"I may claim some familiarity with their theories."
He fussed with his pencil. "I recall defining sociology for you one night at my boarding-house...."
"I remember."
"Well," said he, determined to find something wrong, "those men whom I mentioned to you are not so good as they think, particularly Smathers. I may as well tell you that I shall show Smathers up completely in my book."
"We shall examine your arguments with care and attention. We leave no stone unturned to keep abreast of the best modern thought."
"It is extraordinary that such a position should be held by a girl like you, who can have no scientific knowledge of the many complex problems.... However," he said, a ray of brightness lightening his displeasure, "your State is notoriously backward in this field. Your department, I fancy, can hardly be more than rudimentary."
"It will be much, much more than that in another year or two. Why, we're only four years old!"
"So this is why you are interested in having editorials written about reformatories. It is a reformatory for women that you wish to establish?"
"How did you know?"
"I merely argue from the fact that your State is so often held up to reproach for lack of one. What is the plan?"