do with love, if that was what he felt for his mother. There was
undoubtedly a great deal of fear in his attitude toward the father, and
also resentment that at times would flare into something bordering on
hatred. But this attitude was combined with a lot of respect, not to say
admiration. At times it would also be tinged with a longing that he
could not explain or express. And if ever the father gave him the
slightest evidence of friendliness, he would be thrown into a rapture of
happiness that nothing done by his mother could equal.

He adored his mother, and clung to her, and relied on her and wheedled
her, but it was an open question whether, at heart, he felt any
particular respect for her--although he was quite proud of certain
things about her. And as for Granny, whom, in a way, he loved more than
anybody else, because she petted him and indulged his slightest whims,
there could simply be no talk about respecting her. Even Keith realized
that she was not in the respected class.

His father was, on the other hand. There could be no doubt about that.
If he had only been willing to unbend a little now and then....



IX

The kitchen had other attractions than Granny, though she ranked
foremost.

As Keith came out from the living-room, he had on his right the huge,
old-fashioned fire-place--a regular fortress of brick, with a modern
cook stove of iron set into one corner of it. It was entirely covered by