Thus died Mr. Sizer in 1854, and two
others quite recently. And how many more God only knows: we can't count
the stones at the bottom of a dark well.
Cooper then sprang furiously on Alfred, and went kneeling up and down
him. Cooper was a heavy man, and his weight crushed and hurt the victim's
legs; but that was a trifle: as often as he kneeled on Alfred's chest,
the crushed one's whole framework seemed giving way, and he could
scarcely breathe. But Brown drew Cooper back by the collar, saying, "D'ye
want to kill him?" And at this moment Mrs. Archbold, who was on the
watch, came in with Hannah and another nurse, and the three women at a
word from their leader pinned Cooper simultaneously, and, taking him at a
disadvantage, handcuffed him in a moment with a strength, sharpness,
skill, and determination not to be found in women out of a
madhouse--luckily for the newspaper husbands.
The other keepers looked astounded at this masterstroke; but, as no
servant had ever affronted Mrs. Archbold without being dismissed
directly, they took their cue and said, "We advised him, ma'am, but he
would not listen to us.
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