... He had come just now, still hesitating. Still there had been
passing through his mind hopes and ideas of what his father might do for
him. He knew well enough that he would never pay the fines, amounting
sometimes to as much as twenty pounds a month; but he had thought that
perhaps his father would give him a sum of money and let him go to fend
for himself; that he might help him even to a situation somewhere; and
now hope had died so utterly that he did not even dare speak of it. And
he had said "No" to Anthony; he said to himself at least that he had
meant "No," in spite of his hesitation. All doors seemed closing, save
that which terrified him....
"I have thought in my mind--" he began; and stopped, for the terror of
what was on his tongue grew suddenly upon him.
"Eh?"
Robin stood up.
"I must have time, sir," he cried; "I must have time. Do not press me
too much."
His father's eyes shone bright and wrathful. He beat on the table with
his open hand; but the boy was too quick for him.
"I beg of you, sir, not to make me speak too soon. It may be that you
would hate that I should speak more than my silence."
His whole person was tense and magnetic; his face was paler than ever;
and it seemed as if his father understood enough, at least, to make him
hesitate. The two looked at one another; and it was the man's eyes that
tell first.
"You may have till Pentecost," he said.
III
It would be at about an hour before dawn that Robin awoke for perhaps
the third or fourth time that night; for the conflict still roared
within his soul and would give him no peace.
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