Would it ever open for him?
And, if it did, what?
Then came a thought that made his blood leap.
Might he not force it open?
The shepherd had told him of others who had done so.
Young Matt felt a strong man's contempt for the things Ollie had gotten out of the world, but he stood in awe before Mr.Howitt.

He told himself, now, that he would look for and find the things yonder that made Dad the man he was.

He would carry to the task his splendid strength.

Nothing should stop him.

And Sammy, when she understood that he was going away to be like the shepherd, would wait awhile to give him his chance.