He told his mother truthfully what had happened and declared in conclusion that he would never go back to school again. She was furious with the teacher and thought that on the whole, it would be safer for Keith to stay away during the few weeks remaining of the term. "That man should be punished," she cried repeatedly. "You did just right." But the father spoke in another tone when he, in his turn, had heard the tale of that eventful day. "You will go to school tomorrow as usual," he said in his sternest voice. "You had no right to refuse to pick up the book, and you had no right to leave the school without permission." "I can't go back after being treated like that, papa," Keith remonstrated, trying vainly to make his tone sound firm. "You will," the father reiterated, "or I'll...." He stopped and thought for a minute. "Or you'll begin to learn a trade tomorrow. Take your choice." Father and son looked long at each other. "Carl ..." the mother began pleadingly. "Please, Anna," the father checked her. "This is too serious. The boy's future is at stake." Then he turned to Keith and said more kindly: "I ask you to go for my sake." "I will," the boy blurted out with a little catch in his voice. His pride was broken, and once more those everlasting tears were dimming his eyes. He felt weak and helpless, but through his dejection broke now and then a sense of pleasant warmth. His father had asked him to go "for his sake." Such a thing had never happened before.