The urchin was quite breathless and confused; but as soon as he had gathered strength, and collected his senses, he set up a yell of rage, which might have been heard half a mile; upon which Mrs. Royden snatched him up, and landed him in a clothes-press, before he knew what new disaster was going to happen. His cries grew fainter and fainter to the ears of the family in the sitting-room, until, the dungeon door being closed, they were muffled and smothered altogether.
His mother, having disposed of him, reappeared in one of her worst humors.
"Go about your work, Hepsy!" she cried. "Lizzie, go and wash George's face. Stop your sniveling! What are you running off for, Sarah?"
"To get out of the noise," said Sarah.
"I've as good a mind to box your ears as ever I had to eat!" exclaimed her mother. "Sit down and finish that seam, you saucy thing!"
Sarah sat down, with a very wry face, while Mr. Royden, looking melancholy and displeased, left the house.
By dinner-time the children had worn off their ill temper, and Mrs. Royden had recovered her equanimity.
"Come, now, let us see if we can't have peace in the family," said Mr. Royden, as he sat down at the table, addressing the children, but intending the words for his wife's ear as well.
"Sammy keeps making faces at me!" complained Willie, whose eyes were still red with crying.
"O, I didn't!" exclaimed Samuel, with great candor.