Theyeventhreatenedtosendhimtonearerrelativesuntilhisparents\'return。Allinvain。Facedwiththemostundeniableproofs，thechildinvariablywouldlie。Hedeniedthathehadeverill-usedLadinanyway；andwouldweep，inrighteousindignation，atthecharges。Whatwastobedone？
\"Ithoughtitwouldbrightenupthehouseso，tohaveachildinitagain！\"sighedtheMistressassheandherhusbanddiscussedthematter，uselessly，forthefiftiethtime，afteroneofthesescenes。\"Ilookedforwardsomuchtohiscominghere！Buthe\'s——oh，heisn\'tlikeanychildIeverheardofbefore！\"
\"IfIcoulddevotefivebusyminutesadaytohim，\"gruntedtheMaster，\"withanaxe-handleorperhapsabale-stick——\"
\"Youwouldn\'tdoit！\"deniedhiswife。\"Youwouldn\'tharmhim；
anymorethanLaddoes。That\'sthetrouble。IfCyrilbelongedtous，wecouldpunishhim。Notwitha——abalestick，ofcourse。Butheneedsagoodwholesomespanking，morethananyoneelseIcanthinkof。Thatorsomeotherkindofpunishmentthatwouldmakeanimpressiononhim。Butwhatcanwedo？Heisn\'tours——\"