"Yes, I know," Dr. Fenneben said.

"She was married and came to Kansas. That was after you
left Cambridge, I suppose. She and her husband are both dead,
leaving no children. My father was bitterly opposed
to her coming out here, and never forgave her for it.
He died recently, making me his heir. I've always thought I'd
like to see the state where my sister lived. She died young.
She could not have been as old as you are, and you are a young
man yet, Doctor. In addition, my father left in my care some trust
funds for a claimant who also lived in Kansas. He is dead now,
but I want to find out something more definite concerning him.
Outside of this, I hope to do well here and to succeed to
higher places elsewhere, soon. All this personal to myself,
and worthy, I hope."

He looked at Fenneben, who was leaning forward with his elbow on the table
and his head bowed. His face was hidden and his white fingers were thrust
through the heavy masses of black hair.

"You will find a great field here in which to work out your success,"
the Dean said at length. "But I must give a word of warning.
I tried once to reproduce the eastern university here.
I learned better. If Kansas is to be your training ground,
may I say that the man who opens his front door for the first time
on the green prairies of the West has no less to learn than the man
who first pitches his tent beside the blue Atlantic? Don't say
I didn't show you where to find the blazed trail if you get lost
from it for a little while."