proceeded Brown; "and you shall have a little spending money also; but you must not spend any of it for cigars."

"I won't," said Sam, virtuously.

"It seems almost like a dream," he added, "to think of my having a private tutor, with nice clothes and spending money. I wonder what Henry Martin would say."

"Who is Henry Martin?"

"I used to room with him in New York. He is a nice boy, Henry is, a good deal better'n me. He used to save his money and put it in the bank, and study evenings."

"And you didn't, I suppose?"

"No. I was a fool; but I won't be any longer. I'm going to turn over a new leaf."

"If you do, I shall not regret having engaged you as a companion for Arthur."

Here Arthur's voice was heard, as he entered the room.

"What are you two talking about?" he inquired.

"I was telling Sam you would miss him when he went away."

"So I shall. Why can't he stay a little longer?"

Arthur had not yet been told of the plan for giving him a companion.

"You would get tired of me," said Sam.

"No, I wouldn't."

"Not if I stayed a month?"

"Will you, really?" asked Arthur, his pale face brightening up with evident pleasure.

"He shall stay if you would like to have him," said his brother, "and study with you every day. I think Prof. Taylor will be willing to take one additional pupil."

"Will he live here in this house?" asked Arthur, with animation.

"Certainly,"

"Then I shan't feel lonely any more," said Arthur. "I've been wanting company."

"I am sorry to say Sam's studies have been neglected, and he may require some assistance in getting his lessons."

"I'll help him," said Arthur, eagerly.

So it was arranged, and so it was that Sam; after drifting about for years, found at last a good home.

CHAPTER XXXI.

TWO YEARS LATER.

More than two years have elapsed. In the fine old home at Brookline, Sam and Arthur are sitting out on the lawn. Both have changed. Arthur looks stronger and better than when Sam first made his acquaintance, His thin face is more full, his pallor has been succeeded by a faint tinge of color, and he looks contented and happy. But the greatest change has come over Sam. He is now a young man of eighteen, well-formed and robust, handsomely dressed, with a face not only attractive, but intelligent. These two years have improved him greatly, as we shall see.

"I can hardly realize that Charlie is to graduate next week," said Arthur.

"He was a sophomore when I first met him," said Sam. "How little I thought that the meeting would be so important to me!"

"And to me!" said Arthur. "You have up idea how lonely I felt before you came."

"You have an idea how ignorant I was at that time," said Sam.

"You didn't know much, to be sure," said Arthur, smiling. "I remember how I had to drill you in the multiplication table."

"My spelling was rather weak," said Sam.

"I should say it was; it was original, at least," said Arthur. "To tell the truth, I was rather dismayed when I found how little you knew. But you have made it up bravely."

"Yes," said Sam, complacently, "I think have; but still you are ahead of me."

"Not in all things. You write a much better hand than I."

"I am afraid it is my only accomplishment," said Sam.

"But not your only acquisition. You are a good English scholar. I don't mind telling you, however, that in the first three months I never expected you would be."

"I used to have the headache pretty often about that time," said Sam.

"Yes; I sympathized with you at first, till I began to suspect that it was all put on."

"It was harder for me to apply myself than you, Arthur. My street life made it so. It was only by degrees that I got the habit of application."

"It was a good thing for me that I had to assist you. It gave me an object in life. Besides, it made me work harder myself in order to continue able to do it. I used to get low-spirited, and feel that I was of no use in the world."

"You don't feel so now," said Sam, with a look of affection; for Arthur seemed to him like a dear, younger brother, whom it was his duty to care for and protect.

"Oh, no," said Arthur, cheerfully. "I am much better and stronger now.

And that leads me to a little secret which affects both you and me.

Would you like to hear it?"

"Yes, Arthur."

"Father is going to take both of us into the office, to learn business. I shall only be there about half the day, but you will have full hours. How will you like that?"

"It is the very thing I would like above all others," said Sam, with animation. "I want to be doing something. I want to earn my own living. When are we to go into the office?"

"On the first of September."