room?” she asked, with a smile. 35

“I will show you the way, lady,” said the man, and Bess noted how the man had spoken the word “lady.” Somehow every one knew as soon as they looked at Granny that she was a lady. ’Twas very strange!

Down a long hall they went and then they stood before a large wall of mirrors. What a strange place this was! Before them in the mirror were many, many men and boys, all struggling to get up a very steep hill. Some had a few strings ahead of them to help them up and many, many strings behind that were pulling them back to the foot of the hill. Others had only a few in back and many in front. Some were hopelessly entangled and seemed not able to move. Who were they and what were they doing?

Curiosity led Bess to study the scene in front of her. On the very top of the hill there was a bright sign, “Christian Manhood.” This, then, was the thing for which they were struggling. But what were the strings? She pushed and reached but she just couldn’t read the words.

“Did you want to know the truth about a friend?” said a voice. “I will gladly help you for you are young and need to know. I am old and to know the truth may only make me more unhappy. Take my place.” And she was given a nearer stand.

Now she could read the words on the strings that held the men back. One said “Drink” and another “Bad Companions,” and another “Bad Temper.” Bess was very much interested, so she began to study the faces of the men who were pushing to the top.

Why! Away up there with the first was George Meyer, her good friend from childhood. He had many, many strings to help and only a few to hinder. And there was Edward Mead. He was such a goody-goody 36 at school that she didn’t care much for him. Why, he wouldn’t whisper at all!

Near the middle of the hill was Philip Marks. She knew him well and he had many things to help and many to hinder but he was surely trying. But Granny had brought her here to see the truth about Henry Mann. Was he here? She hadn’t seen him.

First she searched among those near the top. He was such a bright boy when out with the crowd and he had so many good things in his life that surely he must be near the top. But he wasn’t there. Neither was he near the middle. Surely he must be there somewhere for his name began with M. Finally she asked the man who had given her his place if he could see a boy named Henry Mann on the hill.

“I should say I could,” was the answer. “There he is near the foot of the hill, hopelessly entangled in his drawbacks. It isn’t hard to find that young man here.”

Sure enough, there he was and Bess’s face grew very red as she saw all the strings behind him. She was glad Granny had gone to sit down so that she wouldn’t see him. Perhaps she could read what some of his drawbacks were, for he was quite near. There was, “Too much money,” “Lazy,” “Unkind to his mother,” “Little schooling,” “Drinks and smokes and swears,” “A friend of careless girls”....

Oh, dear! Bess didn’t want to read any more. What a list he had! There were one or two good strings but they could not do much against so many others to pull him back.

Up there very near to the top, George, her old friend, was moving on and his face was so earnest. How different it looked as she compared him with Henry at the foot! She had never known before that he was so handsome. What were the strings that were pulling 37 him forward? She leaned far forward to see. Just then she heard Granny’s voice close at her elbow.

“Were you trying to look at George, Bess? He is a long way toward manhood, isn’t he? Suppose you use my little glass to help you.”

“Oh, now I can see,” she answered. There is “A good mother,” “A keen mind,” “A strong body,” “Love of right and truth,” “A good girl friend”....

“But, Granny dear,” said Bess, “one of his helps is ‘A good girl friend.’ Has George a girl? I thought he didn’t care for girls.”

“This is the House of Truth, dear,” said the old lady. “I think perhaps that good girl friend means you, for you have been a good friend to him. You know our family have always been proud of their education and their habits of life. I am sure it must have been a good thing for George to grow up all these years with a good chum like you. He must be a gentleman if he would be fit to play with the daughter of a lady like your mother. When I was here before, George had several other pull-backs, but I see he has conquered them. But come, dear, it is time we were going if I am to help you out of your difficulty.

“Let me see, you wanted to ask Henry Mann to take you to a party at the beach. Did you find him there? Do you think your mother will change her mind when we tell her the truth about the new friend whom you wish to make? If so, I am ready to try, even though I am not at all sure that a lady does those things. But things change—things change very much and perhaps you are right. What said the House of Truth? Shall we invite him?”

“Oh, Granny, never, never!” cried the girl. “I could never ask any one who was known as the friend of careless girls. He has so many drawbacks—oh, no, never.” 38

Just then a voice said, “Good evening, Miss Keats. I hope I haven’t disturbed your nap. One of the girls told me you were very anxious to see me, so I came up.”

And there stood Henry Mann.

For a moment the girl could not answer. The face that had looked so handsome when it was pointed out to her on the street yesterday now looked careless and insolent. She wanted to run away and not even answer.

But just at that moment the door opened and her mother came out. She was dressed so prettily and her voice was soft and sweet as she said, “I think I haven’t met you, but you must be one of my daughter’s friends. Will you be seated?”

“A man must be a gentleman if he would be fit to play with the daughter of a lady like your mother,” thought Bess.

Then she straightened her shoulders and, smiling, said, “Mother, this is Henry Mann, of whom I spoke to you.”

Turning to the boy, who still stood at the top of the steps, she said, “Thank you so much for calling, Mr. Mann. There has been a mistake. Mother prefers that I should not go to the party at the beach and of course I want to do as she thinks best. I am sorry to have made you this trouble. Perhaps one of the other girls will be asked to fill my place so that you can still be one of the party.”

Then Henry Mann tipped his hat and went down the street thinking how beautiful the mother and daughter were. But Bess and her mother stood there with their arms about each other, waiting for father to come home to tea. And Bess was no longer unhappy.