"I am glad you have come, Charlie," he said. "It's so lonely here during the week."

"And how are you feeling, Arthur?" asked his brother, laying his hand caressingly on the shoulder of the younger boy.

"Oh, I'm all right; only lonely."

"I've brought you some company--don't you see?"

For the first time Arthur's attention was drawn to Sam.

"I am glad to see you," he said, politely extending his hand. "Are you a friend of Charlie's?"

"Yes, Arthur," the student replied, anticipating our hero. "This is my friend, Sam Barker."

"Are you in college, Mr. Barker?" asked Arthur.

"Please call me Sam," said our hero. "I am only a boy, and I don't begin to know enough to be in college."

"Nor I, either," said Arthur.

"Come into the house," said the elder brother. "Has father got back from the city?"

"No; he sent word that he should not be back till evening. We are to take supper without him. You are going to stop over Sunday, I hope, Charlie?"

"Yes, till to-morrow evening. Sam will stay, too. Won't you take him up to the little room next to yours? He will want to wash before supper."

Sam did not know that he needed to wash, but accepted this as a hint.

"Won't it be too much trouble for you?" he asked, thinking of Arthur's lameness.

"Oh, no," said the lame boy. "I can go upstairs almost as quick as if I wasn't lame. Come this way, please."

Sam followed him upstairs. He was shown to a small, but handsomely furnished chamber.

"You'll find everything you need, I think," said Arthur. "That room,"

pointing to one adjoining, "is mine; so we shall be near neighbors."

"I am glad of that. If burglars get in in the night, I'll come to you for protection."

"I am afraid I couldn't do you much good. You are a great deal stronger than I."

"Then I'll protect you."

"Do you live in Boston, Sam?"

"I only came to Boston a few days ago. I came from New York."

"Did you live in the city?"

"Yes. Were you ever there?"

"I have passed through New York on my way to Saratoga. I went up the Hudson River on a steamboat."

"We call it the North River there."

"We stopped at the Fifth Avenue Hotel."

"That's a tiptop hotel. I've been in there often."

"Are you going to live in Boston?"

"If I can find anything to do. I am not rich like you."

"No," said Arthur; "but you are something better."

"What is better than being rich?" asked Sam, incredulously.

"You are strong and healthy. You are not an invalid like me."

"How long have you been lame, Arthur?" inquired Sam, who had naturally a kind heart, and was already beginning to feel an interest in his new friend.

"Ever since I was a very small boy."

"Your brother is strong enough."

"Yes, Charlie's got muscle," said Arthur, proudly. "He's one of the strongest fellows in his class. He goes to gymnasium regularly. You ought to feel his arm. He's going to belong to the boat club next year."

By this time Sam had finished his ablutions.

"Come downstairs, and I'll show you the stable," said Arthur. "I guess there'll be time before supper."

"How many horses have you got?"

"Three carriage horses. Father would buy me a pony, but he's afraid I might fall, and not be able to help myself."

"Do you go to school?"

"No; my health is not good enough. The doctor says I must be out in the open air a good deal, and must not overtax my brain. I suppose you have been to school a good deal."

"Well, no," said Sam; "I am afraid of overtaxing my brain, too."

Arthur laughed. "I don't think, from your looks, that you need feel afraid," he said.

"You've no idea how delicate I am," said Sam, humorously.

"I should think you might be," said Arthur, merrily; "but you are very successful in not showing it."

"That's why I don't get any sympathy. What do you do all day long if you don't go to school?"