It was with the intention of getting into the open, both mentally and
physically, that on the second day following the Judge's departure
Richard started on a long drive in his car. Beyond a certain limit he
knew that the roads were likely to prove none too good, though the
winter had thus far been an open one and there was little chance of his
encountering blocking snowdrifts "up State." He took no one with him. He
could think of no one with whom he cared to go.
As he drove his mind was busy with all sorts of speculations. In his
hurt pride he had said to a girl: "If I can't make you think differently
of me it won't be for lack of will." That meant--what did it mean? That
he had recognized the fact that she despised idlers--and that young rich
men who spent a few hours, on an average of five days of the week, in
assisting elderly gentlemen bereft of their eyesight in looking up old
records, did not thereby in her estimation remove themselves from the
class of those who do nothing in the world but attend to the spending of
their incomes.
What should he do--how prove himself fit to deserve her approval?
Unquestionably he must devote himself seriously to some serious
occupation.
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