Complex sentence: Noye orders his family to board, but Mrs Noye and the Gossips refuse, preferring to drink; the sons carry Mrs Noye on (she slaps Noye's face).
Split into simpler sentences: Noye orders his family to board, but Mrs Noye and the Gossips refuse, preferring to drink. The sons carry Mrs. Noye on (she slaps Noye's face).