none of mine."

"Then be grateful to your uncle for once, in having chosen it for you."

"Do not expect impossibilities!" and I smiled bitterly.

"Not exactly. Yet, Geoffrey, many things which appear at first sight
impossible, only require a series of persevering efforts to become both
easy and practicable. You might render your unpleasant position with
your uncle more tolerable, by yielding to his authority with a better
grace. The constant opposition you make to his wishes, is both useless
and dangerous. Though you neither love nor respect him, and I should be
sorry if you could do either, yet he is entitled to obedience and a
certain degree of deference as your guardian and master."

"I never can willingly obey him," I cried, angrily, "or bring my mind
to submit to his authority."

"In which, I assure you as a friend, you are wrong. As long as his
commands do not interfere with any moral obligation, you are bound to
listen to them with respect."

"The man has always been my enemy, and would you have me become a
passive instrument in his hands?"

"Certainly, as long as you remain his clerk, and he does not require
your aid in any villainous transaction. If his intentions towards you
are evil, you cannot frustrate them better than by doing your duty.
Believe me, Geoffrey, you have a more dangerous enemy to contend with,
one bound to you by nearer ties, who exercises a more pernicious
influence over your mind."

"His sordid, selfish, counterpart--his _worthy_ son?"

George shook his head.

I looked inquiringly.

"A certain impetuous, wilful, wrong-headed boy, yclept Geoffrey
Moncton."

"Pish!" I exclaimed, shrugging my shoulders: "is this your friendship?"

"The best proof I can give you of it."

I walked hastily to and fro, the narrow limits of the chamber, raising,
at every step, a cloud of dust from folds of old, yellow parchment and
musty rolls of paper, which had accumulated there for the last half
century, and lay in a pile upon the floor. I was in no humour to listen
to a lecture, particularly when my own faulty temper was to be the
principal subject, and form the text. Harrison watched my movements for
some time in silence, with a provokingly-amused air; not in the least
discouraged by my wayward mood; but evidently ready for another attack.

"Prithee, Geoffrey, leave off raising that cloud of dust, disturbing
the evil spirits which have long slumbered in yon forgotten pile of
professional rub