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Show 65 When Elise saw the big Stationers' man grab Lathrop and hold him fast, she swung her parcel wildly at the other man out of fear for their lives. He ducked to avoid being hit by the whirling bag. Elise lost her balance and stumbled to the floor. "Elise!" Lathrop's involuntary reprimand for her unladylike act drew Hannah's attention. At the sound of Lathrop's voice, Hannah turned to see Elise fall to the floor. "What have you done to Elise?" Hannah spoke fiercely. "I've done nothing!" said the mouse. "I can see that! Just like you didn't do a thing to the printer!" "She struck at me!" bemoaned the small man. "A woman strikes you, and she ends up on the floor, scared out of her wits and trembling from fright and pain--is that what you are going to tell the judge?" The story did sound preposterous even to Lathrop who had just witnessed it. Hannah helped Elise to her feet. "I'll show you she's not hurt," the man started toward Elise who suddenly backed away as though in terror of the man. "Don't lay another hand on her!" The command from |