“If ever I heard anything like this!” exclaimed Captain Thistlewood, striking the table with vehemence; “the insolence, the audacity of these young shrews!—the malice of that cantankerous old dame! You must be protected from them, Clemence. I’ll after and tell them—”
“O uncle, dear uncle, let them go!” exclaimed Clemence, holding the captain’s arm to prevent his sudden exit from the room; “you cannot help me, indeed you cannot; it will blow over, it will—”
“Blow over!” thundered the veteran, trying to extricate himself from her hold; “such a tornado may blow over indeed, but it will first blow you out of your senses! I’m glad I came here—I’m heartily glad. I’ll not have you exposed to this; I’ll—”
“Uncle!” cried Clemence nervously, “any movement on your part would only make matters a thousand times worse. For my sake be calm—be composed. There is nothing from which I so shrink as quarrels and dissensions in the house. Let us have peace—”
“Peace!” exclaimed the indignant captain; “lay down our arms—strike our flag to such viragoes as these! No; if your husband has not the spirit to keep these termagants in order—”
“If you would not make me miserable,” cried Clemence, “leave me and Mr. Effingham to smooth and settle things by ourselves. You cannot imagine the evil that might arise from the interference even of one so kind, and good, and loving as yourself! Be persuaded, dear uncle, be persuaded; take no notice of what has occurred.”
It was with considerable difficulty that Clemence succeeded to a certain degree in quieting the old man’s excitement. She persuaded him at length to leave the house for a few hours, in order to visit some London sights, knowing well that the sailor’s anger, though it might be warm, was never enduring. It was with a sense of real relief that she heard the hall door close behind him; and she earnestly hoped that he might find so much amusement that he would not return until Mr. Effingham had come back from his business in the city.
CAPTAIN THISTLEWOOD.
Page 91.
Before Clemence had had breathing time in which to recover from the excitement of the last painful scene, one of her footmen entered the room, with two envelopes on a silver salver. As Mrs. Effingham mechanically took them up, he informed her that Mrs. Ventner wished to speak to her for a few minutes.