Had an allegation of evil conduct been brought against Emily Winters; had any right reason for the interdiction been given, then Mr.Howland might have had some power over the strong will and stronger inclinations of the child.
But into the mind of Andrew, young as he was, came a sense of injustice and wrong on the part of his father, and there was no willingness, from filial duty, to yield obedience in a case where every feeling of his heart was at variance with the command.
The struggle so early commenced between the father and his child, was an unceasing one.

The will of Andrew, which by other treatment might have been bent to obedience, gained a vigor like the young oak amid storms, in the strife and reaction of his daily life.

Instead of drawing his child to him, there was ever about Mr.Howland a sphere of repulsion.

Andrew was always doing something to offend his father; and his father was in consequence always offended.

A kind word from paternal lips rarely touched the ears of the boy, and, but for the love of his gentle mother, home would have been almost intolerable.