Cut him off with a shilling?
not I; cut him off with nothing at all.

And yet, curse it, I like the lad.

Well, I've done with him, thanks to that minx of a Smithers girl.

Perhaps he's sweet on her?
then they can go and starve together, and be hanged to them! She had better keep out of my way, for she shall smart for this, so sure as my name is Jonathan Meeson.

I'll keep her up to the letter of that agreement, and, if she tries to publish a book inside of this country or out of it, I'll crush her--yes, I'll crush her, if it cost me five thousand to do it!" and, with a snarl, he dropped his fist heavily upon the table before him.
Then he rose, put poor Augusta's agreement carefully back into the safe, which he shut with a savage snap, and proceeded to visit the various departments of his vast establishment, and to make such hay therein as had never before been dreamt of in the classic halls of Meeson's.
To this hour the clerks of the great house talk of that dreadful day with bated breath--for as bloody Hector raged through the Greeks, so did the great Meeson rage through his hundred departments.