“Well—­” Babbitt crossed the floor, slowly, ponderously, seeming a little old.  “I’ve always wanted you to have a college degree.”  He meditatively stamped across the floor again.  “But I’ve never—­Now, for heaven’s sake, don’t repeat this to your mother, or she’d remove what little hair I’ve got left, but practically, I’ve never done a single thing I’ve wanted to in my whole life!  I don’t know ’s I’ve accomplished anything except just get along.  I figure out I’ve made about a quarter of an inch out of a possible hundred rods.  Well, maybe you’ll carry things on further.  I don’t know.  But I do get a kind of sneaking pleasure out of the fact that you knew what you wanted to do and did it.  Well, those folks in there will try to bully you, and tame you down.  Tell ’em to go to the devil!  I’ll back you.  Take your factory job, if you want to.  Don’t be scared of the family.  No, nor all of Zenith.  Nor of yourself, the way I’ve been.  Go ahead, old man!  The world is yours!”

Arms about each other’s shoulders, the Babbitt men marched into the living-room and faced the swooping family.