Therefore, as my clerk I retain him; as my son's companion--never!" We felt that "never" was irrevocable.
Yet I tried, blindly and despairingly, to wrestle with it; I might as well have flung myself against a stone wall.
John stood perfectly silent.
"Don't, Phineas," he whispered at last; "never mind me.

Your father is right--at least so far as he sees.

Let me go--perhaps I may come back to you some time.

If not--" I moaned out bitter words--I hardly knew what I was saying.

My father took no notice of them, only went to the door and called Jael.
Then, before the woman came, I had strength enough to bid John go.
"Good-bye--don't forget me, don't!" "I will not," he said; "and if I live we shall be friends again.
Good-bye, Phineas." He was gone.
After that day, though he kept his word, and remained in the tan-yard, and though from time to time I heard of him--always accidentally,--after that day for two long years I never once saw the face of John Halifax..