"Well, they would have had good times, if you had." Fidelia laughed--"I am not so sure. I have one sister." "Yes, I know--Miss Eunice," said Amos. "Yes, my Eunice. She is all I have got, and she is better to me than two or three brothers." "Yes, I know," said Amos, nodding his head; "I heard Dr Everett talking about her with father. Oh, no, it wasn't doctor's talk; only how good she is, and how much she thinks of you!" "Why do they call you Faithful?" asked Ned. "No one calls me that but Nellie, and you must ask her why." "I suppose it is because you never shirk," said Amos. Fidelia looked grave. "I don't deserve it for that reason," said she. "You know Jabez Ainsworth, don't you?" said Amos. "Oh, yes; I have always known him! We are good friends." "He is a smart boy, isn't he?" "Yes, he is smart, and good, though he gets into trouble now and then. He is seventeen." She told them an amusing story or two about Jabez--about adventures which he had had and trouble into which he had fallen when he was a little fellow, because of a determination to get his own way. She ended with an account of his last venture in taking Eunice's garden for the summer, so as to make some money, because he "was bound to put himself through college, and _be_ somebody." Amos listened in silence. "Do you suppose he'll do it?" said Ned. "I think so. Oh, yes, he is sure to succeed! His grandfather will help him, perhaps, when he sees that he is determined to be educated. But, whether he helps him or not, Jabez is bound to succeed." "I wonder if the hardest things aren't the easiest after all!" said Amos. "I mean, that we don't always care much about what we can get without much trouble." "He means, _he_ don't care about going to college," said Ned; "but father means he shall." "Oh, yes, I suppose I shall go! But I'd a good deal rather go West to Uncle John's great farm." "You can do both," said Fidelia. "It takes five years to get through Amherst College." "Well, you can spare them. You are young. How old are you?" "I was fifteen in May." "Only fifteen! I thought you were older than that." Amos looked pleased. "How nearly are you ready for college?" "I might go this fall; but father thinks I had better wait a year. I don't care." "I think so too--if you don't care. Next year Jabez may go too. I only wish he had your chance--and yet I am not sure. He may do all the better for having to work his way through. But for one to have your chance, and not to care for it, that I cannot understand!" added Fidelia gravely. "My father is not a rich man," said Amos. "No--not as Mr Kent is rich. But an education such as he is able and willing to give his boys will be worth more--if they take the good of it--than all Mr Kent's money would be. You don't realise, your privileges, young man."