When Victor was a little child I can remember her saying that it was better not to notice naughty things that he did. He would be more likely to drop them if they were not mentioned.”

“Yes, I know. He never talks things over with his mother. He thinks women have the wrong viewpoints on almost everything and they are not wise advisers of the male sex. That’s what he said, Mother! Just recently. He never used to talk that way, but now he says he thinks women were made principally to be petted and to make a pleasant home for men. And for his father, he’s too busy to talk anything over with him. Don’t you see, Mother? That’s what is the matter with Victor. He’s made his own philosophy of life and he means to live by it. He says they encourage the students at his college to do just that. He told me so the other day, and he said that if girls were brought up that way they wouldn’t be so feminine in their ways. But he said he liked them better feminine, that he couldn’t bear a woman who was always trying to make him over. And since he said that, Mother, I haven’t tried to talk anything over with him. It wasn’t any use.”

“Well,” sighed her mother, “I’m just sorry you didn’t mention this before. I would have had a good talk with him. He always used to listen most respectfully to anything I said. Maybe it’s not too late yet.”

“I think it is, Mother. Victor is very definite in his ‘philosophy of life’ as he calls it. Just wait till you hear him talk. He simply thinks he knows it all, and I’d hate to have him try to take you down, and show you where he thinks you belong, the way he did to me. I would just hate him if he tried it, Mother.”

“Well,” said the mother with a sigh, “I certainly hope that time will prove you are mistaken. I was always very fond of Victor, and I thought your friendship with him was such a happy, healthy companionship. I would be sorry indeed to have it turn out the way you seem to think it has. But don’t be too hasty in your judgment. Remember you have been separated for almost a year now, and it would be natural there would be some changes. But those things will probably all be adjusted as time goes on and life falls into its normal lines again. Try not to think too much about it. Just let things work out. Be your old self as far as possible. Avoid discussions, and above all wrangling, even about things that matter.