The manufacturer with a snarl like that of an angry wild beast was about to rush at him, but Ned's attitude as he stood, poker in hand, checked him.
"Stand back," Ned said threateningly, "or I will strike you.

You coward and bully; for months I have put up with your tyrannizing over Charlie and Lucy, but touch either of them again if you dare.

You think that you are stronger than I am--so you are ever so much; but you lay a finger on them or on me, and I warn you, if I wait a month for an opportunity I will pay you for it, if you kill me afterward." Mrs.Mulready's screams had by this time brought the servants into the room, and they stood astonished at the spectacle.
Lucy crying bitterly had run to Ned and thrown her arms round him, begging him to be quiet.

Charlie, hardly recovered from the heavy blows he had received, was crying too.

Mr.Mulready as pale as death was glaring at Ned, while his wife had thrown herself between them.