He said, "I have a great mind to take you at your word.

I am too old and fond of quiet to drive a Simpleton in single harness." This contemptuous speech, and, above all, the word Simpleton, which had been applied to her pretty freely by young ladies at school, and always galled her terribly, inflicted so intolerable a wound on Rosa's vanity, that she was ready to burst: on that, of course, her stays contributed their mite of physical uneasiness.

Thus irritated mind and body, she burned to strike in return; and as she could not slap her father in the presence of another, she gave it Christopher back-handed.
"You can turn me out of doors," said she, "if you are tired of your daughter, but I am not such a SIMPLETON as to marry a tyrant.

No; he has shown the cloven foot in time.

A husband's AUTHORITY, indeed!" Then she turned her hand, and gave it him direct.