efore I help her to ask the boy to take her, I want you to look for the
rule."

The little old man began slowly to shake his head but he never said a
word. He just looked and looked and looked. His finger went up one page
and down another. Finally he looked straight at Bess and said to Granny,

"Your granddaughter is mistaken. That is not done by ladies. It is not
here. It is not here."

"Oh, you are old-fashioned just like my mother," began Bess. "It may not
be there but it is true just the same that all ladies do it nowadays."

"Hush, child," said Granny. "What is written there is true--but it is only
half the truth even then. Let us go and see the rest. If it is right for
you to ask him, then let us see the truth about the boy. Is he one that
our family would like to have specially chosen for your friend? We must
know about him."

"Oh, Granny, he is all right. He doesn't study much and he doesn't do what
mother believes is right on Sunday. But he has a car, and a motor boat,
and he is all right. Let me ask him," begged Bess.

"Tut, tut, child," said Granny. "Perhaps you do not know. This is the
House of Truth and we can tell."

Then they entered a very large house and Granny walked to a man who stood
near the door.

"May I go to the M room?" she asked, with a smile.

"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. Ta