No wonder I ran away!
LETITIA
But you should have written to me.
NATHANIEL
Perhaps—I should—yes—I should have written, but I didn't. You see, Aunt Letty, I was a sensitive boy. All my life I had dreamed of doing my own work. I saw Henry disappointed in life, I saw Emily made miserable enough through the traditions of the family. John couldn't understand me and I couldn't understand him. There was no common meeting-ground. John was the head of the family and so deeply was the idea of submission to rule ingrained in me that I could think of only one way out of my restraint. I wouldn't study engineering, and I wouldn't continue at Somerset School. Well, I ran away from my ancestral castle to find my way in a new world. I think I have found it.
LETITIA
Jonathan doesn't want to study engineering, either.
NATHANIEL (Looks closely at her a moment and then smiles)
As Ibsen would say—Ghosts! (He walks toward the window) Poor John!
LETITIA