And he knew enough of human nature not to be too disheartened by her attitude.

Had he been a nonentity to her, she would have ignored him.

Her very insults were proof that he was a positive personality with real significance in her life.

And so he counseled himself to have patience and await a thawing or an awaking.

Besides, he kept repeating to himself, there would be small chance of effecting a conversion in this militant young orthodoxist of cynicism until he had proved the soundness of contrary views by his own established success.
And thus the days drifted by.