"William," said Mrs. Brown, "are you going to bed?"
William again retired. This time he got halfway upstairs. Then a third thought struck him and again he descended.
"Anyway," he said, and his family groaned as the familiar untidy shock of hair and frowning freckled face once more appeared. "Didn't Ethel say that he never had folks in, an' isn't he having me in to tea to-morrow, so I bet you can't say I haven't reformed him."
"William!" said Mrs. Brown, "are—you—going—to—bed?"
William was. He had heard the click of the gate at the end of the drive.
When William's father entered the house three minutes later, William was in bed and asleep.
CHAPTER V
NOT MUCH
William walked down the village street singing lustily. His strident, unmelodious young voice rang out harshly. His face was purple with vocal effort.
"Dare to be a Daniel,