read this letter over carefully twice, and then, as her habit
was, answered it almost immediately. It was a part of her training of
her children that she had frankly taken them into her confidence when
they were little and had had the wisdom and courage to discuss with them
the questions that were really vital to their bodies and minds. There
was one reason Walter wrote as frankly to his mother as he did about
everything, knowing she would understand exactly. And that was the
reason his mother in her turn could write as she did in reply, entering
fully into the boy's real life.

She did not take much time to reproach him for the betting incident,
believing that Paul had emphasised that quite strongly, but she did
express the hope that her son would not be afraid to be independent of
surroundings and stand on his own feet and have his own convictions, and
then she went on to say: "One of the hardest things you will have to do
all your life is to be independent. This will take more courage often
than for a woman to be out of fashion. But there isn't a finer thing in
all the world than an independent soul, one that knows the right and
does it even if the whole world around is doing exactly the other thing.
If the coarse stories you mention are told in your presence you don't
have to join in the laugh over them. There is a number of ways in which
you can clearly make those fellows understand your attitude in that
matter and of course you have the right and privilege of guarding
yourself from any talk of that sort in your own room. Your room is your
castle. Guard it from impurity. I feel as if almost any kind of wrong
could be excused in a young man who has the virtue of a pure heart and
maintains constant respect for womankind. But, if I ever gave you any
advice about the choice of a friend, I think I should be quite safe in
saying to you, be very slow to accept into the sacred place of your
friendship any young man who talks with impure lips of womanhood. Such a
man is a blight on all he touches.

"I trust you, Walter, to make the most of your opportunities and make us
all proud of you. Success to the arc lamp. Write us the minute you
succeed. Tell me more about the German schoolmate. We are interested in
him and somehow I feel from the little you have told us of him that he
is a fine young fellow.

"Helen is very dignified about her callers. There is nothing more to
tell about her."

"All send love, most of all, moth