Marcel hurried to Longueval, overwhelmed with grief, for he adored his father.

He spent a month with his mother, and then spoke of the necessity of returning to Paris.
"That is true," said his mother; "you must go." "What! I must go! We must go, you mean.

Do you think that I would leave you here alone?
I shall take you with me." "To live in Paris; to leave the place where I was born, where your father lived, where he died?
I could never do it, my child, never! Go alone; your life, your future, are there.

I know you; I know that you will never forget me, that you will come and see me often, very often." "No, mother," he answered; "I shall stay here." And he stayed.
His hopes, his ambitions, all in one moment vanished.

He saw only one thing--duty--the duty of not abandoning his aged mother.