The younger man rose as if to shake off a physical bandage. For the first time in his life he felt conscious of a rebellion with the elemental conditions of existence.
"What if it does mean corruption and misery! I want my joy, my life, even if they write 'Failure' at the bottom of my page."
"No, no!" his father protested. "You will take the pain all right and the consequences like a man, but you will never believe that swinish statement you have just made."
This brought the younger man to his calmer mood.
"I hate them," he said, bitterly, "more than you can; but her I love."
"And to her you will sacrifice all?"
His father looked at him searchingly, longingly.
"Yes, if need be, all, but you!"
The old man smiled coolly.
"I shall not count long, and you are independent, anyway. But I don't care to put the matter on such a footing. We have not lived that way."