"It amounts to the same thing. As you have succeeded in 'worming out' of Joan—I use your own terms—what I wanted to tell you myself, suppose we talk it all over now and settle it here."
Mr. Hegan moved to the hall window, leaning against one side of the frame. His tone of cold contempt stung like a whip, and matters did not mend as they progressed. To Tom it was as if the world were at stake, and Mr. Hegan, in a few terse matter-of-fact sentences, was making his will known. The boy broke in at last, unable to wait for a proper pause:
"You had not a college education yourself, sir, or you would realize why I feel it so important."
The tone was not respectful, and Mr. Hegan's brow reddened slightly, but his voice was as even as before: "Does the anticipation of a college education give so much experience? Perhaps I value what I lost more than if I had enjoyed it. You cannot possibly place more importance on education than I do, for you have not felt the handicap of its lack. But, though you will not now believe it, there are things more important. For my own reasons, and thoughtfully"—Mr. Hegan's voice grew warmer and his manner more fatherly—"I have decided, Tom, that you must just now begin as your father began."
Tom looked up steadily in his father's face.
"HAD YOU CONSIDERED THAT I MIGHT REFUSE, SIR?"
"Had you considered that I might refuse, sir?"
Mr. Hegan did not again change color, though now the disrespect was marked. He looked at his son calmly, as he might at a stranger.
"No," he replied, quietly. "I had not considered that for a moment."