`` Maybe . He never went to school . The harbour school was too far away . I taught him to read and write and bought him all the books I could afford . But I ca n't do any more for him . '' `` But I can , '' said Miss Trevor , `` and I want to . Will you give Paul to me , Mr. Kane ? I love him dearly and he shall have every advantage . I 'm rich -- I can do a great deal for him . '' Stephen continued to gaze out to sea with an expressionless face . Finally he said : `` I 've been expecting to hear you say something of the sort . I do n't know . If you took Paul away , he 'd grow to be a cleverer man and a richer man maybe , but would he be any better -- or happier ? He 's his mother 's son -- he loves the sea and its ways . There 's nothing of his father in him except his hankering after books . But I wo n't choose for him -- he can go if he likes -- he can go if he likes . '' In the end Paul `` liked , '' since Stephen refused to influence him by so much as a word . Paul thought Stephen did n't seem to care much whether he went or stayed , and he was dazzled by Miss Trevor 's charm and the lure of books and knowledge she held out to him . `` I 'll go , I guess , '' he said , with a long sigh . Miss Trevor clasped him close to her and kissed him maternally .
Paul kissed her cheek shyly XXXXX return .
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