ion closely, and while he was convinced that
Olney was right, he resented the rather cavalier treatment he accorded
Ruth. A new conception of love formed in his mind as he listened. Reason
had nothing to do with love. It mattered not whether the woman he loved
reasoned correctly or incorrectly. Love was above reason. If it just
happened that she did not fully appreciate his necessity for a career,
that did not make her a bit less lovable. She was all lovable, and what
she thought had nothing to do with her lovableness.

"What's that?" he replied to a question from Olney that broke in upon his
train of thought.

"I was saying that I hoped you wouldn't be fool enough to tackle Latin."

"But Latin is more than culture," Ruth broke in. "It is equipment."

"Well, are you going to tackle it?" Olney persisted.

Martin was sore beset. He could see that Ruth was hanging eagerly upon
his answer.

"I am afraid I won't have time," he said finally. "I'd like to, but I
won't have time."

"You see, Martin's not seeking culture," Olney exulted. "He's trying to
get somewhere, to do something."

"Oh, but it's mental training. It's mind discipline. It's what makes
disciplined minds." Ruth looked expectantly at Martin, as if waiting for
him to change his judgment. "You know, the foot-ball players have to
train before the big game. And that is what Latin does for the thinker.
It trains."

"Rot and bosh! That's what they told us when we were kids. But there is
one thing they didn't tell us then. They let us find it out for
ourselves afterwards." Olney paused for effect, then added, "And what
they didn't tell us was that every gentleman should have studied Latin,
but that no gentleman should know Latin."

"Now that's unfair," Ruth cried. "I knew you were turning the
conversation just in order to get off something."

"It's clever all right," was the retort, "but it's fair, too. The only
men who know their Latin are the apothecaries, the lawyers, and the Latin
professors. And if Martin wants to be one of them, I miss my guess. But
what's all that got to do with Herbert Spencer anyway? Martin's just
discovered Spencer, and he's wild over him. Why? Because Spencer is
taking him somewhere. Spencer couldn't take me anywhere, nor you. We
haven't got anywhere to go. You'll get married some day, and I'll have
nothing to do but keep track of the lawyers and business agents who will
take care of the money my fat