Only, to let others step in at the last and finish even this--I say He must forgive me, but I cannot." "Your book--you can go back to it and finish it." "I have burnt it." "Dad!" "I burned it.

I had to.

It was a temptation to me, and until I lifted it from the grate and the flakes crumbled in my hands the surrender was not complete." Taffy felt a sudden gush of pity.

And as he pitied suddenly he understood his father.
"It had to be complete ?" "Either the book or the surrender.

My boy"-- and in his voice there echoed the aspiration and the despair of the true scholar, who abhors imperfection and incompleteness in a world where nothing is either perfect or complete; "it is different with you.