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Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902

"The Way of All Flesh"

"
He looked very angry, and a shade came over Ernest's face, like that
which comes upon the face of a puppy when it is being scolded without
understanding why. The child saw well what was coming now, was
frightened, and, of course, said "tum" once more.
"Very well, Ernest," said his father, catching him angrily by the
shoulder. "I have done my best to save you, but if you will have it so,
you will," and he lugged the little wretch, crying by anticipation, out
of the room. A few minutes more and we could hear screams coming from
the dining-room, across the hall which separated the drawing-room from
the dining-room, and knew that poor Ernest was being beaten.
"I have sent him up to bed," said Theobald, as he returned to the drawing-
room, "and now, Christina, I think we will have the servants in to
prayers," and he rang the bell for them, red-handed as he was.


CHAPTER XXIII

The man-servant William came and set the chairs for the maids, and
presently they filed in. First Christina's maid, then the cook, then the
housemaid, then William, and then the coachman. I sat opposite them, and
watched their faces as Theobald read a chapter from the Bible.


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