Stunned

"Dad, let me ask you something. If you had managed to make your mark in Peregrine Hall, would you still have returned to San Francisco?"

"Yes, of course."

"Why? You probably would've risen quite high up in ranks in that case. Perhaps you would marry someone there and settle down too. Why would you come back to San Francisco?"

"That's different. You always have to return to your hometown. Did you think that your great-grandpa was a nobody in Peregrine Hall? I'm telling you that he was quite a respected man there, but he returned to his hometown too."

"Dad, did Great-grandpa bring you to Peregrine Hall?"

"Yes, there were many boys in the family at that time, but your great-grandpa eventually chose me to inherit his position in Peregrine Hall."

"How did you get chosen? I think Uncle Francis and Frederick are quite smart. Although I don't really know your youngest brother, I've heard that he was quite acute."