He sprang upon her, and seizing her by the arm, whirled her to her feet
with no little violence, snatching the powder-flask from her, and dealing
her a sound box on the ear.

"Blood and damnation on thee, thou impudent little baggage!" he shouted.
"I'll break thy neck for thee, little scurvy beast;" and pulled the bell
as he were like to break the wire.

But he had reckoned falsely on what he dealt with. Miss uttered a shriek
of rage which rang through the roof like a clarion. She snatched the
crop from the floor, rushed at him, and fell upon him like a thousand
little devils, beating his big legs with all the strength of her passion,
and pouring forth oaths such as would have done credit to Doll Lightfoot
herself.

"Damn _thee_!--damn _thee_!"--she roared and screamed, flogging him.
"I'll tear thy eyes out! I'll cut thy liver from thee! Damn thy soul to
hell!"

And this choice volley was with such spirit and fury poured forth, that
Sir Jeoffry let his hand drop from the bell, fell into a great burst of
laughter, and stood thus roaring while she beat him and shrieked and
stormed.

The servants, hearing the jangled bell, attracted by the tumult, and of a
sudden missing Mistress Clorinda, ran in consternation to the hall, and
there beheld this truly pretty sight--Miss beating her father's legs, and
tearing at him tooth and nail, while he stood shouting with laughter as
if he would split his sides.