Hardly had he got into the room, when, without any preliminary discussion, aunt Rachel--to use her own words--pitched into him to give him particular fits.

Now Charlie, not being disposed to receive "particular fits," made some efforts to return the hard compliments that were being showered upon him, and the advice of Kinch providentially occurring to him--respecting an attack upon the understanding of his venerable antagonist--he brought his hard shoes down with great force upon her pet corn, and by this _coup de pied_ completely demolished her.

With a loud scream she let him go; and sitting down upon the floor, declared herself lamed for life, beyond the possibility of recovery.

At this stage of the proceedings, Robberts came to the rescue of his aged coadjutor, and seized hold of Charlie, who forthwith commenced so brisk an attack upon his rheumatic shins, as to cause him to beat a hurried retreat, leaving Charlie sole master of the field.

The noise that these scuffles occasioned brought Mrs.Thomas into the kitchen, and Charlie was marched off by her into an upstairs room, where he was kept in "durance vile" until the arrival of his mother.
Mrs.Thomas had a strong liking for Charlie--not as a boy, but as a footman.