want truth to be pretty? Why can't you look its ghastliness bravely in the
face? How can you expect to learn anything if you don't? How can you expect
to form judgments on men and things? How can you expect to get to the
meaning of life on which you were so keen a year ago?"

"I want beauty, and not disgustfulness," said Zora.

"Should it happen, for the sake of argument, that I wanted two dear
friends to marry, it is only because I know how happy they would be
together. The ulterior motive you suggest is repulsive."

"But it's true," said Rattenden. "I wish I could talk to you more. I could
teach you a great deal. At any rate I know that you'll think about what
I've said to-day."

"I won't," she declared.

"You will," said he. And then he dropped a very buttery piece of buttered
toast on the carpet and, picking it up, said "damn" under his breath; and
then they both laughed, and Zora found him human.

"Why are you so bent on educating me?" she asked.

"Because," said he, "I am one of the few men of your acquaintance who
doesn't want to marry you."

"Indeed?" said Zora sarcastically, yet hating herself for feeling a little
pang of displeasure. "May I ask why?"

"Because," said he, "I've a wife and five children already."