"Of course, I mean to rise in the world far above my present position. That, you know, I have settled long ago; and my wife must be one who can rise with me. It would not do to have a wife who felt more at home in the kitchen than in the parlor, or who would not be a fit associate for ladies of any rank. I am much mistaken in Mary if she will not grace any circle into which I may be able to introduce her." There was a something in the way this was uttered by Dunbar that caused an indignant emotion to rise in the breast of Hudson. He did not make a reply, and his friend went on. "Of course, I must look to this. No matter how much I might have loved Mary, if I had perceived in her anything that led me to doubt her being able to support the dignity and character of a refined lady, I would have passed her aside." "You are quite cool about the matter," remarked Hudson, with a slight manifestation of disturbance in his voice. He felt impatient, and could not entirely control himself. "A cool head and a warm heart: that is my motto." "Parrot!" was the indignant, though mental ejaculation of Hudson. "Your head is cool, certainly," he said aloud. "And do you doubt the warmth of my heart?" "I didn't say so." "But am I not to infer that from what you do say?" "I would not like to say that your heart was not warm, Lawrence; but I will remark, that your very cool heads are apt to chill the blood so much that the heart cannot restore it to a healthy temperature." "As to that, I prefer a cool head, rather than a heart so warm as to soften the brains," replied Dunbar. "I go for cool heads, you know." "And I for warm hearts," replied Hudson. "Which makes the difference between us. A few years will show which is best. I will just say, however, in passing, as we happen to be on the subject and speaking a little freely, that I think your defect lies just where you have indicated it. Your feelings are too generous. Your heart is too warm. You think too much of others and too little of yourself. This will not do, if you expect to rise in the world. All these amiable weaknesses must be laid aside as hindrances." "If that is the price of elevation in this world, I do not wish to rise," said Hudson. "It is, you may depend upon it," his friend replied. "A position that I must doubt." "If you continue to doubt it, you will remain where you are." "And I shall be content, if elevation is to be purchased at the price you name." "You're a foolish fellow, Lloyd!" "Time will show that. I expect to rise upon my system, as much as you expect to rise upon yours." "As high?" "Higher, perhaps." "Time, as you say, will show." "I am willing to trust in time." "And so am I." The sober mood in which Dunbar found his friend was in no way congenial to his feelings, and he did not long oppress the young student with his presence.