The Monctons | Page 7

interest, by a few judicious
presents; while he fostered his dislike to me, by informing him of
circumstances regarding my birth and family, with which I never
became acquainted until some years afterwards. At this distance of time,
I can almost forgive Mr. Jones, for the indifference and contempt he
felt for his junior pupil.
Influenced by these feelings, he taught me as little as he could; but I
had a thirst for knowledge, and he could not hinder me from listening
and profiting by his instructions to my cousin. Fortunately for me,
Theophilus did not possess either a brilliant or inquiring mind.
Learning was very distasteful to him; and Mr. Jones had to repeat his
instructions so often, that it enabled me to learn them by heart. Mr.
Jones flattered and coaxed his indolent pupil; but could not induce him
to take any interest in his studies, so that I soon shot far ahead of him,
greatly to the annoyance of both master and pupil; the former doing his
best to throw every impediment in my way.
I resented the injustice of this conduct with much warmth, and told him,
"that I would learn in spite of him; I had mastered the first rudiments of
Latin and Mathematics, and I could now teach myself all I wanted to
know."
This boast was rather premature. I found the task of self-instruction less

easy than I anticipated. I was in Mr. Jones's power--and he meanly
withheld from me the books necessary to my further advancement. I
now found myself at a stand-still. I threatened Mr. Jones that I would
complain to my uncle of his unjustifiable conduct. The idea seemed
greatly to amuse him and my cousin--they laughed in my face, and
dared me to make the experiment.
I flew to my aunt.
She told me to be patient and conceal my resentment; and she would
supply the books and stationery I required, from her own purse.
I did not like this. I was a blunt straight-forward boy; and I thought that
my aunt was afraid to back me in what I knew to be right. I told her so.
"True, Geoffrey. But in this house it is useless to oppose force to force.
Your only safe course is non-resistance."
"That plan I never can adopt. It is truckling to evil, aunt. No ultimate
good can spring from it."
"But great trouble and pain may be avoided, Geoffrey."
"Aunt, I will not submit to Mr. Jones's mean tyranny; I feel myself
aggrieved; I must speak out and have it off my mind. I will go this
instant to Mr. Moncton and submit the case to him."
"Incur his displeasure--no trifle at any time, Geoffrey--and have
Theophilus and Mr. Jones laughing at you. They can tell your uncle
what story they please: and which is he most likely to believe, your
statement or theirs?"
"He is a clever man. Let them say what they like, it is not so easy to
deceive him; he will judge for himself. He would know that I was in
the right, even if he did not choose to say so; and that would be some
satisfaction, although he might take their part."
My aunt was surprised at my boldness; she looked me long and

earnestly in the face.
"Geoffrey, your argument is the best. Honesty is the right policy, after
all. I wish I had moral courage to act up to it at all times. But, my dear
boy, when you are the slave of a violent and deceitful man, your only
chance for a quiet life is to fight him with his own weapons."
"Wrong again, aunt," I cried vehemently. "That would make me as had
as him. No, no, that plan would not do for me. I should betray myself
every minute, and become contemptible in his eyes and my own. It
strikes me, although I am but a boy of twelve, and know little of the
world, that the only real chance you have with such men is, to show
them that you are not afraid of them. They are all cowards, aunt; they
will yield to courage which they feel to be superior to their own. So
much I have learnt from the experience of the last four years."
Aunt made no reply; she smiled sadly and kindly upon me, and her tacit
approval sent me directly to my uncle. He was in his private office. I
knocked gently at the door.
"Come in."
I did so; and there I stood, not a little confused and perplexed before
him, with flushed cheeks and a fast-throbbing heart. It was the first
complaint I had ever made to him in my life--the first time I had ever
dared to enter his sanctum sanctorum; and I remained