"Mrs. Newton could not bear the journey back. Mr. Newton has lost all his interests in England; what money they have is invested here. Oh, if you do not instantly see their pitiful condition without their daughter, it is useless to explain it to you. Then there is their grandchild. He is the light of their life. If their grandchild was taken away, they would be bereft indeed." "Their grandchild is my son. My claim is paramount. I must have my boy at all hazards. I want him educated in Scotland, and brought up a Scotchman, not an American. He will be heir to the works, and must understand the people, and the conditions he has to live with, and work with." "You will never make a Scotchman of Davie. You will never get him out of this country, or this state. You will never make an iron-worker of David, he loves too well the free, and open-air life; and the blue skies, and sunshine." "He is under authority, and must come." "Under his mother's authority yet, and mind this, Robert, _you will not be permitted_ to take him from her; _not be permitted_, I say." "My God, what am I to do?" "Do right. There is no other way to be happy." "There are two rights here, my mother and my sisters have claims as well as my wife and my son." "Then for God's sake go to your mother and your sisters! Why did you come to me for advice, when you are still tied to your mother's apron-strings." "Now, you are angry at me." "Yes, and justly so. But if you are bent on Glasgow, the sooner you start for the dismal city, the better." "I will go at once. Will you let some one drive me to San Francisco?" "I will tell Saki to bring a buggy to the door in half-an-hour." "Don't go away from me, David--don't do that! I am miserable enough without your desertion." "I am disappointed in you, Robert--sorely, sorely disappointed. I have had a dream about our future lives together, and it is, it seems, only a dream. Good-bye, Robert! I do not feel able to watch the ending of all my hopes, so Saki will drive you to the city. And you, too, will be better alone. Good-bye, good-bye!" So they parted, and Robert was driven into the city and took his ticket for the next train bound for New York. He had some hours to wait, and he went to the hotel he had frequented with his brother, and sat down in the office. Undoubtedly there was a secret hope in his heart, that David would follow him, and he watched with anxiety every newcomer. But David did not follow him, and when he could wait no longer, he went to his train. Bitter disquiet and uncertainty wrung his heart, and he was glad when the moving train permitted him to isolate himself in a dismal, sullen stillness.