“Precisely. And a boy can be sent to the best school, but if he won’t learn there’s no education or power for him. I used to know some of the boys when I was in school who thought they were getting the better of their teachers when they cheated in exams, or dodged a lesson. The foolish fellows! They didn’t know enough to know that they themselves were the only ones that were cheated. A school or college is a place where a boy learns, or rather can learn if he tries, how to use his brains. If he doesn’t do the work then he doesn’t learn――at least he doesn’t learn there.” Walter was somewhat uncomfortable at the turn the conversation had taken and interrupting, he said to Silas, “Don’t you think Dan will make a good pitcher for the Tait School nine?” “‘Good?’” retorted Silas instantly diverted. “‘Good?’ There’s none better. If th’ New Yorks onct got a chance t’ see him work then ’twould be good-day for your school. I’m told that some o’ them players get as much as ten dollars a game. D’ye s’pose that can be true?” Walter laughed as he said, “Silas, some of them get four or five times as much as that.” “Well, Dan’ll get it then.” “I believe he will do well whatever he tries to do,” said Mr. Borden quietly. “Ye’re right he will. I charged Tim Long two shillin’ for fixin’ his tugs this mornin’ an’ it took me ’most two hours. If I had Dan’s chance I’d be makin’ four times that, I guess.” Dan, who had been the subject of much of the conversation on the way back to Rodman, seldom spoke. There was an air of seriousness about the thoughtful boy that was marked. Mr. Borden occasionally glanced at him, and there was always a quiet smile of approval whenever he did so. Whatever Walter’s hopes and plans for his friend were, it was manifest that his father also had thoughts of his own, though he did not once refer to them in the presence of his boy. * * * * * At last the day arrived when Walter was to depart from Rodman. In two weeks the Tait School was to reopen and there were many things to be done in the city before he went. Before the family left for home, Mrs. Borden was seated one evening on the piazza alone with her husband and broached a subject which had long been in her mind. “Don’t you think it would be a good thing to take Dan back home with us for a few days before he enters school? You know he――――” As Mrs. Borden hesitated a moment her husband said, “You mean to teach him a few things?” “Yes, that’s just what I mean. You know Dan has not been accustomed to some things that Walter has.” “Yes, I know. What, for example?” “Well, he hasn’t had any training, at least such as Walter has had, in his table manners. Of course his mother is a good woman, but――――” “He doesn’t use his knife and fork properly?” “Yes, though that’s only one thing.” “What else?” “He needs some clothes.” “What’s the matter with those he wears?” “You know what I mean.” “They aren’t cut like Walter’s?”