The rest of the sentence went spinning dizzily through Dick’s head, as a sudden tingling sensation pervaded his left ear, followed by a similar smart in the right; and, for a moment, chaos seemed to have come again.  Whatever Dolly did was thoroughly done:  when she danced, the soles of her shoes attested the fact; when she flirted, it was warm work while it lasted; and when she was angry, it thundered, lightened, and blew great guns till the shower came, and the whole affair ended in a rainbow.  Therefore, being outwitted, disappointed, mortified, and hurt, her first impulse was to find a vent for these conflicting emotions, and possessing skillful hands, she left them to avenge the wrong done her heart, which they did so faithfully, that if ever a young gentleman’s ears were vigorously and completely boxed, Dick was that young individual.  As the thunder-clap ceased, the gale began and blew steadily for several minutes.

“You think it a joke, do you?  I tell you, it’s a wicked, cruel thing; you’ve told a lie; you’ve broken August’s heart, and made me so angry that I’ll never forgive you as long as I live.  What do you know about my feelings? and how dare you take it upon yourself to answer for me?  You think because we are the same age that I am no older than you, but you’re mistaken, for a boy of eighteen is a boy, a girl is often a woman, with a woman’s hopes and plans; you don’t understand this any more than you do August’s love for me, which you listened to and laughed at.  I said I didn’t like him, and I didn’t find out till afterward that I did; then I was afraid to tell you lest you’d twit me with it.  But now I care for no one, and I say I do like him,—­yes, I love him with all my heart and soul and might and I’d die this minute if I could undo the harm you’ve done, and see him happy.  I know I’ve been selfish, vain, and thoughtless, but I am not now; I hoped he’d love me, hoped he’d see I cared for him, that I’d done trifling, and didn’t mind if he was poor, for I’d enough for both; that I longed to make his life pleasant after all his troubles; that I’d send for the little sister he loves so well, and never let him suffer any more; for he is so good, so patient, so generous, and dear to me, I cannot do enough for him.  Now it’s all spoilt; now I can never tell him this, never comfort him in any way, never be happy again all my life, and you have done it.”

As Dolly stood before her brother, pouring out her words with glittering eyes, impetuous voice, and face pale with passionate emotion, he was scared; for as his scattered wits returned to him, he felt that he had been playing with edge tools, and had cut and slashed in rather a promiscuous manner.  Dazed and dizzy, he sat staring at the excited figure before him, forgetting the indignity he had received, the mistake he had made, the damage he had done, in simple wonder at the revolutions going on under his astonished eyes.  When Dolly stopped for breath, he muttered with a contrite look,—­