"That Skull and Bones, which does a great good here—I believe it—also does a great deal of harm; all of which is unnecessary and a weakness in its system. In a word, I've come to the point where I believe secrecy is un-American, undemocratic and stultifying; and, as I say, totally unnecessary. I should always be against it."
"But aren't you exaggerating the importance of it all?" she said hastily.
"No, I'm not," he said. "I used to silence myself with that, but I see the thing working out too plainly."
"But why speak about it?"
"Because I don't think it's honest not to. Of course," he added immediately, "I have about one chance in a thousand—perhaps that's why I'm so all-fired direct about it."
"I wish you wouldn't," she said, rising and coming towards him. "It might offend them terribly; you never know."
He shook his head, though her eagerness gave him a sudden happiness.
"No, I've thought it out a long while, and I've decided. It all goes back to that sophomore society scrap. I made up my mind then I wasn't going to compromise, and I'm not now."
"But I want to see you go Bones," she said illogically, in a rush. "After all you've gone through, you must go Bones!"
He did not answer this.