as Uncle Solomon and you
wish, I am to go?' asked Mark.

'I do,' said his mother. 'I won't encourage any son of mine against my
conscience and my principles. If you choose to live a life of
frivolity and idleness, you shall not lead it under my roof; so you
know what to expect if you persist in disobeying me--us, I mean.'

'I think I had better go,' said Mark; 'I don't quite see what enormity
I have been guilty of, but if you look at things in that light, there
is no more to be said. I have chosen my life, and I don't mean to go
back from it. I will see about finding lodgings as soon as I can, and
you shall not be troubled with me any longer than I can help.'

'Mark, don't be headstrong--don't let your passion get the better of
you!' cried his mother, moved out of all her stoniness--for she had
not quite expected this, believing that the amount of Mark's salary
and his expenses made him practically dependent on her. She had
forgotten his uncle's cheque, and did not believe in any serious
profits to be gained from literature.

'I'm not in the least angry,' he said; 'I don't wish to go, if you
wish me to stay, but if you meant what you said just now, I have no
choice.'

His mother was much too proud to weaken her authority by retracting.
She still hoped that he would yield if she remained firm, but yielding
was out of the question with Mark then, and, besides, independence had
its charms, though he would not have been the first to loosen the tie.

'Blame your wicked pride and selfishness, Mark, not your mother, who
is only anxious for your good. Go, if you will, but don't dare to
expect a blessing on your disobedience.'

'Do you say go, too, father?' said Mark.

'You hear what your mother says. What else can I say?' he answered
feebly; 'it's very painful to me--all this--but you must take your own
course.'

'I see I must,' said Mark, and left the room.

'You've been very hard with the boy, Jane,' said her husband, when
they were alone, and she had sat for some time with a book open but
unread before her; 'I really do think you've been very hard.'

'Do you want to encourage him against his mother?' she asked.

'No, no, you know I don't, Jane. Anything you think right--but I think
you were hard.'

'If I was, it was for his good,' she said; 'I have done what I thought
right, and we have sat up long enough. We can do no good by talking
over it any more, Matthew. Perhaps Mark will think differently
to-morrow.