She has surely gone into some
house, to remain until the storm is over," said Mrs. Condiment,
soothingly.
This speech, so well intended, exasperated Old Hurricane more than
all the rest; stopping and striking his cane upon the floor, he
roared forth:
"Hang it, mum! hold your foolish old tongue! You know nothing about
it! Capitola is exposed to more serious dangers than the elements!
Perils of all sorts surround her! She should never, rain or shine,
go out alone! Oh, the little villain! the little wretch! the little
demon! if ever I get her safe in this house again, won't I lock her
up and keep her on bread and water until she learns to behave
herself!"
Here again a blinding flash of lightning, a deafening peal of
thunder, a terrific blast of wind and flood of rain suddenly
arrested his speech.
"Oh, my Cap! my dear Cap! I needn't threaten you! I shall never have
the chance to be cruel to you again--never! You'll perish in this
terrible storm and then--and then my tough old heart will break! It
will--it will, Cap! But demmy, before it does, I'll break the necks
of every man and woman, in this house, old and young! Hear it,
heaven and earth, for I'll do it!"
All things must have an end. So, as the hours passed on, the storm
having spent all its fury, gradually grumbled itself into silence.
Old Hurricane also raged himself into a state of exhaustion so
complete that when the midnight hour struck he could only drop into
a chair and murmur:
"Twelve o'clock and no news of her yet!"
And then unwillingly he went to bed, attended by Mrs.
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