Paul made no attempt to defend himself; he was too much dazed by all that the day had brought forth to find a word to say.
Well, he was free. He should have been glad—and only a few months before he would have been. But looking helplessly around the table, from one face to the other he realized suddenly that he was not glad. Why, he had grown to love them all—he had even a certain fondness for Carl. Who was there now to care whether he got into scrapes or out of them, whether he won prizes or burnt his pictures to cinders, whether he was defeated or triumphant. But his face showed nothing of what was passing in his mind. Somewhere in the distance Mr. Lambert was saying,
“I wished for all of you to hear what I had to say to my nephew, so that you would understand that I judged him by nothing but what he himself admitted. And I believe, Gertrude, that when you have considered the matter as carefully as I have you will feel that I am doing only what is just, and, I hope, wise. Paul is not a child, but a young man, quite able to think for himself. It is plain that our ways and customs are disagreeable to him, and I have come to believe that it is only fair to him to let him go his own way as he thinks best. And—er—that is all.”
One by one the others rose from the table, and left the room. Only Paul and his uncle remained.
“Have I made myself quite clear?” asked Mr. Lambert, sitting down at his desk, and putting up the roll-top.
“Yes, uncle. I—when do you want me to—go?”
“That I leave entirely to your convenience,” returned Mr. Lambert. He opened a drawer and took out an envelope with a rubber band around it, which he gave to his nephew. “If you should find that this is not sufficient for your needs you may let me know. I am very sorry that you have forced this painful duty upon me—I had hoped that you—I still hope that you will realize—”
“My responsibilities,” said Paul absently. “Oh, I have—but never mind. I’m sorry, uncle. I didn’t understand—”
“Quite so. I want you to know that I am not acting with any thought of punishing you. I am doing only what I believe to be best.”
“Yes, sir.”