As he spoke, he spat in his hand, took a fresh grip of the ash stick, and, in spite or Mr Blakeford's cries for help and mercy, he thrashed him till the stick broke in pieces; and then, taking him by the collar with both hands, he shook him till he was tired, and ended by throwing him back in his chair. "There!" cried the farmer; "now do your worst, you cheating scoundrel. I'm satisfied; go and satisfy yourself, and much good may the money you have stolen from the poor, the fatherless, and the widow do you." As he said this he strode out of the office and banged the door. I was half stunned with fear and horror, and I remember how thankful I felt that I had seen Mrs Blakeford go out with Hetty half an hour before. While the thrashing was going on Mary had opened the door and looked in, but as if it were no business of hers, she had gone out again, and I was left the sole spectator. "Are you much hurt, sir?" I said in trembling tones as soon as we were alone. "Yes," he whispered hoarsely, and showing his teeth, "a good deal." "Shall I get you something, sir?" "Yes," he said, panting less hoarsely, "fetch that leather case out of the passage." I ran and fetched the heavy leather-covered box he meant, and placed it beside him, watching him anxiously, to see if he were better. "Now, fasten both the doors," he whispered, laying his hand upon his breast to keep down the panting as he drew his breath more easily, and wiped the perspiration from his face. I obeyed him, and then returned to his side. "Now unfasten that case, Antony," he said in quite a faint whisper; and going down on one knee I unbuckled a thick strap that was round it, and was about to raise the lid, but it was locked. "That will do," he said, suddenly changing his tone as he seized me by the jacket collar with one hand, the strap with the other. "You young villain!" he hissed; "you dog! Didn't I tell you to say I was out, and you let that bully in? I'll give you such a lesson as you will never forget." I was half stupefied as he raised the thick strap, and then brought it heavily down in blow after blow, cutting me all over the body, across the face, hands, legs, anywhere, and causing the most intense pain. I writhed and twined and screamed out under the first few blows in my agony; then a feeling of blind passion came over me, and I caught at and struggled with him for the possession of the strap, but in vain; for he kept me at bay with one hand and continued to beat me cruelly till I fell and then, placing one foot upon my chest, he beat me again till his arm fell in weariness to his side. "I'll teach you to mind me another time," he panted, as he gloated over me in his pitiful revenge for the beating he had himself received. "I'll give you something to remember this day by;" and, as I rose, he once more began to strike me; but this time I caught at the strap and held it with hands and teeth, twisting it round me and holding on while he strove to drag it away.