He had never before been in contact with such exalted beings nor with so many of them.

Melville, the bank cashier, fascinated him, and he resolved to investigate him at the first opportunity.

For underneath Martin's awe lurked his assertive ego, and he felt the urge to measure himself with these men and women and to find out what they had learned from the books and life which he had not learned.
Ruth's eyes roved to him frequently to see how he was getting on, and she was surprised and gladdened by the ease with which he got acquainted with her cousins.

He certainly did not grow excited, while being seated removed from him the worry of his shoulders.

Ruth knew them for clever girls, superficially brilliant, and she could scarcely understand their praise of Martin later that night at going to bed.