John set his teeth.

"Don't stiffen yourself.

That's better." He fell once again, and at the close of an hour his uncle said, "There that will do for to-day, and not so bad either." "I'd like to try it again, sir," gasped John.
"You young humbug," laughed Penhallow.

"Go and console your distracted aunt.

I am off to the mills." The ex-captain was merciless enough, and day after day John was so stiff that, as he confessed to Leila, a jointed doll was a trifle to his condition.