The constant opposition you make to his wishes, is both useless and dangerous.

Though you neither love nor respect him, and I should be sorry if you could do either, yet he is entitled to obedience and a certain degree of deference as your guardian and master." "I never can willingly obey him," I cried, angrily, "or bring my mind to submit to his authority." "In which, I assure you as a friend, you are wrong.

As long as his commands do not interfere with any moral obligation, you are bound to listen to them with respect." "The man has always been my enemy, and would you have me become a passive instrument in his hands ?" "Certainly, as long as you remain his clerk, and he does not require your aid in any villainous transaction.

If his intentions towards you are evil, you cannot frustrate them better than by doing your duty.
Believe me, Geoffrey, you have a more dangerous enemy to contend with, one bound to you by nearer ties, who exercises a more pernicious influence over your mind." "His sordid, selfish, counterpart--his _worthy_ son ?" George shook his head.
I looked inquiringly.
"A certain impetuous, wilful, wrong-headed boy, yclept Geoffrey Moncton." "Pish!" I exclaimed, shrugging my shoulders: "is this your friendship ?" "The best proof I can give you of it." I walked hastily to and fro, the narrow limits of the chamber, raising, at every step, a cloud of dust from folds of old, yellow parchment and musty rolls of paper, which had accumulated there for the last half century, and lay in a pile upon the floor.

I was in no humour to listen to a lecture, particularly when my own faulty temper was to be the principal subject, and form the text.