writing desk was so
creditable a piece of work that he could not help saying, "I call that
pretty fine. Mother will be tremendously pleased. You made it all
yourself?"

"Yes, all but this little bit of carving. That Johnson started me on.
The rest of it is mine."

"It's mighty good," said Paul, walking around it. "Straighten that leg
out by amputating it just below the knee and it will------"

"Yes, I knew you would laugh at me. All the teachers do," wailed Louis.

"No, I'm not laughing at you, Louis. You have done splendid work. But
you mustn't feel badly to have your faults pointed out. That is the way
to learn. If you hadn't been in quite such a hurry you would have made a
better job, wouldn't you? Your fault, one of your faults, is lack of
patience and thorough painstaking over details. Isn't that so?"

"It must be. All my teachers say so all the time."

"Well, if they say so all the time there must be some reason for it. But
honest, now, the writing desk is not a bad piece of work viewed as a
whole."

Louis felt somewhat mollified and after his father had made one or two
more comments they started down stairs. When they reached the hall, the
telephone rang again.

"Go into the library and wait for me," Paul said as he went to the
instrument.

This time it was Rogers, the doubtful member of the committee. He wanted
to ask one or two questions about the bill and Paul quickly and eagerly
answered him.

"But we need you right here now. We can't do anything without you. Burke
is mad and we can't depend on him. You've just got to come if you want
to see the thing through."

"I can't come, Rogers. You can whip them into line." Paul rapidly shot
directions at him. "Stand by the thing for my sake if not for the sake
of the bill. Don't go back on your promise."

"Promise! What's become of yours? The thing is impossible without you. I
can't do anything with Burke and the rest of the committee are hot over
your absence. Don't blame anyone but yourself when you read the morning
paper."

Paul started to answer, but the committeeman had finished, and after
hesitating over the matter he went into the library and resumed his
questions with Louis.

"After the manual training, which one of your studies do you take to
most?"

"Oh, I don't like any of them. Chemistry, I guess."

"Do you like mathematics?"

"I don't mind, but I want to go into business, father. I want to quit
school altogether and go into busine