If it had been William John, who, with all his good nature, had a temper brittle enough, he would not have been surprised.

And then the minister's sermon, of which he had spoken in such open and enthusiastic approval, how it condemned him for his neglect of duty toward his family, and held up his authority over his household to scorn.

It was a terrible blow to his pride.
"It is the Lord's judgment upon me," he said to himself, as he tramped his way through the woods.

"It is the curse of Eli that is hanging over me and mine." And with many vows he resolved that, at all costs, he would do his duty in this crisis and bring Thomas to a sense of his sins.
It was in this spirit that he met his family at the supper-table, after their return from the Gaelic service.
"What is this I hear about you, Thomas ?" he began, as Thomas came in and took his place at the table.

"What is this I hear about you, sir ?" he repeated, making a great effort to maintain a calm and judicial tone.
Thomas remained silent, partly because he usually found speech difficult, but chiefly because he dreaded his father's wrath.
"What is this that has become the talk of the countryside and the disgrace of my name ?" continued the father, in deepening tones.
"No very great disgrace, surely," said Billy Jack, lightly, hoping to turn his father's anger.
"Be you silent, sir!" commanded the old man, sternly.