“I don’t understand it,” said Selma, shaking her head and looking into space with her spiritual expression.  “It troubles me.  It isn’t American.  I didn’t think such distinctions existed in this country.  Is it all a question of money, then?  Do intelligence and—­er—­purpose count for nothing?”

“My dear girl, it simply means that the people who are on top—­the people who, by force of success, or ability, or money, are most prominent in the community, associate together, and the world gives a certain prominence to their doings.  Here, where fortunes have been made so rapidly, and we have no formal aristocracy, money undoubtedly plays a conspicuous part in giving access to what is known as society.  But it is only an entering wedge.  Money supplies the means to cultivate manners and the right way of looking at things, and good society represents the best manners and, on the whole, the best way of looking at things.”

“Yes.  But you say that we don’t belong to it.”

“We do in the broad, but not in the narrow sense.  We have neither the means nor the time to take part in fashionable society.  Surely, Selma, you have no such ambition?”

“I?  You know I disapprove of everything of the sort.  It is like Europe.  There’s nothing American in it.”

“I don’t know about that.  The people concerned in it are Americans.  If a man has made money there is no reason why he shouldn’t build a handsome house, maintain a fine establishment, give his children the best educational advantages, and choose his own friends.  So the next generation becomes more civilized.  It isn’t the best Americanism to waste one’s time in pursuing frivolities and excessive luxury, as some of these people do; but there’s nothing un-American in making the most of one’s opportunities.  As I’ve said to you before, Selma, it’s the way in which one rises that’s the important thing in the individual equation, and every man must choose for himself what that shall be.  My ambition is to excel in my profession, and to mould my life to that end without neglecting my duties as a citizen or a husband.  If, in the end, I win fame and fortune, so much the better.  But there’s no use in worrying because other people are more fashionable than we.”

“Of course.  You speak as if you thought I was envious of them, Wilbur.  What I don’t understand is why such people should be allowed to exist in this country.”

“We’re a free people, Selma.  I’m a good democrat, but you must agree that the day-laborer in his muddy garb would not find himself at ease in a Fifth Avenue drawing-room.  On that account shall we abolish the drawing-room?”

“We are not day-laborers.”

“Not precisely; but we have our spurs to win.  And, unlike some people in our respectable, but humble station, we have each other’s love to give us courage to fight the battle of life bravely.  I had a fresh order to-day—­and I have bought tickets for to-night at the theatre.”