He read English society novels, wherein he caught glimpses of men and women talking politics and philosophy.

And he read of salons in great cities, even in the United States, where art and intellect congregated.

Foolishly, in the past, he had conceived that all well-groomed persons above the working class were persons with power of intellect and vigor of beauty.

Culture and collars had gone together, to him, and he had been deceived into believing that college educations and mastery were the same things.
Well, he would fight his way on and up higher.

And he would take Ruth with him.