'Yes, mother,' he said, 'I went to chapel, an' took my whip with me. I
meant to scruff Shine before the lot o' them, an' lash him black an'
blue.'
'That was shameful--shameful!
'Anyhow, I didn't do it. She came an' put me off, an' I sneaked out as if
I'd been licked myself. I couldn't have hammered the brute before her
eyes, but--but--'
'But you meant to; is that it? Henry, you almost make me despair. Have
you no more respect for yourself? Have you none for me?'
'I couldn't stand it. You've heard. It made me mad!'
'I have heard all, and I think Mr. Shine is a well intentioned man whose
faith, such as it is, is honest; but he is ignorant, coarse-fibred, and
narrow-minded. He is doing right according to his own poor, dim light,
and could not be convinced otherwise by any word or act of ours; but his
preachings can do me no injury. They do not irritate me in the
least--indeed, I am not sure that they do not amuse me.'
'Ah, mother, that's like you; you philosophise your way through a
difficulty, and I always want to fight my way out. It's so much easier.'
'Yes, dear; but do you get out? Do you know that Ephraim Shine is the
most litigious man in the township? He runs to the law with every little
trouble, whilst inviting his neighbours to carry all theirs to the Lord.
Had you beaten him he would have proceeded against you, and--Oh! my boy,
my boy! are you going to make my troubles greater? And I had such hopes.
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