“So can Tubal, given time and a dictionary.... What have you done all your life? What experience have you had?” He cleared his throat. “I entered the university at the age of sixteen,” he said, “by special dispensation.” “An infant prodigy,” she interrupted. “I’ve often read about these boys who enter college when they should be playing marbles, and I’ve always wondered what became of them.” “I have always been informed,” he said, severely, “that I was an exceptionally brilliant child.... Since I entered college and until I came here a year ago I have been endeavoring to educate myself adequately. Before I was twenty I received both LL.B. and A.B. Subsequently I took my master’s degree. I have also worked for my D.C.L., my Ph.D....” She interrupted again. “With what end in view?” she asked. “End?...” He frowned at her through his spectacles. “You mean what was my purpose?” “Yes. Were you fitting yourself for any particular work?” “No.” “Merely piling up knowledge for the sake of piling up knowledge.” “You speak,” he said, “as if you were reprehensible.” She made no direct reply, but asked his age. “Twenty-six,” he said. “Nine years of which you have spent in doing nothing but study; cramming yourself with learning.... What in the world were you going to do with all of it?” “That,” he said, “is a matter I have had little time to consider.” “Did you make any friends in college?” “I had no time----” “Of course not. Sanscrit is more important than friends. I understand. A friend might have dropped in of an evening and interrupted your studies.” “Exactly,” he said. “Of course you did not go in for athletics.” “Exercise,” he said, “scientifically taken, is essential to a clear mind. I exercise regularly morning and evening. If you are asking whether I allowed myself to be pummeled and trampled into the mud at football, or if I played any other futile game, I did not.” “So you know almost everything there is to be known about books, but nothing about human beings.” “I fancy I know a great deal about human beings.” “Mr. Pell,” she said, becoming more determined to crush in the walls of his ego, “I’ve a mind to tell you exactly what I think of you.” For an instant his eyes twinkled; Carmel was almost sure of the twinkle and it quite nonplused her. But Evan’s expression remained grave, aloof, a trifle patronizing. “I understood I was coming here to--work.” “You are.” “Then,” said he, “suppose we give over this discussion of myself and commence working.”