It is clear that my mother
wants me, and no other consideration can weigh with that."
Lord Ashbridge still remained completely self-sufficient.
"I am glad you take that view of it," he said. "I think that is all I
have to say."
Now Michael was an adept at giving; as indicated before, when he
gave, he gave nobly, and he could not only outwardly disregard, but
he inwardly cancelled the wonderful ungenerosity with which his father
received. That did not concern him.
"I will make arrangements to come at once," he said, "if you can receive
me to-day."
"That will hardly be worth while, will it? I am taking your mother back
to Ashbridge tomorrow."
Michael got up in silence. After all, this gift of himself, of his time,
of his liberty, of all that constituted life to him, was made not to
his father, but to his mother. It was made, as his heart knew, not
ungrudgingly only, but eagerly, and if it had been recommended by
the doctor that she should go to Ashbridge, he would have entirely
disregarded the large additional sacrifice on himself which it entailed.
Thus it was not owing to any retraction of his gift, or reconsideration
of it, that he demurred.
"I hope you will--will meet me half-way about this, sir," he said.
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