“You’ll let him stay?”
“He knows it was cruel of him to leave as—as he did. But he had a lot to bear, really he did, René. He was very proud. It’s his pride has been against him always, René.”
“What did he do else?”
“Nothing very much. Only people talked. And he didn’t get on. That was his pride too. You can do anything if only you get on. He never could work for other people. He was a clever man too. You get your cleverness from him. I’m sure it’s not from me. He was always trying different things, but he couldn’t get on. He did some silly things too.”
“You won’t tell me, then?”
“I have told you.”
“What’s he going to do? Go on eating and eating?”
“He’ll look for work. Of course, at his age, it won’t be easy.”
“What’s he been doing all this time?”