“But where’s that fortune you’ve made?” I gasped. “Fortune? I’ve only got thirty-five cents and I’m in debt for that!” “It’s a failure, then?” she asked, maliciously. “Of course it isn’t a failure!” I insisted, desperately. “Two years of it have helped me very much. I mean to get more of it, aunt!” “But you look poorly dressed, and you tell me that you’re poorer than the day you went. I always thought education meant getting along in life!” “It does mean getting along in life,” I argued, “but not necessarily getting along in money--or even good clothes. It has to do with the mind--with the thinking powers--eh--” She burst into mocking laughter and said: “Oh, that’s it? Then maybe you’ll not be needing bed and board now that you’ve had two years of education,--is that the state of things?” “Oh, you don’t understand, aunt. Of course you can’t do much in the world with only two years of it. It needs several years of it before you can really get a position in which money or prestige may be made. I’m only just on the way: in the first stages.” “Then why aren’t you in it? What have you come back to us for? I suppose you are short of money and want us to help you along in your brainless undertaking, eh?” “Have I asked a cent from you during the last two years, aunt?” I asked with some show of spirit. “Haven’t I earned my own living even when I have been at home? Is it likely that I’ll ask you to help me through now?” “It wouldn’t do any good if you were to ask us,” she said, firmly. “We have debts enough in the house now to drive us to distraction.” “Of course,” I said, “it will be some weeks, probably, before I can shape my plans. You will let me stay here?” “There,” she sniffed, “he’s coming the soft soap act on, now! I thought you had something up your sleeve. So you want me to board you free of charge for some weeks, eh, while you lord it around without working?” “I shall have to plan just what to do next!” I announced, feeling that this last touch to my already heavy load would break me. “That’s all. I shall be going off to some sort of a school if it’s possible.” “Two days free: that’s as long as you can stop without board,” she announced. “I never was for this hair-brained business. It’s taken your earnings away. After two days you must pay board.” I knew it was fruitless to argue with her any further and I longed for the noon to arrive when I could have Uncle Stanwood’s more comforting greetings. My uncle came in and was extremely pleased to greet me, and my return so unexpectedly considerably upset him. “Two years of learning, steady,” he commented. “That’s good. You are the first Priddy to get such a chance. Make the most of it. Two years is a good beginning. I can notice a difference in your speech and your manner already. Keep on, Al!” “His learning hasn’t given him any silk shirts or gold-headed canes, has it?” scoffed my Aunt Millie.