MATT
He was a foolish man to put shame on me after all I did for the land.
ELLEN
You had too much thought for the land.
MATT I had in troth. The others went when there was less to be done. They could not stand him. Even the girls stole away.
ELLEN
There was the high spirit in the whole of you.
MATT I showed it to him. "Stop," said I; "no more, or I fling lands and house and everything aside."
ELLEN
You said that.
MATT Ay. "Your other children went for less," said I; "do you think there's no blood in me at all?"
ELLEN
What happened then?
MATT "I'm your last son," I said; "keep your land and your twenty years' purchase. I'm with the others; and it's poor your land will leave you, and you without a son to bring down your name. A bit of land, a house," said I; "do you think these will keep me here?"
ELLEN I knew they could not keep you here, Matt. You have broken from them at last; and now the world is before us. Think of all that is before us—the sea, and the ships, the strange life, and the great cities.