He was stunned.
Without a word in reply he gathered up the silks from the chair, tucked them under his arm, and replacing his cap stepped outside into the fast approaching twilight.

Whatever the morrow might bring forth, nothing more could be done to-day.

To have thrown himself at his father's feet would only have resulted in his being driven from the grounds by the overseer, with the servants looking on--a humiliation he could not stand.
As he stood rolling the fabrics into a smaller compass, a gray-haired negro in the livery of a house servant passed hurriedly and entered the door of the office.

Instantly his father's voice rang out: "Where the devil have you been, Alec?
How many times must I tell you to look after me oftener.

Don't you know I'm half blind and--No--I don't want any more wood--I want these vagabonds kept off my grounds.