you come to me with such
tales, you shall not leave your bed for a week."

I sprang from the floor, where his blow had sent me; and stood erect
before him. It was a pigmy confronting a giant; but my blood was
boiling. I had lost all control over myself. "It's a lie!" I cried,
shaking my fist at Mr. Jones. "A monstrous falsehood! He knows it is.
Theophilus knows it is. I have been falsely accused and unjustly
punished; I will remember that blow to my dying day. I will never
forget nor forgive it."

"And who cares, my hero, for your impotent rage?" My uncle seized me by
my thick curling hair, and turned round my face, hot with passion and
streaming with tears of rage, to the gaze of my sneering enemies. "I
will make you know, that you are in my house and in my power--and you
_shall_ submit to my authority, and the authority of those I choose to
place over you."

I struggled desperately in his herculean grasp in order to free myself.
He laughed at my impotent rage and then threw me on the floor--and this
time, I was quiet enough.

When I recovered my senses, I found myself lying upon the bed in the
garret, allotted to my use. My aunt was sitting beside me, bathing my
temples with vinegar and water. "Oh, aunt," I sighed, closing my eyes,
"I wish I were dead!"

"Hush! Geoffrey. You brought this on yourself. I told you how it would
be."

"It was so unjust," I replied with bitterness.

"And you were so rash. You will be wiser another time."

"When I am as wicked as my persecutors."

"No need of quoting others, my son, while you suffer such violent
passions to master you. Listen to me, my child. I have known your uncle
for years--have seen him in his darkest and stormiest moods; and
contrived to live peaceably with him. Nay, he respects me more than he
does any one else in the world. But I never _opposed his will_. He is
not a man to be trifled with--tears and complaints are useless. You
cannot touch his heart. He _will_ be obeyed. Left to himself, he may
become your friend, and even treat you with a certain degree of
kindness and consideration. But if you anger him, he will never
forgive, and can be a dreadful enemy. If you love me, Geoffrey, follow
my advice and submit to his authority with a good grace."

"I will try not to hate him for your dear sake. I can promise no more!"

I kissed her hand and fell back exhausted on my pillow. My head ached
dreadfully from the ill-treatment I had received; and wounded pri