“So you're come back, Mr. Martin,” he said. “These are nice carryings-on for a young gentleman.” I thought that I might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb. Ephraim's tone jarred me, so I told him to shut up, as I didn't want any of his jaw. This rather staggered him, so I told him further to open the boat-house, instead of standing like a stock, as I wanted to moor the boat. He opened the door for me, glowering at me moodily. “Mr. Hyde shall know of this,” he said when all was secured. He caught me by the arm to drag me out of the boat-house; so I, expecting this, rapped him shrewdly with the stretcher on the elbow. I thought for a moment that he would beat me. I could see his face very fierce in the dusk. I heard his teeth gritting. Then fear of my uncle restrained him. All that he said was, “If I 'ad my way I'd 'ave it out of you for this. A good sound whippin's what you want.” “Is it?” I asked contemptuously. “Lock the door.” Ephraim left me in the sitting-room while he made his report to my uncle. It was not a long report. He returned in a few minutes to say that I was to be locked into my room without supper. “Mr. 'Ide is in a fine taking,” he said. “Per'aps 'e'll knock some of your pride out of you.” I made no answer, but let him march me to my room, to the execution of the sentence. “There,” he said, through the door, as he turned the key on me. “Per'aps that'll bring you to your senses.” “Ephraim the stiff-neck!” I answered loudly; “Old Ephraim Stiff-neck! Stiff-neck!” “Ah,” he answered, clumping down the corridor. He was thinking how small I should sing when, in the morning, he gave me the option of apologizing to him, or going without breakfast.