"Well, then, you can stay behind. I'll go back by myself!"
Mrs. MacDermott came into the room. "What's the matter?" she asked.
"Nothing," John replied. "I'm going back to London this evening. Eleanor says she's going to stay here!..."
"For good?"
"Aye ... for good."
"And you? When are you coming back?"
"I'm not coming back. She'll have to come to me. You're always talking about the pride of the MacDermotts. Well, I'll show you some of it. I'll not put my foot inside this house till Eleanor comes back to me. It's me that settles where we live ... not her ... not anybody. Do you think I'm going to throw up everything now when I've made a start? I've a new book coming out soon. You know that well ... the whole of you. I know you don't think much of it, Eleanor!..."
"I didn't say that," she interjected.
"But I think a lot of it. I know it's good. I'm sure it's good. And if it does well. I'll be able to leave the Sensation office, and we can live happily together ... but you'll have to come to me. I won't come here to you!..."
He turned to his mother. "Mebbe you're content now," he said. "You've got your way. There's a MacDermott in the house to carry on the business when he's old enough. You'll not need me now!"