*CHAPTER XVI.*
*A FRESH START.*
The police-court proceedings created a great sensation at the Deanery,and were canvassed with characteristic schoolboy freedom. Dick, ofcourse, received much praise; and on his arrival, just before openingtime, he was surrounded by an admiring group. However, he bore hisblushing honours meekly, remarking that he had done nothing inparticular.
"Your being there was a lucky thing for Jim Hartland, though," observedAlec Macdonald.
"A good many people think there's more in it than came out!" sneeredSimpson. "_I_ shouldn't like to be caught with a marked sixpence in mypocket!"
"You're just a cad!" cried Dick hotly, "and no one cares a brass buttonwhat you say. As to Hartland, he showed more grit in five minutes thanyou'd show in five centuries."
"How's that?" cried several boys eagerly.
"That's part of what Simpson says didn't come out. Of course you knowold Broad found the sixpence on him. Well, he's a good sort, though atfirst he did think Jim guilty. 'Look here, Hartland,' said he; 'you'dbetter own up. You're certain to be sent to prison, because, even ifyou're innocent, you can't prove it.' Well, what did Jim answer?"
"He wasn't likely to give the show away, anyhow!" said Simpson.
"Broad didn't ask him to. 'Just admit you stole the money, and you'llhear no more of it,' said he. 'I'll hush it up, and no one will be anythe wiser.'"
"That was handsome," remarked several of the boys.
"Yes," agreed Dick, "but Jim wasn't taking any 'Send me to prison forlife if you like,' said Jim; 'I shan't confess to what I didn't do!'"
"Good old Jim!" cried Alec Macdonald. "He always was a plucky beggar."And the others echoed his cry.
Few of them believed he was mixed up in the robbery, and Dick's storywas received with acclamation. A sudden revulsion of feeling tookplace, and those who had looked rather coldly on Jim since the fatalaccident to Braithwaite now spoke loudly in his defence.
Just as the bell rang he was seen coming in at the gate, and quite anumber of boys ran across to meet him.
Once more Alec Macdonald voiced the general sentiment.
"We're jolly glad you got out of that mess, Jim," he exclaimed, "and weknow it wasn't your fault."
Jim blushed like a peony; his eyes were suspiciously moist, and he felta choking sensation in his throat. This reception differed altogetherfrom what he had expected. He looked at the group of boys and tried toanswer, but his words were very stammering.
"This is--very--kind--of you chaps," he managed to say, "and I didn'texpect it."
"Come on!" cried Dick; "there's Mr. Laythorne! He'll be giving us anextra half-hour's grind." And they scudded away to their places like somany rabbits into a warren.
Jim's class-fellows were not alone in expressing their belief in hisinnocence. After prayers, and before beginning morning work, Mr.Laythorne, standing before his class, said, "I am glad to see you inyour place again, Hartland. We have all heard of your trouble, and weall rejoice that you have come through it so triumphantly. I amspeaking not only for myself and the boys, but for all the masters,including Mr. Holmore. Let me say for all of us that we are quiteconvinced of your honesty."
"Yes, yes!" murmured the class approvingly.
"Thank you, sir," said Jim. "I'm--" But he got no farther. Cold lookshe had steeled himself to meet, and angry words he would have thrownback with interest, but this kindness broke him down utterly. The tearswould come into his eyes, and he covered his face with his hands. Theyoung master said nothing further, thinking it best not to disturb him.He had always felt great interest in Jim, and no one had been moredisappointed at his failure to gain a high place in the GaytonScholarship list.
Several times recently he had endeavoured to save him from drifting, butwithout success; now he resolved to make another effort.
"He is a clever boy, and ought to do well," he said to himselfthoughtfully, "but lately he seems to have got into a set of crosscurrents. One would think he had thrown that Gayton Scholarship awaydeliberately."
Mr. Laythorne was not aware how very severely Jim had been handicapped;but that same afternoon, during a talk with Dick Boden on quite anothersubject, he learned the truth. When school was dismissed, he calledDick to him and said, "By the way, Boden, I have to congratulate you.Sir Thomas Arkell has been to see the head-master, who referred him tome. I was glad to be able to report favourably on your conduct, and hehas decided in consequence to take you on at his place as soon as theholidays begin."
"Thank you, sir," answered Dick gratefully. "Mother meant me to stay alittle longer, but we can't afford to miss this chance, and I shall beable to attend the continuation school."
"I hope you will. Well, it appears we shall both be leaving the dearold Deanery together."
Dick glanced up hastily, saying, "Are you going away from Beauleigh,sir?"
"Yes. It will soon be known now. I have been appointed to a school inPortsmouth."
"The boys will be sorry," exclaimed Dick, "and glad too--sorry on theirown account, and glad on yours."
"I think," said the master, smiling, "we have got on very comfortablytogether. By the way, I am sorry about your chum Hartland. I had hopedhe would do better."
"Jim's had very hard lines lately, sir. Things have all gone wrong,somehow, and he took the result of the 'Gayton' very much to heart."
"So I should imagine," exclaimed the master dryly.
