"It is that tall house before you come to the village,--a tall, tall house, with a wall all round, as if to keep prisoners in. I know there are no prisoners now. Of course not! There are people all about in the fields and everywhere, who would soon tell the policeman and set you free. I was not afraid. Still, if the gates had been shut, and they refused to open, I don't know what one would do. The lady was like a picture in the Pilgrim's Progress,--that one, you know--I thought her pretty at first. But then she held me in her arm as if I had been a baby." "Oh, it would be Those People!" said Minnie, moved to a passing exclamation of horror. "Never mind that now. You must not venture out again without the groom, for it makes your mother unhappy--Theo," said Mrs. Warrender, with a smile and a sigh, "when he was a little fellow like you, never did anything to make me unhappy." "Didn't he?" said Geoff seriously. "But I didn't know. How could I tell pony would so soon get hungry? He hasn't a regular dinner-time, as we have; only munches and munches all day. But I was telling you about the tall house." "You must tell me another time, Geoff. Theo must bring you back with him sometimes for a holiday." "Yes," said Geoff, "that would do better. Pony would go splendid by the side of Theo's big black. I shall come often--when I do my lessons well. I have never done any lessons except with mamma. Does Theo like teaching boys?" "I don't know, my dear. I don't think he has ever tried." "Then why is he coming to teach me? That, at the very bottom of it, you know, is what I wanted him to tell me; for he would not tell straight out, the real truth, before mamma." "I hope he always tells the real truth," said Mrs. Warrender gently. "I suppose, my little Geoff, it is because he is fond of you." Upon this Geoff shook his little head for a long time, twisting his face and blinking his keen little eyes. "He is not fond of me--oh no, it is not that. I can do with Theo very well,--as well as with any one; but he is not fond of me." "I am glad to hear that you can do with Theo," said the mother, much amused. "Yes. I don't mind him at all: but he is not fond of me; and he is sure not to teach mamma's way, and that is the only way I know. If he were to want to punish me, Mrs. Warrender----" "I hope, my dear, there will be no question of that." "I shouldn't mind," said the boy, "but mamma wouldn't like it. It might be very awkward for Theo. You are flogged when you go to school, aren't you? At least, all the books say so. Mamma," he went on, raising his voice, "here is a difficulty,--a great difficulty. If Theo should want to flog me, what should you do?"