in the hall, and
gave her a faithful account of her son's conduct during the morning.
"And now, Mrs. Elwyn," said he, "the promise was, that I was not to be
interfered with in my government of your son. As long as he hears your
voice at the door, and knows that he has your sympathy on his side, he
will continue obstinate and rebellious."

"But, Mr. Malcolm, excuse me, but you do not know how to manage him, you
should soothe and coax him; he will not be driven. Oh, I cannot bear to
hear him scream so," she exclaimed, as a louder roar from Lewie reached
her ears; "Oh, Mr. Malcolm, I must go to him."

"Not unless you desire, madam, that I should resign at once, and
forever, the charge of your son," said Mr. Malcolm, laying his hand upon
the lock to prevent her carrying her purpose into execution. "I have
spent this whole morning," he continued, "in expostulation and
persuasion, and in endeavoring, as I always do, to make the lessons
plain and interesting to my pupil; but Lewie is in one of his perverse
humors, and nothing but decision as unyielding as his own obstinacy,
will conquer him. If you will return to your own room and allow me the
sole management of him, I will remain here to-day till I have subdued
him, if the thing is possible."

"You will not use _severity_, Mr. Malcolm," said the weeping mother.

"Never in the way of corporeal punishment, madam. When I cannot govern a
pupil without having recourse to such means, I will abandon him. But I
must stipulate that untill Lewie submits, and learns that lesson, which
he could easily learn in a few minutes, if he chose, he goes without
food, and remains in the library with me. I am deeply interested in your
son, Mrs. Elwyn; he is a boy of fine talents, and of too many good
qualities of heart, to be allowed to go to destruction. I would save
him if I can, but he must be left to me. I have the hope of yet seeing
him a noble and useful character, but I must do it in my own way."

Mrs. Elwyn silently acquiesced, and withdrew to her own room very
wretched. If she had been willing to inflict upon herself one tithe of
the pain she suffered now, in controlling her son in his infancy, how
different he might have been, as he grew up towards manhood.

Mr. Malcolm returned to the library, and told Lewie that his mother had
decided to leave them settle this matter between themselves. He should
remain there, he said; he could employ himself very agreeably with the
books. Lewie