one of anything but peace.
Curiosity tempted me to draw near, and a strange sight met my view as I did so.

The central figures of the group were Billy and his "old gal," whom I recognised at once as the woman who had so vehemently ill-used him in the court that memorable evening weeks ago.

She was a sad spectacle, more than half drunk, with every trace of tenderness and womanliness stamped out of her features.
If I had not recognised her by her appearance I should probably have done so by her occupation at that moment, for she was engaged in chastising her offspring with all the vehemence and all the cruelty of her former performances.

But in the present case there was a difference.

Billy, instead of taking his castigation meekly, as before, was violently resisting by shout and kick the attentions of his relative.