The girl, thunderstruck at seeing him, was unable to speak.

She wept beneath his abuse, and whist she was overcome by sobbing, bowing her head and hiding her face, Justin called her a convict's daughter, and shouted that old Rebufat would give her a good thrashing should she ever dare to return to Jas-Meiffren.
For a quarter of an hour he thus kept her smarting and trembling.

Some people had gathered round, and grinned stupidly at the painful scene.
At last a few insurgents interfered, and threatened the young man with exemplary chastisement if he did not leave Miette alone.

But Justin, although he retreated, declared that he was not afraid of them.

It was just at this moment that Silvere came up.