And all this gave great offence, not only to Mrs. Muggins and her daughter, but to all the gossips of the neighbourhood; and they insisted upon his bundling himself off, and he would not. Then they attempted to bundle him off themselves, and then he flew into a great rage, and swore he would beat Mrs. Muggins to a mummy and mollify her heart with his _fistes_, since he could not soften it with sighs; and then they gave him into custody of a constable for fear he should do so. These things having been detailed to the magistrate by the daughter and neighbours of Mrs. Muggins--for Mrs. Muggins herself was too much alarmed to appear--his worship asked the forlorn old swain what he had to say to it. "Your honour," replied Peter, "I have been desperately ill-used. She--she knows she has ill-used me: and yet I can't forget she, for the life of me! When a man's in love, your honour, it's of no use talking to him! They may punch me and knock me about, but they can't knock the love out of me; and your honour may send me to quod, but quod won't cure me. What is it I would not do for _she_?--(_Mrs. Muggins_, he would have said, but Mrs. Muggins stuck in his--gizzard). What is it I wouldn't do for she? And yet you see how she uses me. Your honour, I've served my king and country many a long year, and have seen hard service in all parts of the world, and have seen many places took by storm, and it's desperate hard to be used a _thisns_ after all!" His worship admitted that it was very hard; but as it was evident the lady was determined not to yield, it behoved him to raise the siege and go into quiet quarters, for he certainly would not be allowed to take _her_ by _storm_. Peter declared he had no intention of taking her by storm; and said if she would only write him an answer to the letter he had _shoved_ under her door, he would try to be content. His accusers undertook that the letter should be answered--if it could be found; and eventually Peter was discharged, with an admonition to cease from pestering Mrs. Muggins, on pain of imprisonment. A DUN AT SUPPER TIME. Mr. John Dunn appeared upon a warrant to answer the complaint of Mrs. Amelia Groutage. Mrs. Amelia Groutage is an elderly lady of some sixteen stone or thereabout, and short in proportion--or, more properly speaking, out of proportion; for it is a doubt whether her breadth is not nearly equal to her height. We are thus particular in her admeasurement, because it materially influenced the decision on her complaint. She deposed, that upon her going to Mr. Dunn's house to demand payment of some money he owed her, he took her _round the waist_ with _one_ arm, whilst he gave her a violent blow on her shoulder with the other, and then turned her out of door. The magistrate expressed some doubt whether so small a man as Mr. Dunn could encircle her waist with _one_ arm; but she assured him it was the fact; and so Mr. Dunn was called upon for his defence.