Fred had settled that by failing to pass the examinations for Annapolis.

Failing purposely, his father stormily held; a theory supported by the good work he did subsequently at Yale.

There he became interested in forestry, again to the disapproval of his parents, who looked upon forestry as an upstart institution, not hallowed by the mellowing traditions of church or navy.
Now they would hold that Helen proved it.
And Helen did prove something.

Certain it was that from neither church nor navy would Fred have seen his Helen in just this way.
Perhaps it was that democracy Wayne had been talking about.

Perhaps this democracy was a thing not contented with any one section of a man's life.