With his handsome face flushed with passion, he struggled from his tutor, rushed to the door, and endeavored to open it; but Mr. Malcolm was before-hand with him, and quietly turning the key in the lock, and putting it in his pocket, he walked back to the table.  The frantic boy now endeavored to open the windows and spring out, but being foiled in this attempt likewise, as they were securely fastened, he threw himself upon the floor as he had been in the habit of doing when crossed, ever since his baby-hood, and screamed with all the strength of baffled rage.

His anxious mother was at the door in an instant, demanding admittance.  Mr. Malcolm unfastened the door, stepped out to her in the hall, and gave her a faithful account of her son’s conduct during the morning.  “And now, Mrs. Elwyn,” said he, “the promise was, that I was not to be interfered with in my government of your son.  As long as he hears your voice at the door, and knows that he has your sympathy on his side, he will continue obstinate and rebellious.”

“But, Mr. Malcolm, excuse me, but you do not know how to manage him, you should soothe and coax him; he will not be driven.  Oh, I cannot bear to hear him scream so,” she exclaimed, as a louder roar from Lewie reached her ears; “Oh, Mr. Malcolm, I must go to him.”

“Not unless you desire, madam, that I should resign at once, and forever, the charge of your son,” said Mr. Malcolm, laying his hand upon the lock to prevent her carrying her purpose into execution.  “I have spent this whole morning,” he continued, “in expostulation and persuasion, and in endeavoring, as I always do, to make the lessons plain and interesting to my pupil; but Lewie is in one of his perverse humors, and nothing but decision as unyielding as his own obstinacy, will conquer him.  If you will return to your own room and allow me the sole management of him, I will remain here to-day till I have subdued him, if the thing is possible.”

“You will not use severity, Mr. Malcolm,” said the weeping mother.

“Never in the way of corporeal punishment, madam.  When I cannot govern a pupil without having recourse to such means, I will abandon him.  But I must stipulate that untill Lewie submits, and learns that lesson, which he could easily learn in a few minutes, if he chose, he goes without food, and remains in the library with me.  I am deeply interested in your son, Mrs. Elwyn; he is a boy of fine talents, and of too many good qualities of heart, to be allowed to go to destruction.  I would save him if I can, but he must be left to me.  I have the hope of yet seeing him a noble and useful character, but I must do it in my own way.”

Mrs. Elwyn silently acquiesced, and withdrew to her own room very wretched.  If she had been willing to inflict upon herself one tithe of the pain she suffered now, in controlling her son in his infancy, how different he might have been, as he grew up towards manhood.