CHAPTER V. THE UNCLE

ndthembutyouruncleRobson’sopinions,ofcourse,arenothingtome.” Sosaying—urgedbyasenseofduty—attheriskofbothmakingmyselfsickandincurringthewrathofmyemployers—Igotalargeflatstone,thathadbeenrearedupforamouse-trapbythegardenerthen,havingoncemorevainlyendeavouredtopersuadethelittletyranttoletthebirdsbecarriedback,Iaskedwhatheintendedtodowiththem.Withfiendishgleehecommencedalistoftormentsandwhilehewasbusiedintherelation,Idroppedthestoneuponhisintendedvictimsandcrushedthemflatbeneathit.Loudweretheoutcries,terribletheexecrations,consequentuponthisdaringoutrageuncleRobsonhadbeencomingupthewalkwithhisgun,andwasjustthenpausingtokickhisdog.Tomflewtowardshim,vowinghewouldmakehimkickmeinsteadofJuno.Mr.Robsonleantuponhisgun,andlaughedexcessivelyattheviolenceofhisnephew’spassion,andthebittermaledictionsandopprobriousepithetsheheapeduponme.“Well,youareagood’un!”exclaimedhe,atlength,takinguphisweaponandproceedingtowardsthehouse.“Damme,buttheladhassomespunkinhim,too.Curseme,ifeverIsawanoblerlittlescoundrelthanthat.He’sbeyondpetticoatgovernmentalready:byGod!hedefiesmother,granny,governess,andall!Ha,ha,ha!Nevermind,Tom,I’llgetyouanotherbroodto-morrow.” “Ifyoudo,Mr.Robson,Ishallkillthemtoo,”saidI. “Humph!”repliedhe,andhavinghonouredmewithabroadstare—which,contrarytohisexpectations,Isustainedwithoutflinching—heturnedawaywithanairofsupremecontempt,andstalkedintothehouse.Tomnextwenttotellhismamma.Itwasnotherwaytosaymuchonanysubjectbut,whenshenextsawme,heraspectanddemeanourweredoublydarkandchilled.Aftersomecasualremarkabouttheweather,sheobserved—“Iamsorry,MissGrey,youshouldthinkitnecessarytointerferewithMasterBloomfield’samusementshewasverymuchdistressedaboutyourdestroyingthebirds.” “WhenMasterBloomfield’samusementsconsistininjuringsentientcreatures,”Ianswered,“Ithinkitmydutytointerfere.” “Youseemedtohaveforgotten,”saidshe,calmly,“thatthecreatureswereallcreatedforourconvenience.” Ithoughtthatdoctrineadmittedsomedoubt,butmerelyreplied—“Iftheywere,wehavenorighttotormentthemforouramusement.” “Ithink,”saidshe,“achild’samusementisscarcelytobeweighedagainstthewelfareofasoullessbrute.” “But,forthechild’sownsake,itoughtnottobeencouragedtohaves