e realized."

"And why not?" I demanded, rather fiercely.

"Young ladies in our days seldom commit matrimony with penniless
clerks."

This was said with a strong sneer.

"It may be so--and they are right not to involve themselves in misery.
I am penniless at present. But that is no reason that I am always to
remain so. I am young, healthy, industrious, with a mind willing and
able to work--why should I not make a fortune as others have done? As
my grandfather, for instance, did before me?"

"This is all true," said he, calmly, "and I admire your spirit,
Geoffrey; but, nephew" (this was the first time I ever remember his
calling me so), "there are other difficulties in the way of your making
a high and wealthy alliance, of which you have no idea."

I know not why--but a sudden tremor seized me as he said this. But
mastering my agitation, I begged him to explain his meaning.

"I have long wished to do so," said he, "but you were so violent and
unreasonable, that I thought it prudent to defer unpleasant
communications until you were older, and better able to take things
calmly. You have thought me a hard task-master, Geoffrey--a cruel
unfeeling tyrant, and from your earliest childhood have defied my
authority and resisted my will; yet you know not half the debt of
kindness you owe to me."

I was about to speak. He held up his hand for me to maintain silence;
which I did with a very bad grace; and he continued in the same cold
methodical way--

"Children are naturally averse to control, and are unable to discern
between sternness of manner, and a cold unfeeling hardness of heart;
and construe into insults and injuries the necessary restraint imposed
upon their actions for their good. Yours, I admit, was a painful
situation, which you rendered still more unpleasant by your obstinate
and resentful disposition."

"But, uncle!" I exclaimed, unable longer to hold my tongue, "you know I
was treated very ill."

"Who treated you so? I am very certain, that Rebecca indulged you, as
she never did one of her own children."

"My dear aunt! God bless her! she was the only creature in the house
who treated me with the least kindness. The very servants were
instructed to slight and insult me by your _amiable_ son, and his
servile tutor."

"He was a fool," said Mr. Moncton, refilling his glass. "As to
Theophilus, it was natural for him to dislike the lad who had robbed
him of his mother's affections, and who left him behi