It was indeed a case of difficulty.  Mynheer Vandersloosh, before he had quitted this transitory scene, had become a personage as bulky as the widow herself, and the bed had been made unusually wide; the widow still retained the bed for her own use, for there was no knowing whether she might not again be induced to enter the hymeneal state.  It occupied more than one half of the room, and the dog had gained a position from which it was not easy for two women to dislodge him; and, as the dog snarled and growled under the bed, so did the widow’s wrath rise as she stood shivering—­and it was directed against the master.  She vowed mentally, that so sure as the dog was under the bed, so sure should his master never get into it.

And Babette’s wrath was also kindled, now that the first pain of the bite had worn off; she seized the broom again, and made some furious lunges at Snarleyyow, so furious, that he could not regain possession with his teeth.  The door of the room had been left open that the dog might escape—­so had the street-door; and the widow stood at the foot of the bed, waiting for some such effect being produced by Babette’s vigorous attacks; but the effects were not such as she anticipated; the dog became more enraged, and at last sprang out at the foot of the bed, flew at the widow, tore her only garment, and bit her in the leg.  Frau Vandersloosh screamed and reeled—­reeled against the door left half open, and falling against it, slammed it to with her weight, and fell down shrieking.  Snarleyyow, who probably had intended to make off, seeing that his escape was prevented, again retreated under the bed, and as soon as he was there he recommenced an attack upon Babette’s legs.

Now, it appears, that what the united courage of the two females could not accomplish, was at last effected by their united fears.  The widow Vandersloosh gained her legs as soon as she could, and at first opened the door to run out, but her night dress was torn to ribbons in front.  She looked at her situation—­modesty conquered every other feeling—­she burst into tears, and exclaiming, “Mr Vanslyperken!  Mr Vanslyperken!” she threw herself in an ecstasy of grief and rage on the centre of the bed.  At the same moment the teeth of the dog were again fixed upon the ankles of Babette, who also shrieked, and threw herself on the bed, and upon her mistress.  The bed was a good bed, and had for years done its duty; but you may even overload a bed, and so it proved in this instance.  The united weights of the mistress and the maid coming down upon it with such emphasis, was more than the bed could bear—­the sacking gave way altogether, and the mattress which they lay upon was now supported by the floor.