“Tommyrot! It's an aristocracy, that's what it is, just like the little old world outside, an aristocracy of the survival of the fittest. You get there if you're strong. You go to the wall if you're weak. That's the law of life.” The freshman came to this squint of pragmatism with surprise. He had thought of Verden University as a splendid democracy of intellectual brotherhood that was to leaven the world with which it came in touch. “Do you mean that a fellow has to have money enough to make a good showing before he can win any of the prizes?” James K. nodded with the sage wisdom of a man of the world. “The long green is a big help, but you've got to have the stuff in you. Success comes to the fellow who goes after it in the right way.” “And suppose a fellow doesn't care to go after it?” “He stays a nobody.” James was in evening dress, immaculate from clean-shaven cheek to patent leather shoes. He had a well-filled figure and a handsome face with a square, clean-cut jaw. His cousin admired the young fellow's virile competency. It was his opinion that James K. Farnum was the last person he knew likely to remain a nobody. He knew how to conform, to take the color of his thinking from the dominant note of his environment, but he had, too, a capacity for leadership. “I'm not going to believe you if I can help it,” Jeff answered with a smile. The upper classman shrugged. “You'd better take my advice, just the same. At college you don't get a chance to make two starts. You're sized up from the crack of the pistol.” “I haven't the money to make a splurge even if I wanted to.” “Borrow.” “Who from?” asked Jeff ungrammatically. “You can rustle it somewhere. I'm borrowing right now.” “It's different with you. I'm used to doing without things. Don't worry about me. I'll get along.” James came with a touch of embarrassment to the real object of his visit. “I say, Jeff. I've had a tough time to win out. You won't--you'll not say anything--let anything slip, you know--something that might set the fellows guessing.” His cousin was puzzled. “About what?” “About the reason why Mother and I left Shelby and came out to the coast.” “What do you take me for?” “I knew you wouldn't. Thought I'd mention it for fear you might make a slip.” “I don't chatter about the private affairs of my people.” “Course not. I knew you didn't.” The junior's hand rested caressingly on the shoulder of the other. “Don't get sore, Jeff. I didn't doubt you. But that thing haunts me. Some day it will come out and ruin me when I'm near the top of the ladder.” The freshman shook his head. “Don't worry about it, James. Just tell the plain truth if it comes out. A thing like that can't hurt you permanently. Nothing can really injure you that does not come from your own weakness.”