"Yes, sir, but--Father, I _can't_ go back to that school," I choked.
And I began to cry.
"But I tell you that you must."
I shook my head.
"I can't."
"Do you mean that you defy me as you did your Aunt Jane this
morning?--that you refuse to go back to school?"
"Yes, sir."
For a minute he sat and stared at me just as Aunt Jane had done; then
he lifted his head and threw back his shoulders as if he was throwing
off a heavy weight.
"Come, come, Mary," he said sternly. "I am not a patient man, and my
temper has reached the breaking point. You will go back to school and
you will go now. I mean that, Mary."
"But, Father, I _can't_" I choked again; and I guess there was
something in my face this time that made even him see. For again he
just stared for a minute, and then said:
"Mary, what in the world does this mean? Why can't you go back? Have
you been--expelled?"
"Oh, no, sir."
"Then you mean you won't go back."
"I mean I _can't_--on account of Mother."
I wouldn't have said it if I hadn't had to. I didn't want to tell him,
but I knew from the very first that I'd have to tell him before I
got through. I could see it in his face. And so, now, with his eyes
blazing as he jumped almost out of his chair and exclaimed, "Your
mother!" I let it out and got it over as soon as possible.
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