"Of course we have to punish ourselves sometimes," acknowledged Frank. "I shall be wishing all day long to-morrow that I was with you. But when evening comes, and the day's over, then I shall be glad to have done right. Mamma says if we do not learn to act rightly and self-reliantly as boys we shall not do so as men." Mr. Glenn laid his hand on Frank's shoulder. "Inculcate your creed upon my sons, if you can," said he, speaking seriously. "Has your mother taught it to you long?" "She has always been teaching it to us; ever since we were little," rejoined Frank. "If we had to begin now, I don't know that we should make much of it." Mr. Glenn fell into a reverie. As Mr. Ashley had once judged by some words dropped by William, so Mr. Glenn was judging now--that Mrs. Halliburton must be a mother in a thousand. Frank turned to Philip. "Have you done your lessons?" "Done my lessons! No. Have you?" Frank laughed. "Yes, or I should not have come. I have not played a minute to-day--but cribbed the time. Scanning, and exercise, and Greek; I have done them all." "It seems to me that you and your brothers make friends of your lessons, whilst most boys make enemies," observed Mr. Glenn. "Yes, that's true," said Frank. "Philip," said Mr. Glenn to his son that evening after Frank had departed, "I give you _carte blanche_ to bring that boy here as much as you like. If you are wise, you will make a lasting friend of him." "I like the Halliburtons," replied Philip. "The college school doesn't, though." "And pray, why?" "Well, I think Dare senior first set the school against them--that's Cyril, you know, papa. He was always going on at them. They were snobs for sticking to their lessons, he said, which gentlemen never did; and they were snobs because they had no money to spend, which gentlemen always had; and they were snobs for this, and snobs for the other; and he got his desk, which ruled the school, to cut them. They had to put up with a good deal then, but they are bigger now, and can fight their way; and, since Dare senior left, the school has begun to like them. If they are poor, they can't help it," concluded Philip, as if he would apologize for the fact. "Poor!" retorted Mr. Glenn. "I can tell you, Master Philip, and the college school too, that they are rich in things that you want. Unless I am deceived, the Halliburtons will grow up to be men of no common order." CHAPTER XIII. MAKING PROGRESS. Trifles, as we all know, lead to great events. When Frank Halliburton had gone home, in his usual flying, eager manner, plunging headlong into the subject of Mr. Glenn's request, and Jane consented to grant it, she little thought that it would lead to a considerable increase to her income, enabling them to procure several comforts, and rendering better private instruction than her own easy for her sons.