“That’s it. If I do say it, Walter always wears his clothes well.” “They ought to wear well. They cost me enough. His bill at the tailor’s this spring――――” “I am not talking about the quality of his clothing.” “Oh.” “You know perfectly well what I mean.” “Perhaps I do. You’re a little afraid that when Dan finds himself among a lot of boys who have been brought up in wealthy homes and who have doting mothers and perhaps very foolish fathers that he will mortify Walter by some of the things he does. I think I understand you.” “I’m thinking of Dan just as much or more than I am of Walter,” protested Mrs. Borden. “He will be mortified by some things he’ll do for which he is not at all to blame.” “Whose fault will it be?” “Why――I should say not of anyone exactly. It is just that he’ll have to meet new conditions, that’s all. I am sure I haven’t any foolish pride. I don’t want Dan to suffer too much just because he doesn’t understand some things.” “How much do you want him to suffer? You say you don’t want him to suffer too much. Where do you draw the line?” “I can quietly save him a good deal.” “Of course you can.” “Do you agree to his going home with us?” “Personally I like Dan. I should be glad to have him come home with us and I am sure he would pick up and use a good many of the very useful lessons you would teach him in your own quiet way. But I’m afraid it can’t be done just now. We can arrange for him to come in some vacation.” “That will be too late I’m afraid. Why can’t he come now?” “The work on the farm for one thing. He will want to do all he can to help Tom with the fall work before he leaves.” “You might hire a helper for Tom.” “Yes, I might, but for Dan’s sake I don’t want to. Dan must not think he is to do any less for his brother. Then too, Dan will not be slow in finding out what he ought to do in the school. He has eyes as well as brains. He has something better than either eyes or brains too.” “What is that?” “Character. He won’t say ‘no’ and then wobble. He knows just what the two little Saxon words ‘yes’ and ‘no’ mean. I wish Walter did too, and it is the hope that Dan will help teach him that more than anything else that is making me send him to the Tait School. I’m glad to have him room with Walter.” “You don’t think he is a brighter boy than Walter, do you?” “No, but he has learned some things that Walter doesn’t know, and if he doesn’t learn them soon he never will. No, mother, I honestly believe it will be better for Walter to let Dan go straight to the school. If he meets the new conditions, as I believe he will, the effect on our boy will be all the better.” “I don’t see; but if you think it is better for Walter, then I’m sure I’ll not say another word. I was thinking it would be a little easier perhaps for both of them if I had Dan home with me a few days.” “It would be easier, but perhaps not better.”