"We've been gone over two years, yet I feel I've never been away, an' yet I feel the biggest stranger in the world, comin' back to what's supposed to be me own house. I hate havin' ter come, because o' the bloomin' circumstances. Why 'n hell couldn't Ma have had the place for while she lived, an' me be comin' back to her and the kids? Then I shouldn't feel sortta sick about it. But as it is—it fair gets me beat. Lennie'll resent me, an' Katie an' Monica'll hate havin' ter get inter a smaller house, an' the twins an' Harry an' the little ones don' matter so much, but I do worry over pore ol' Ma."
There he was with a blank face, driving the pony homewards. He hadn't worried over pore ol' Ma till this very minute, on the principle "out of sight, out of mind." Now he was all strung up.
"Y' know, Jack," he said, "I kinder don' want Wandoo. I kinder don' want to be like Dad, settlin' down with a heap o' responsibilities an' kids an' all that. I kinder don' want it."
"What do you want?" said Jack.
"I'd rather knock about with you for me mate, Jack, I'd a sight rather do that."
"You can't knock about forever," said Jack.
"I don' know whether you can or you can't. I only know I never knew my own mother. I only know she never lived at Wandoo. She never raised me there. I bet she lugged me through the bush. An' when all comes to all, I'd rather do the same. I don' want Dad's property. I don' want that Ellis property. Seems ter me bad luck. What d' yer think?"
"I should think it depends on you," said Jack.
"I should think it does. Anyhow shall you stop with me, an' go shares in the blinkin' thing?"
"I don't know," said Jack.