and therefore authority no longer. If Christian had been a mother, and
seen the father of her own children beating one of them in the way
Phillis beat Arthur, it would have made her, as she was wont to say,
with a curious flash of her usually quiet eyes, "dangerous."

She wasted no words. It was not her habit. She merely with her firm,
strong hand, wrenched the victim out of the oppressor's grasp.

"Arthur, go to my room. I will hear what you have done amiss. Phillis,
remember, henceforward no children in my house shall be struck or
punished except by their father or myself."

Clear and determined rang out the mistress's voice--mother and
mistress--in this, her first assertion of both her rights. Phillis
drew back astonished, and then, recovering herself, darted after the
retreating boy. But it was too late; he had already gained the
staircase. It was steep, dark, twisted, very unsafe for children;
still, in his fear, Arthur plunged down it. In a minute there was
heard a cry and a heavy fall.

Fierce-tempered woman as she was, Phillis had a heart. She rushed
down after the child, but he turned screaming from her, and it was his
stepmother who lifted him up and carried him into her own room.

Christian, young as she was, had had necessarily much experience with
children. She soothed the boy, and felt that no limbs were broken;
indeed, he complained of nothing, but he turned whiter and whiter, and
shrank from the slightest touch.

"Something is certainly wrong with him. We must send for the doctor.