"It wasn't his fault coming out so low down," said Dick. "You can'tsprint very fast with a heavy load on your shoulders, and Jim wascarrying too much weight. A lot of his time was taken up at the shop,morning and evening; then his mother fell ill, and he had to work like anigger keeping things straight at home. Why, for weeks he had hardly aminute to breathe in!"
"He did not mention this to me when I spoke to him about his position."
"No," responded Dick with a twinkle; "Jim isn't built that way. He'stoo proud to let the world into his little secrets."
"Oh!" said the master thoughtfully, "that puts a very differentcomplexion on the case."
That same evening Jim's mother was surprised by a visit from Mr.Laythorne, who, by a few skilful questions, soon discovered that Dickhad not overstated the case. It was plain that, despite his follyelsewhere, Jim had behaved splendidly at home; and the class-master'sgood opinion of his scholar was more than restored.
"What are you going to make of the boy?" he asked.
"Well," replied Mrs. Hartland, "had his father lived we should havetried to start him as a pupil-teacher, but I fear he must give up thatidea now. Mr. Broad has been very kind, and has offered to take him intothe shop altogether."
"And what does Jim think of the proposal?"
"He doesn't really like it, but he is a good boy, and raises noobjection."
Mr. Laythorne was more than ordinarily thoughtful that evening. Formore than an hour he sat in his room, thinking deeply, too absorbed evento open one of his favourite books.
"It's a quixotic scheme," he muttered once, "but upon my word I've agood mind to try it. The lad has brains, and, properly trained, shoulddo well. He'll do no good here if his heart isn't in the work and he mayslip back. It would remove him from temptation, too. Well, I'll sleepon it, and ask Holmore's advice."
The result of these cogitations, and of an interview with thehead-master, became apparent at the end of the week, when he once morecalled at the house in Brook Street; but this time late in the evening,when Jim had returned from work.
He was not a man given to much beating about the bush, and he introducedthe object of his visit at once.
"Hartland," he began quietly, "I understand from your mother that youwould like to be a pupil-teacher?"
"Yes, sir," answered Jim readily, "but," trying to smile, "that's out ofthe question now."
"I'm not so sure of that. You know I am going to Portsmouth?"
"Yes, sir; Dick Boden told me,
and very pleased I was to hear it."
"How would you like to go with me?"
Jim sprang to his feet, his cheeks flushed, his eyes sparkling, andevery fibre of his body quivering with excitement. Then he shook hishead mournfully, saying, "We can't afford it, sir."
"Your mother and I will discuss that part of the business," remarked Mr.Laythorne quietly. "But if you go, I shall expect you to work hard, topass your examinations high up, and, generally speaking, to do mecredit."
"I would do my very best!" exclaimed the lad earnestly.
"I believe you would. Well, now run away, while I have a talk with yourmother."
The boy went out to the front door, and stood looking into the dingystreet. Now and again he turned toward the room, straining his ears,not to hear what was said, but just to make sure that Mr. Laythorne wasreally there. It seemed altogether too wonderful; he feared almost todwell on it.
Presently he heard the visitor stand up, and come into the passage.What had been decided? His heart beat fast at the question. Here wasMr. Laythorne shaking his hand. What did he say? What strange noisesbuzzed in his head! Ah, the words became plain.
"I hope, my boy, that this will be putting your foot on the first rungof the ladder."
So the wonderful thing had come to pass, and he was really to go! Icannot write down Jim's answer because neither his mother nor Mr.Laythorne understood his broken words; but it is certain that he wasextremely grateful and supremely happy.
"By the way," said their visitor, before taking leave, "it will not benecessary to inform the world of our private arrangement. It will besufficient to say that Jim is coming with me." For Mr. Laythorne was agentleman, and had no sympathy with the blowing of trumpets at streetcorners.
Jim and his mother had little to say when they were left alone. Theywere overwhelmed with surprise, and their happiness was too great forwords. But when the boy had gone to his room, he knelt by his bedsideand asked for strength to prove himself worthy of his benefactor'sgenerosity; and many times over, before falling asleep, he said tohimself, "I will not disappoint him!"
Of course, Mr. Broad had to be told of the contemplated change, and hewas really sorry to have to part with Jim.
"I should have liked to keep you, Hartland," he said, "but I mustn'tstand in your light; and, by the way, don't buy any lesson-books. Askyour master to write out a list of what you will require for next twoyears, and I will get them."
"Why," exclaimed the Angel delightedly, when he heard the news, "there'ssuch a lot of silver lining that very soon you won't be able to see theblack cloud at all!"
Dick was prophesying better than he knew. But we must not anticipate.
On Sunday Jim went with his mother to the Children's Hospital. Susiestill kept her bed, and her back was encased in plaster of Paris; butshe had grown decidedly stronger, and the nurse spoke most hopefully ofher case.
"And if she does walk," said she, "you will have to thank Dr. Stewart.I have never known any one take such an interest in a case."
Mrs. Hartland left Jim to reveal his great secret, and it was charmingto observe the look of delighted surprise steal into the girl's face.
"Do you know," she said thoughtfully, after congratulating her brotheron his good fortune, "I think people have been very kind to us."
"Yes," exclaimed her mother, kissing her fondly; "and I hope we shallnever forget it."