This is either insanity or intoxication,

　　'This is  either insanity  or intoxication,'  said Miss  Murdstone, in a perfect agony  at not  being able  to turn  the current  of my  aunt's address   towards herself; 'and my suspicion is that it's intoxication.'

　　Miss Betsey, without taking the  least notice of the interruption,  continued to address herself to Mr. Murdstone as if there had been no such thing.

　　'Mr. Murdstone,' she said, shaking her finger at him, 'you were a tyrant to  the simple baby, and you broke  her heart.  She was a  loving baby - I know  that; I knew it,  years before  you ever  saw her  - and  through the  best part  of her weakness you  gave her  the wounds  she died  of.  There  is the  truth for your comfort, however you like it.  And you and your instruments may make the most of it.'

　　'Allow me to inquire, Miss  Trotwood,' interposed Miss Murdstone, 'whom  you are pleased  to call,  in a  choice of   words in  which I  am not  experienced,  my brother's instruments?'

　　'It was clear enough, as  I have told you, years  before YOU ever saw her  - and why, in the  mysterious dispensations of  Providence, you ever  did see her,  is more than  humanity can  comprehend -  it was  clear enough  that the  poor soft little thing  would marry  somebody, at  some time  or other;  but I did hope it wouldn't  have been  as bad  as it   has turned  out.  That  was the  time,  Mr. Murdstone, when  she gave  birth to  her boy  here,' said  my aunt; 'to the poor child you sometimes  tormented her through  afterwards, which is  a disagreeable remembrance  and makes  the sight  of him  odious now.   Aye, aye!  you  needn't wince!' said my aunt.  'I know it's true without that.'

　　He had stood by the door, all this while, observant of her with a smile upon his face, though his black eyebrows were heavily contracted.  I remarked now,  that, though the smile was on his face still, his colour had gone in a moment, and  he seemed to breathe as if he had been running.

　　'Good day, sir,'  said my aunt,  'and good-bye!  Good  day to you,  too, ma'am,' said my aunt, turning suddenly upon his  sister.  'Let me see you ride a  donkey over my green again, and  as sure as you have  a head upon your shoulders,  I'll knock your bonnet off, and tread upon it!'