Sundayhehadintendedtodevotetostudyingforthehighschoolexamination, butthepearl-divingarticleluredhimaway, , andhavingbeendeaftoatwicerepeatedsummons, , andhehonoreditbydeliveringplatitudinoussermonettesuponAmericaninstitutionsandtheopportunitysaidinstitutionsgavetoanyhardworkingmantorise—therise, inhiscase, whichhepointedoutunfailingly, beingfromagrocer'sclerktotheownershipofHigginbotham'sCashStore.

MartinEdenlookedwithasighathisunfinished "Pearl-diving" onMondaymorning, , dayslater, heappliedfortheresultsofhisexaminations, helearnedthathehadfailedineverythingsavegrammar."Yourgrammarisexcellent," ProfessorHiltoninformedhim, staringathimthroughheavyspectacles; "butyouknownothing, positivelynothing, intheotherbranches, andyourUnitedStateshistoryisabominable—thereisnootherwordforit, —"

ProfessorHiltonpausedandglaredathim, , possessorofalargefamily, ameagresalary, andaselectfundofparrot-learnedknowledge.

"Yes, sir," Martinsaidhumbly, wishingsomehowthatthemanatthedeskinthelibrarywasinProfessorHilton'splacejustthen.

"."

Martinwasnotdeeplyaffectedbyhisfailure, thoughhewassurprisedatRuth'sshockedexpressionwhenhetoldherProfessorHilton', butchieflysoforhersake.

"YouseeIwasright," shesaid."Youknowfarmorethananyofthestudentsenteringhighschool, andyetyoucan', , , andifIwereyou, I', thatwouldleaveyouyourdaysinwhichtowrite, or, ifyoucouldnotmakeyourlivingbyyourpen, youwouldhaveyourdaysinwhichtoworkinsomeposition."