e knocked down Sir Kennington Oval's wicket, had I not
been as proud as he was? When the trumpet sounded, did not I feel
the honour more than he? When he made his last triumphant run, and
I threw my hat in the air, was it not to me sweeter than if I had
done it myself? Did I not even love him the better for swearing that
he would make this fight for Crasweller? But yet it was necessary
that I should command obedience, and, if possible, frighten him into
subservience. We talk of a father's power, and know that the old
Romans could punish filial disobedience by death; but a Britannulan
father has a heart in his bosom which is more powerful than law or
even custom, and I believe that the Roman was much the same. "My
dear, I will not discuss my future intentions before the boy. It
would be unseemly. I command him to start for New Zealand the day
after to-morrow, and I shall see whether he will obey me. I strongly
advise him to be governed in this matter by his father." Jack only
shook his head, and left the room. I became aware afterwards that he
slept that night at Little Christchurch.

That night I received such a lecture from Mrs Neverbend in our
bedroom as might have shamed that Mrs Caudle of whom we read in
English history. I hate these lectures, not as thinking them
unbecoming, but as being peculiarly disagreeable. I always find
myself absolutely impotent during their progress. I am aware that
it is quite useless to speak a word, and that I can only allow the
clock to run itself down. What Mrs Neverbend says at such moments has
always in it a great deal of good sense; but it is altogether wasted,
because I knew it all beforehand, and with pen and ink could have
written down the lecture which she delivered at that peculiar moment.
And I fear no evil results from her anger for the future, because her
conduct to me will, I know by experience, be as careful and as kind
as ever. Were another to use harsh language to me, she would rise in
wrath to defend me. And she does not, in truth, mean a tenth of what
she says. But I am for the time as though I were within the clapper
of a mill; and her passion goes on increasing because she can never
get a word from me. "Mr Neverbend, I tell you this,--you are going to
make a fool of yourself. I think it my duty to tell you so, as your
wife. Everybody else will think it. Who are you, to liken yourself
to Galileo?--an old fellow of that kind who lived a thousand years
ago, before Chri