"Ever your loving wife, Nansie." Deeply shocked and grieved, Kingsley went to his father with Nansie's letter in his hand. "I want you to release me from my promise," he said. "I never release a man from a promise given," was his father's cold reply, "and I never ask to be released from one I have made." "You cannot refuse me," said Kingsley, whose eyes were bedewed with tears. "I do refuse you," said Mr. Manners, sternly. Kingsley gazed irresolutely around, but his irresolution lasted for a moment or two only. "I must go," he said, straightening himself. "Against my will?" asked Mr. Manners. "Yes, father, against your will, if you refuse." "I have refused." Kingsley was silent. "It is what I will never forgive," said Mr. Manners. "I cannot help it, father. There are duties which _must_ be performed, and one is before me." He held out the last page of Nansie's letter, but his father thrust it aside. "I do not wish to see it. I will not see it. It is from that woman." "It is from my wife." "And you are going to her?" "I am going to her." "If you leave my house now you never enter its doors again. If you persist in your madness I cut you out of my heart forever. I shall have no longer a son, and for evermore you and I are strangers." "It is cruel--it is pitiful, but I must go." "You understand the consequences of your disobedience?" "You have made them only too plain to me, father," said Kingsley, mournfully. "And you still persist?" "There is no other course open to me. I am a man, not a dog." "You are an ingrate. Go!--and never let me look upon your face again. From this moment I do not know you." CHAPTER VIII. There are extant numerous clippings from famous writers which, coming "trippingly off the tongue," have grown into popular favor and are generally accepted as the essence of wisdom, but which will not stand the test of cold and logical analysis. Hence it is that so many familiar proverbs belie themselves. Among these popular sayings may be classed the description of life as a fitful fever. There are few men and women to whom this will apply; with the great majority of human beings life glides from one groove into another with ease and naturalness, and the most startling changes are effected without violent strain. Poor men grow rich, rich men grow poor, the lowly mount, the high slip into the downward paths, and one and all accept the reversals of position with a certain innate philosophy which makes life desirable, and often sweet, however wide the gulf which separates the present from the past. It is something to be genuinely grateful for; were it otherwise, existence would become an intolerable burden, and every waking moment would be charged with pain.