e desk
in the library was in Professor Hilton's place just then.

"And I should advise you to go back to the grammar school for at least
two years. Good day."

Martin was not deeply affected by his failure, though he was surprised at
Ruth's shocked expression when he told her Professor Hilton's advice. Her
disappointment was so evident that he was sorry he had failed, but
chiefly so for her sake.

"You see I was right," she said. "You know far more than any of the
students entering high school, and yet you can't pass the examinations.
It is because what education you have is fragmentary, sketchy. You need
the discipline of study, such as only skilled teachers can give you. You
must be thoroughly grounded. Professor Hilton is right, and if I were
you, I'd go to night school. A year and a half of it might enable you to
catch up that additional six months. Besides, that would leave you your
days in which to write, or, if you could not make your living by your
pen, you would have your days in which to work in some position."

But if my days are taken up with work and my nights with school, when am
I going to see you?--was Martin's first thought, though he refrained from
uttering it. Instead, he said:-

"It seems so babyish for me to be going to night school. But I wouldn't
mind that if I thought it would pay. But I don't think it will pay. I
can do the work quicker than they can teach me. It would be a loss of
time--" he thought of her and his desire to have her--"and I can't afford
the time. I haven't the time to spare, in fact."

"There is so much that is necessary." She looked at him gently, and he
was a brute to oppose her. "Physics and chemistry--you can't do them
without laboratory study; and you'll find algebra and geometry almost
hopeless with instruction. You need the skilled teachers, the
specialists in the art of imparting knowledge."

He was silent for a minute, casting about for the least vainglorious way
in which to express himself.

"Please don't think I'm bragging," he began. "I don't intend it that way
at all. But I have a feeling that I am what I may call a natural
student. I can study by myself. I take to it kindly, like a duck to
water. You see yourself what I did with grammar. And I've learned much
of other things--you would never dream how much. And I'm only getting
started. Wait till I get--" He hesitated and assured himself of the
pronunciation before he said "momen