"I must put the past behind me," he went on presently.

"I mustn't think of it." "After all," suggested Torrey, "you're not as bad off as more than ninety-nine per cent of the young men.

You're just where they are--on bed rock.

And you've got the advantage of your education." Arthur smiled satirically.

"The tools I learned to use at college," said he, "aren't the tools for the Crusoe Island I've been cast away on." "Well, I reckon a college don't ruin a young chap with the right stuff in him, even if it don't do him any great sight of good." He looked uneasily at Arthur, then began: "If you'd like to study law"-- as if he feared the offer would be accepted, should he make it outright.
"No; thank you, I've another plan," replied Arthur, though "plan" would have seemed to Judge Torrey a pretentious name for the hazy possibilities that were beginning to gather in the remote corners of his mind.
"I supposed you wouldn't care for the law," said Torrey, relieved that his faint hint of a possible offer had not got him into trouble.