Shaking her fist at her unconscious son, 'You rascal!' she cried.

'You paltry, impudent fellow! You would do it before my eyes, would you?
Oh, I would like to have the brooming of you! And that minx! Go down you,' she continued, turning fiercely on the trembling, wretched Thomasson--'go down this instant, sir, and--and interrupt them! Don't stand gaping there, but down to them, booby, without the loss of a moment! And bring him up before the word is said.

Bring him up, do you hear ?' 'Bring him up ?' said Mr.Thomasson, his breath coming quickly.

'I ?' 'Yes, you! Who else ?' 'I--I--but, my dear lady, he is--he can be very violent,' the unhappy tutor faltered, his teeth chattering, and his cheek flabby with fright.
'I have known him--and perhaps it would be better, considering my sacred office, to--to--' 'To what, craven ?' her ladyship cried furiously.
'To leave him awhile--I mean to leave him and presently--' Lady Dunborough's comment was a swinging blow, which the tutor hardly avoided by springing back.

Unfortunately this placed her ladyship between him and the door; and it is not likely that he would have escaped her cane a second time, if his wits, and a slice of good fortune, had not come to his assistance.