Then, at a twinge from the resentment that had gone too deep to be ejected in an instant, he added: "But that doesn't excuse _him_." His father was to blame for the whole ugly business--for his plight within and without.

Still, fixing the blame was obviously unimportant beside the problem of the way out.

And for that problem he, in saner mood, began to feel that the right solution was to do something and so become in his own person a somebody, instead of being mere son of a somebody.

"I haven't got this shock a minute too soon," he reflected.

"I must take myself in hand.