“You feel that too? It's very perplexing. I know I've spoken carelessly about the Chinese and Manchus. I looked down on them. I did! But oh, if I could only make it clear to you how I feel now! If I could only express it! We've been talking a long time, she and I. I don't mind telling you I'm taking a pretty bitter lesson, right now. She knows so much. She has such fine--well, ideals--” “Certainly.” “Oh, you've noticed that!.... Well, I feel crude beside her. Of course, I am.” “Yes--you are. Even more so than you can hope to perceive now.” The youth winced; but took it. “Well, suppose--just suppose that I might, one of these days, prove that I'm decent enough to ask her to be my wife.... Oh, don't think for a minute that I don't understand all it means. I do. I tell you I'm starting again. I'm going to fight it out.” “That is fine,” said Griggsby Doane, and looked squarely, gravely, at the very young face. It was a white face, but good in outline; the forehead, particularly, was good. And the blue eyes now met his. “I believe you will fight it out. And I believe you have it in you to win.” “I'm going to try, Mr. Doane. But just suppose I do win. And suppose I win her. It's when I think of that, that I.... I'll put it this way--to my friends, to everybody in New York, she'd be an oddity. A novelty, not much more. You know what most of them would think, in their hearts. Either they'd make an exception in her case--partly on my account, at that--or else they'd look down on her. You know how they are about people that aren't--well, the same color that we are. Probably I couldn't live out here. The business is mainly in New York, of course. And she's such an enthusiastic American herself--she'd want to be there. Some, anyway. And she's got to be happy. She's like a flower to me, now; like an orchid. Oh, a thousand times more, but.... What could I do? How could I plan? Oh, I'd fight for her quick enough. But you know our cold rich Americans. They wouldn't let me fight. They'd just....” “My boy,” said Doane. quietly but with an authority that Rocky felt, “you can't plan that. You can do only one thing.” “What thing?” “Stay here in China a year before you offer yourself to that lovely girl. Study the Chinese--their language, their philosophy, their art. A year will not advance you far, but it should be enough to show you where you yourself stand.” “A year....!” “Listen to what I am going to try to tell you. Listen as thoughtfully as you can. First I must tell you this--the Chinese civilization has been--in certain aspects still remains--the finest the world has known. With one exception, doubtless.” “What exception?” “The Grecian. You see, I have startled you.” “Well, I'm still sort of bewildered.”