Common as were the small fends between Ascott and his Aunt Selina, they seldom reached such a catastrophe as that described in my last chapter.

Hilary had to fly to the rescue, and literally drag the furious lad back into the school-room; while Johanna, pale and trembling, persuaded Selina to quit the field and go and lie down.
This was not difficult; for the instant she saw what she had done, how she had disgraced herself and insulted her nephew.

Selina felt sorry.

Her passion ended in a gush of "nervous" tears under the influence of which she was led up stairs and put to bed, almost like a child--the usual termination of these pitiful outbreaks.
For the time nobody thought of Elizabeth.

The hapless cause of all stood "spectatress of the fray" beside her kitchen fire.