"Dad wants me to, but I guess I'll go to work. Why waste four years learning a lot of stuff that'll never earn me a cent?"
"But you could take engineering, or law."
"All lawyers are crooks and I've no head for figures. I'm going into the real estate business. There's real money in that, particularly if Levine gets his bill through. What do you want to go to the University for?"
"Kent, I promised Mother I'd go. And I want to anyhow. We're so poor, that I'll never be anything but a scrub woman if I don't get educated. And all our folks back East were college people, even if they were farmers—all but Dad. He thought he was too smart to go to college."
Kent stirred uncomfortably. "I don't think I'm too smart, but I want to make money, quick."
"I don't see what the hurry is. Is it Olga?"
"Of course it isn't Olga! She's all right to flirt with and a peachy looker, but you don't suppose a fellow wants to marry every girl he gets crazy about!"
"I didn't know," said Lydia, meekly. "Nobody was ever crazy about me."
"You aren't that kind, thank heaven. If I ever catch you running round flirting, I'll slap your face."
There was nothing humorous in Kent's tone, nevertheless Lydia giggled.
"Lots you'd know about it when you don't see me for months at a time."