We 're in for it now ! ' thought Dolly , in secret dismay ; while Stuffy got the first blow by trying to sustain himself with another mug of beer . ` That wo n't hurt you ; but I must warn you about drinking other things , George . Overeating is an old story ; and a few more fits of illness will teach you to be wise . But drinking is a more serious thing , and leads to worse harm than any that can afflict your body alone . I hear you talk about wines as if you knew them and cared more for them than a boy should ; and several times I 've heard jokes that meant mischief . For heaven 's sake , do n't begin to play with this dangerous taste `` for fun '' , as you say , or because it 's the fashion , and the other fellows do . Stop at once , and learn that temperance in all things is the only safe rule . ' ` Upon my honour , I only take wine and iron . I need a tonic , mother says , to repair the waste of brain-tissue while I 'm studying , ' protested Stuffy , putting down the mug as if it burnt his fingers . ` Good beef and oatmeal will repair your tissues much better than any tonic of that sort . Work and plain fare are what you want ; and I wish I had you here for a few months out of harm 's way . I 'd Banting you , and fit you to run without puffing , and get on without four or five meals a day . What an absurd hand that is for a man ! You ought to be ashamed of it ! ' And Mrs Jo caught up the plump fist , with deep dimples at each knuckle , which was fumbling distressfully at the buckle of the belt girt about a waist far too large for a youth of his age . ' I ca n't help it -- we all grow fat ; it 's in the family , ' said Stuffy in self-defence . ` All the more reason you should live carefully . Do you want to die early , or be an invalid all your life ? ' ` No , ma'am ! '
Stuffy looked so scared that Mrs XXXXX could not be hard upon his budding sins , for they lay at his overindulgent mother 's door line in a great measure ; so she softened the tone of her voice , and added , with a little slap on the fat hand , as she used to do when it was small enough to pilfer lumps of sugar from her bowl : ` Then be careful ; for a man writes his character in his face ; and you do n't want gluttony and intemperance in yours , I know . '
Banting Dolly George Jo day dimples first girt months self-defence