“I've thought often,” said she gravely, “tha' you Americans are spoil' because you have so much. So much of everything.” “Perhaps. I don't know. The fellows feel that those things don't help much in later life.” “Oh, bu' they _do!_ You mus' have a knowledge of literature an' philosophy. Wha' do they go to college for?” “Well--” Inwardly, he winced. He felt himself, without resentment, without the faintest desire to defend the life he had known, at a disadvantage. “To tell the truth, I suppose we go partly for a good time. It puts off going into business four years, you know, and once you start in business you've got to get down to it. Then there's all the athletics, and the friends you make. Of course, most of the fellows realize that if they make the right kind of friendships it'll help, later, in the big game.” “You mean with the sons of other rich men?” she asked. “Why, no, not--yes, come to think of it, I suppose that's just what I do mean. Do you know here with you, it doesn't look like much of a picture--does it?” Thoughtfully she moved her head in the negative. “I know a goo' deal about it,” said she. “I've watch' the college men in America. Some of them, I think, are pretty foolish.” “I suppose we are,” said he glumly. “But would you have a fellow just go in for digging?” She inclined her head. “I woul'. It is a grea' privilege to have years for study.” He was flushing. “But you're not a dig! You--you dance, you know about things, you can wear clothes....” “I don' think study is like work to me. I love it. An' I love people--every kin', scholars, working people--you know, every kin'.” His moody eyes took in her eagerly mobile face; then dropped, and he stabbed his knife at the deck. “Of course, we know that all is no' right 'n America. The men of money have too much power. The govemmen' is confuse', sometimes very weak and foolish. The newspapers don' tell all the things they shoul'. But it is so healthy, jus' the same! There is so much chance for ever' kin' of idea to be hear'! An' so many won'erful books! Often I think you real Americans don' know how' won'erful it is. You get excite' abou' little things. I love America. The women are free there. There is more hope there than anywhere else in the worl'. An' I wish China coul' be like that.” “I quit college,” said he. “You see, I've never looked at things as you do.” “Bu' you have such a won'erful chance!” “I know. And I've wasted it. But I'm changing. I--it wouldn't be fair of course to talk about--about what I was talking about--not now--but I am seeing things--everything--through new eyes. They're your eyes. I'm going at the thing differently. You see, the Kanes, when you get right down to it, don't think about anything but money.” “I like to think about beauty,” said she. “I wonder if I could do that.” “Why no'?” “Well--it's kind of a new idea.”