He defined the term.

"No," she said seriously. "I don't think it is. Everybody has got a
self to consider. I don't look on it as ego-what-d'-you-call-it to
strike out for myself instead of going on helping mother to mind the
shop. So why should you?"

"Besides, I owe a duty to my parents, don't I?" he asked eagerly.

But here Jane took her own line. "I can't see that you do,
considering that they've done nothing for you."

"They've done everything for me," he protested vehemently. "They've
made me what I am."

"They didn't take much trouble about it," said Jane.

They squabbled for a while after the manner of boy and girl. At last
she cried: "Don't you see I'm proud of you for yourself and not for
your silly old parents? What have they got to do with me? And
besides, you'll never find them."

"I don't think you know what you're talking about," he said loftily.
"It is time we were getting home."

He walked on for some time stiffly, his head in the air, not
condescending to speak. She had uttered blasphemy. He would find his
parents, he vowed to himself, if only to spite Jane. Presently his
ear caught a little sniff, and looking down, saw her dabbing her
eyes with her handkerchief. His heart softened at once. "Never