Thanks, Jean. It's hard, because it's been so long, hard to believe he is that rigid! Nearly eight years is a long time to be thinking and silently fuming. In this way Anne's not participating in his issues, makes his behaviour stand out all the more for the reader. In the more current chapters we find out that it is so, that one mode of behaviour for the Captain in not necessarily right, his pride in his being firm or something, I can't remember the exact words. And as you say, because some folk can't put aside hurt feelings, given his rigid character, this is how he seems to express it, right "off the bat", as it comes.