As I ended, my father rose, very angry, and cried out, “Come this way!” But my mother caught me, saying, “No! no! Look, John! see his poor neck and his wrist! What a brute! I tell thee, thou shalt not! it were a sin. Leave him to me,” and she thrust me behind her as if for safety. To my surprise, he said, “As thou wilt,” and my mother hurried me away. We had a grave, sweet talk, and there it ended for a time. I learned that, after all, the woman’s was the stronger will. I was put to bed and declared to have a fever, and given sulphur and treacle, and kept out of the paternal paths for a mournful day of enforced rest. On the Monday following I went to school as usual, but not without fear of Dove. When we were all busy, about ten o’clock, I was amazed to hear my father’s voice. He stood before the desk, and addressed Master Dove in a loud voice, meaning, I suppose, to be heard by all of us. “David Dove,” he said, “my son hath been guilty of disrespect to thee, and to thy office. I do not say he has lied, for it is my belief that thou art truly an unjust and cruel beast. As for his sin, he has suffered enough [I felt glad of this final opinion]; but a bargain was made. He, on his part, for a consideration of one pound sterling, was to tell thee who wrote certain words. He has paid thee and thou hast taken interest out of his skin. Indeed, Friend Shylock, I think he weighs less by a pound. Thou wilt give him his pound, Master David.” Upon this a little maid near by smiled at me, and Warder punched me in the ribs. Master Dove was silent a moment, and then answered that there was no law to make him pay, and that he had spoken lightly, as one might say, “I would give this or that to know.” But my father replied at once: “The boy trusted thee, and was as good as his word. I advise thee to pay. As thou art Master to punish boys, so will I, David, use thy birch on thee at need, and trust to the great Master to reckon with me if I am wrong.” All this he said so fiercely that I trembled with joy, and hoped that Dove would deny him; but, in place of this, he muttered something about Meeting and Friends, and meanwhile searched his pockets and brought out a guinea. This my father dropped into his breeches pocket, saying, “The shilling will be for interest” (a guinea being a shilling over a king’s pound). After this, turning to me, he said, “Come with me, Hugh,” and went out of the school-house, I following after, very well pleased, and thinking of my guinea. I dared not ask for it, and I think he forgot it. He went along homeward, with his head bent and his hands behind his back. In common, he walked with his head up and his chin set forward, as though he did a little look down on the world of other men; and this in truth he did, being at least sis feet three inches in his stocking-feet, and with no lack of proportion in waist or chest.