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. Arthurlooks stronger and better than when Sam first made his acquaintance,His thin face is more full, his pallor has been succeeded by a fainttinge of color, and he looks contented and happy. But the greatestchange has come over Sam. He is now a young man of eighteen,well-formed and robust, handsomely dressed, with a face not onlyattractive, but intelligent. These two years have improved himgreatly, as we shall see.
"I can hardly realize that Charlie is to graduate next week," saidArthur.
"He was a sophomore when I first met him," said Sam. "How little Ithought that the meeting would be so important to me!"
"And to me!" said Arthur. "You have up idea how lonely I felt beforeyou 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 rememberhow 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. "Totell the truth, I was rather dismayed when I found how little youknew. But you have made it up bravely."
"Yes," said Sam, complacently, "I think have; but still you are aheadof 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. Idon't mind telling you, however, that in the first three months Inever 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 itwas all put on."
"It was harder for me to apply myself than you, Arthur. My street lifemade it so. It was only by degrees that I got the habit ofapplication."
"It was a good thing for me that I had to assist you. It gave me anobject in life. Besides, it made me work harder myself in order tocontinue able to do it. I used to get low-spirited, and feel that Iwas of no use in the world."
"You don't feel so now," said Sam, with a look of affection; forArthur seemed to him like a dear, younger brother, whom it was hisduty 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 learnbusiness. I shall only be there about half the day, but you will havefull hours. How will you like that?"
"It is the very thing I would like above all others," said Sam, withanimation. "I want to be doing something. I want to earn my ownliving. When are we to go into the office?"
"On the first of September."
"Not till then?"
"No; we are to spend the summer at the White Mountains. Late in AugustCharlie will sail for Europe, where he is to travel for a year, and wetwo are to be disposed of as I have told you."
"It was a lucky day for me, Arthur, when I became your companion. Butfor that I might have been the same shiftless fellow I was before, fitfor nothing except to run errands or sell newspapers."
"Are you sure you are fit for anything better now?" asked Arthur,mischievously.
"I hope so," said Sam. "Time will show."
The arrangement indicated was carried out. Sam, through his bright,sunny disposition, had become a favorite with all the Browns, who,besides, felt grateful to him for the good effect his companionshiphad had upon Arthur's health and happiness. It had long beenunderstood between Charlie and his father that Sam was eventually tobe taken into the office, and promoted as rapidly as his abilitieswould justify. He was allowed a liberal salary, and continued a memberof Mr. Brown's family.