The young fellow cast an evil glance at his father. "He has not
been complaining, has he?" he said, with a sneer.

"He has not, sir," John Thorndyke said indignantly. "It is I who
have been complaining to him, and he admits that you are altogether
beyond his authority. I have pointed out to him that he is in no
way obliged to support you at your age in idleness and dissipation,
and that it were best for him and all concerned that he should
close his doors to you. I don't want to have to send the son of my
old friend to prison, but I can see well enough that that is what
it will come to if you don't give up your evil courses. I should
think you know by this time that I am a man of my word. I have
taken some pains to purge this village of all bad characters, and
I do not intend to have an exception made of the son of the clergyman,
who, in his family as well as in his own person, is bound to set
an example."

"Well, Mr. Thorndyke, I utterly decline to obey your orders or to
be guided by your advice."

"Very well, sir," the magistrate said sternly. "Mr. Bastow, do I
understand that you desire that your son shall no longer remain an
inmate of your house?"

"I do," the clergyman said firmly; "and if he does so I have no
other course before me but to resign my living; my position here
has become absolutely unbearable."

"Very well, sir, then you will please lock your doors tonight, and