“That is correct.”
“Then I’d be guessing that the even numbers are the commonest elements.”
“How do you get that?”
“I don’t know. Things come to me like that sometimes.”
“Well, I’d like to say that you are probably right, and that you never said a keener thing in your life. That is precisely the sort of right guess that gave us dynamos.”
They looked at each other and glowed with friendship.
“Marvin, don’t I owe you something?”
“Nothing except to stop off and meet my father.”
“Then I’ll do that, because I want to hear you talk more. But I don’t want you to think me a stingy man just because I have no use for colleges. You’ve lost a hand in the service of your country, and your country ain’t going to pay you for it. Your country ought to give you a chance to study lead, if you like that sort of thing. You lost a hand, and you lost a girl. I’m the father of that girl, and I appreciate the way you took it. I’d like to show you that I like you for giving up Gratia.”
“It cost me nothing, Mr. Ferry. We both considered ourselves lucky to have found out in time. Didn’t she tell you?”