‘You aggravating brat!’ exclaimed the enraged woman, ’I wish I had something to throw at you!’

‘Did you throw things at my father?’ asked his lordship.

Mrs. Cadurcis went into an hysterical rage; then, suddenly jumping up, she rushed at her son.  Lord Cadurcis took up a position behind the table, but the sportive and mocking air which he generally instinctively assumed on these occasions, and which, while it irritated his mother more, was in reality affected by the boy from a sort of nervous desire of preventing these dreadful exposures from assuming a too tragic tone, did not characterise his countenance on the present occasion; on the contrary, it was pale, but composed and very serious.  Mrs. Cadurcis, after one or two ineffectual attempts to catch him, paused and panted for breath.  He took advantage of this momentary cessation, and spoke thus, ’Mother, I am in no humour for frolics.  I moved out of your way that you might not strike me, because I have made up my mind that, if you ever strike me again, I will live with you no longer.  Now, I have given you warning; do what you please; I shall sit down in this chair, and not move.  If you strike me, you know the consequences.’  So saying, his lordship resumed his chair.

Mrs. Cadurcis simultaneously sprang forward and boxed his ears; and then her son rose without the slightest expression of any kind, and slowly quitted the chamber.

Mrs. Cadurcis remained alone in a savage sulk; hours passed away, and her son never made his appearance.  Then she rang the bell, and ordered the servant to tell Lord Cadurcis that tea was ready; but the servant returned, and reported that his lordship had locked himself up in his room, and would not reply to his inquiries.  Determined not to give in, Mrs. Cadurcis, at length, retired for the night, rather regretting her violence, but still sullen.  Having well scolded her waiting-woman, she at length fell asleep.

The morning brought breakfast, but no Lord Cadurcis; in vain were all the messages of his mother, her son would make no reply to them.  Mrs. Cadurcis, at length, personally repaired to his room and knocked at the door, but she was as unsuccessful as the servants; she began to think he would starve, and desired the servant to offer from himself to bring his meal.  Still silence.  Indignant at his treatment of these overtures of conciliation, Mrs. Cadurcis returned to the saloon, confident that hunger, if no other impulse, would bring her wild cub out of his lair; but, just before dinner, her waiting-woman came running into the room.

’Oh, ma’am, ma’am, I don’t know where Lord Cadurcis has gone; but I have just seen John, and he says there was no pony in the stable this morning.’