The Monctons | Page 9

complaints are useless. You cannot
touch his heart. He will be obeyed. Left to himself, he may become
your friend, and even treat you with a certain degree of kindness and
consideration. But if you anger him, he will never forgive, and can be a
dreadful enemy. If you love me, Geoffrey, follow my advice and
submit to his authority with a good grace."
"I will try not to hate him for your dear sake. I can promise no more!"
I kissed her hand and fell back exhausted on my pillow. My head ached
dreadfully from the ill-treatment I had received; and wounded pride
made my heart very sore. It was only on her account that I could
control the deadly and revengeful feelings I cherished against him.
Theophilus and Mr. Jones, I considered beneath contempt.
CHAPTER V.
A CHANGE IN MY PROSPECTS.
The next day, I was surprised at receiving a message from Mr.
Moncton desiring me to attend him in his private office. I went to him
in fear and trembling. I was ill, nervous and dispirited, and cared very
little as to what in future might become of me.
I found him all smiles and affability. "Geoffrey," said he, holding out

his hand, as I entered, "I trust you have received a useful lesson. You
will be wise to lay it to heart. Mr. Jones tells me that you write a good
bold hand. Give me a specimen of it. Sit down at the table, and direct
that letter to Messieurs Hanbury and Company, Liverpool."
I did as I was commanded, but my hand trembled with excitement: I
found some difficulty in steadying the pen. He took the letter and
looked at it carefully, muttering as he did so--
"How like my father's hand. Ay, and how like in obstinacy of purpose;
more like him in every respect than his own sons." Then turning to me,
who was lost in wonder at this sudden change in his manner towards
me, he said, "This is well; you write a fair, legible hand for a boy. I
want a lad in my office to copy writs and other law papers. I think you
will just do for that purpose. If you are diligent and industrious, after
two years trial, I will article you to myself. How old are you?"
"Thirteen, next August."
"It is young; but you are tall and manly for your age. You and
Theophilus are never likely to agree; it is best for you to be apart. You
have no fortune of your own. I will give you a profession, and make an
independent man of you, if you will try for the future to be a docile and
obedient boy."
I promised to do my best. He then bade me follow him, and leading the
way through a narrow arched passage, he introduced me into the public
office, where the large business in which he was engaged was carried
on. Though I had been four years in the house, I had never seen the
inside of this office before. It was a spacious, dark, dirty, apartment,
lighted by high, narrow windows of ground glass; so that no time could
be wasted by the junior clerks in looking out into the street. Several
pale, melancholy men were seated at desks, hard at work. You heard
nothing but the rapid scratching of their pens against the parchment and
paper on which they were employed. When Mr. Moncton entered the
office, a short, stout, middle-aged man swung himself round on his
high stool and fronted us; but the moment he recognized his superior,
he rose respectfully to receive him.

Mr. Moncton took him apart, and they entered into a deep and earnest
conversation: of which, I am certain, from the significant glances which,
from time to time, they directed towards me, I formed the principal
topic.
At length the conference was over, and my uncle left the office without
giving me a parting word or glance. When he was fairly out of hearing,
all the clerks gathered round me.
"Who is he?"
"Mr. Moncton's nephew," was the short man's reply to the eager
questioners.
"Is he sent here to be a spy?"
"To learn the profession."
"That babe! Is the man mad. It will kill the child to chain him to the
desk all day."
"Poor fellow; he is the orphan son of his brother," said another. "I have
seen him at church with Mrs. Moncton."
"Well, Robert Moncton is a hard man," said a third.
"Hush! gentlemen," interposed Mr. Bassett, the senior clerk. "It is not
right to make such remarks in the lad's hearing. Mr. Moncton doubtless
does for the best. Come, my little fellow, you and I must be good
friends. Your uncle has placed you under