The poetical element in his character was usurping an undue mastery.

He wrote to Colin very sternly, and told him plainly that a poetic pantheism was not a whit less sinful than the most vulgar infidelity.
Still he advised the laird to be patient, and by no means to answer Colin's letter in a hurry.

But only fixed more firmly the angry father's determination.

Colin must come home and fulfil his wish, or he must time remain away until he returned as master.

As his son, he would know him no more; as the heir of Crawford, he would receive at intervals such information as pertained to that position.