"It's just a couple of men who are cooking it up to work themselves into office," said Hunter, dismissing the idea lightly. "You'll see, that's all there is to it." Somehow, Stover found that renewed contest with Hunter only increased the feeling of antagonism he had felt from the first. He was aware of a growing resistance to Hunter's point of view, guarded and deliberate as it was. So he said point blank: "I'm not so sure there isn't some basis for the feeling. We ought to watch out and make ourselves as democratic as possible." "My dear fellow," said Hunter, in the tone of amused worldliness, "these anti-society fights go on everywhere. There was a great hullabaloo six or seven years ago, and then it all died out. You'll see, that's what'll happen. Gimbel'll get what he wants, then he'll quiet down and hope to make a senior society. Don't get too excited over things that happen in freshman year." "Have you talked with Story?" said Stover, resenting his tone. "Bob's got a curious twist--he's a good deal of a dreamer." "Then you wouldn't make any changes?" "No, not in our crowd," said Hunter. "I think we do very well what we set out to get--the representative men of the class, to bring them together into close friendship, and make them understand one another's point of view and so work together for the best in the university." "You think the outsiders don't count?" "As a rule, no. Of course, there are one or two men who develop later, but if there's anything in them they'll really make good." "Rather tough work, won't it be?" "Yes; but every system has its faults." "What did you come in to see me about?" said Stover abruptly. "To talk the situation over," said Hunter, not seeming to perceive the hostility of the question. "I think all of us in the crowd ought to be very careful." "About what?" "About talking too much." "What do you mean by that?" "I mean, if you have any criticism on the system, keep it to yourself. Gimbel is raising enough trouble; the only thing is for us to shut up and not encourage them by making the kickers think that any of us agree with them." "So that's what you came in to say to me?" "Yes." "You're for no compromise." "I am." "Are there fellows in our crowd, or the classes ahead, who feel as Story does?" "Yes; of course there are a few." "And, Hunter, you see no faults in the system?" "What other system would you suggest?" Now, Stover had not yet come to a critical analysis of his own good fortune, nor had he any more than a personal antagonism for Hunter himself. He did not answer, unwilling to let this feeling color his views on what he began to perceive might some day shape itself as a test of his courage. Hunter left presently, as he had come up, without enthusiasm, always cold, always deliberate. When he had gone, Stover became a little angry at the advice so openly imposed on him, and as a result he decided on a sudden move.