They planned to read a good deal, evenings. Improve their minds. It was Ray’s idea, but Cora seconded it heartily. This was before their marriage.

“Now, take history alone,” Ray argued: “American history. Why, you can read a year and hardly know the half of it. That’s the trouble. People don’t know the history of their own country. And it’s interesting, too, let me tell you. Darned interesting. Better’n novels, if folks only knew it.”

“My, yes,” Cora agreed. “And French. We could take up French, evenings. I’ve always wanted to study French. They say if you know French you can travel anywhere. It’s all in the accent; and goodness knows I’m quick at picking up things like that.”