e--it won't
take an instant. You shan't come out the front way, and you'll be stopped
if you climb the wall!"

"But why? Do you take me for a lunatic, or what?" he gasped out bitterly.

"Never mind what I take you for!"

"You're treating me as though I were one!"

"You've got to stay and see my uncle."

"I shan't! Let me go, I tell you! You shall you shall! I hate your
uncle, and you too!" But that was only half true, even then while he was
struggling almost as passionately as though the girl had been another boy.
He could not strike her; but that was the only line he drew, for she would
grapple with him, and release himself he must. Over went walnut whatnots,
and out came mutterings that made him hotter than ever for very shame.
But he did not hate her even for what she made him say; all his hatred and
all his fear were of the dreadful doctor whose will she was obeying; and
both were at their highest pitch when the door burst open, and in he
sprang to part them with a look. But it was a look that hurt more than
word or blow; never had poor Pocket endured or imagined such a steady,
silent downpour of indignation and contempt. It turned his hatred almost
in a moment to hatred of himself; his fear it only increased.

"Leave us, Phillida," said Baumgartner at last. Phillida was in tears,
and Pocket had been hanging his head; but now he sprang towards her.

"Forgive me!" he choked, and held the door open for her, and shut it after
her with all the gallantry the poor lad had left.

ON PAROLE

"So," said Dr. Baumgartner, "you not only try to play me false, but you
seize the first opportunity when my back is turned! Not only do you break
your promise, but you break it with brutal violence to a young lady who
has shown you nothing but kindness!"

Pocket might have replied with justice that the young lady had brought the
violence upon herself; but that would have made him out a greater cad than
ever, in his own eyes at any rate. He preferred to defend his honour as
best he could, which was chiefly by claiming the right to change his mind
about what was after all his own affair. But that was precisely what
Baumgartner would not allow for a moment; it was just as much his affair
as accessory after the fact, and in accordance with their mutual and final
agreement overnight. Pocket could only rejoin that he had never meant to
give the doctor away at all.

"I daresay not!" said Baumgartner sardonica