His father's love for him had something terrible in it, and, although he returned it, he could not live up to that fire and heat.
No; he saw that he would not be able to remain for long at home.

On the other hand, go back to the old wandering life he would not.

He had had enough of that and its rotten carelessness and shabbiness.

What a girl this would be to settle down with somewhere! So strange that she would be always interesting, so faithful that she would be always there! Nor was he entirely selfish.

Her childishness, her ignorance, appealed to him for protection.