“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.”
Two weeks later Dan arrived at the Tait School. Walter already had been on the ground two days, and when his friend at last was directed to the room he was to occupy, he came with a heavy canvas bag in his hand and found himself face to face with Walter and another boy, who was introduced to him as Sin Bradley.