"But of course it is the coldness of a diamond or a sapphire or something else very pure and precious." Bertram Chester pulled himself up at this point and plucked at a place away back in the conversation. "What are these things that I don't know? Where is it that I fall down?" "They are some of the finer points." "Well tell me." Kate noticed that the color had risen in his cheeks and that his eyes drooped from hers. "They must be corrected as we go on--provided you'll let me correct them." "That's what I am asking for--but I'd blame well like an example." "Well, now, we'll take that waiter episode. The kind of people she'd like to know treat servants impersonally. Servants are just conveniences to them, like dumb waiters. So of course,--even if it was only a Chinaman--she didn't like your noticing him and she came out of her shell for just a moment to say so. Do you see now?" Bertram's dark complexion reddened with the rush of his shame. "Oh, that's the idea is it? I thought from something she said that she was afraid I'd hurt his feelings. She wants me to put more front on before 'em, does she?" "Just about that. She doesn't like to see you put yourself on a level with them." "All right, that was straight over the plate and I got it." Again Kate reached over to pat his hand. "Now don't take it seriously; I know--she herself must know--how splendid and able and promising you are--how much of a man!" Bert spoke in some irritation. "I always knew I wasn't a gentleman," he said, "but this is the first time it was ever shot straight at me that way." "Bert Chester, as long as I'm a friend of yours don't you ever dare say to me that you're not a gentleman. You're one of the biggest and strongest gentlemen I ever knew. Anyone need only see you for five minutes to know you're that. But some people have certain things which they attribute to a gentleman--notions, as I've said. And Eleanor from her European experiences has some of these notions. Don't you see?" The smile, which always broke so suddenly, came back to Bert Chester's face. "Well, of course that's why I broke loose from the ranch and went to college in the first place. I wanted to be as good, every way, as the best there is!" "And you are already!" He shook his head. "No, or this wouldn't have happened. I want to be good enough to marry any girl, no matter who. I'm going to amount to something. I'm going to be rich, too--and a darn sight quicker than most people know. I don't know that we came here to talk about that, though." "Please go on. We came here to talk about you--anything about yourself."