"All of which means," said Regan, "that we are simply schools for character."
"Well, why not?" said Pike. "Isn't that a pretty big thing?"
"You're wrong on the democracy, Brown," said Regan, with a snap of his jaws.
Stover at that moment was not so certain that he would have answered the same. The discussion had so profoundly interested him that he forgot a certain timidity.
"What would Brockhurst answer to the school-for-character idea?" he said.
"I calculate he'd have a lovely time with it," said Ricketts, with a laugh, "a regular dog-and-slipper time of it."
"In all which," said Swazey's quick voice, "there is no question about our learning a little bit."
"That," said Regan, rising, "brings up the subject of education, which is deferred until another time. Ladies and gentlemen, good night. Who's winning? Ricketts. That's because he's said nothing. Good night, everybody."
"Tom," he said, when they came toward the campus, "do you know what I've learned to-night? I've learned what a complete ignoramus I am."
Stover related the incident without mincing words.
"You're a lucky boy," said Regan, at the conclusion. "I'm glad you're waking up."
"You know I know absolutely nothing. I haven't thought on a single subject, and as for politics, and what you men talk about, I don't know the slightest thing. I say, Tom, I'd like to come around and talk with you."
"Come," said Regan; "I've had the door on the latch for a long while, old rooster."
The next afternoon Stover passed Brockhurst going to dinner.
"Hello," he said, with a cordial wave of the hand.
"Hello," said Brockhurst, with a little avoidance, for he had a certain physical timidity, which always shrank at the consequences of his mental insurgency.
"I was a chump and a fool last night," said Stover directly, "and here's my apology."
"Drop in on me. Talk things over. You've started me thinking. Drop in--I mean it."
Brockhurst, ill at ease, moved away, pursued always by a shackling self-consciousness in the presence of those to whom he consciously felt he was mentally superior.
One direct result came to Stover from the visit to Swazey's rooms. Despite the protests and arguments, he did not report for the competition for the crew.
"Stay in for a couple of months," said Le Baron. "We want the moral effect of every one's coming out."