"O mother," cried Susie, "isn’t he a nice man?" "He is, my dear, and wonderfully clever too, I’ve heard," replied Mrs. Hartland. "Oh, what a good thing it will be if he can make you stronger!" They talked about it till bedtime, but Jim was very quiet. He was still thinking of the boy who had gone so suddenly to his death. *CHAPTER IX.* *THE RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION.* There was a subdued air about Mr. Laythorne’s class the next morning, and the boys could not keep their eyes from the desk which Percy Braithwaite had occupied. He had not been very popular, but the startling tragedy had gripped their minds, making them feel really sorry for the loss of their schoolmate. As to Jim Hartland, opinion was divided. Some of the boys rather pitied him, others looked on him as a hero, while a few blamed him outright for being the cause of Braithwaite’s death. "He should have known better," said one. "It might have been all very well for him and the Angel, but ’twas a fool’s game to let Dandy into. I don’t suppose he had ever gone to the Fort before, even in daylight." "They must have been blind not to have seen the tide coming in," exclaimed another. "And fancy Dick Boden, the little idiot, letting ’em grub about there, while he had the knife in his pocket all the time!" "Oh, that’s just like one of the Angel’s tricks! But he’s a good-hearted little chap, and this business has cut him up dreadfully." Somehow, in the eyes of his schoolfellows, Dick rarely did wrong; and even those who looked askance at Jim were unwilling to say anything against his popular chum. All this chatter took place in the playground before either of the two boys arrived, for Dick was rather late, while Jim did not get in till after prayers. He winced, too, on seeing the vacant desk, but fortunately his mind was somewhat preoccupied by wondering what Dr. Stewart would be able to do for Susie. The morning seemed terribly long, but he stumbled through his lessons without actual failure, and as soon as school was dismissed, started for home at full speed. Panting and blowing, he got to the door just as the doctor was leaving. "Hullo!" exclaimed Dr. Stewart kindly; "there’s no need to ask how you are. Well, I’ve seen your sister. Mother will tell you all about it." And stepping into his gig, he drove off. Mrs. Hartland’s first words brought the blood to the boy’s face. "O Jim," she cried, "he thinks there’s a chance for Susie. He won’t promise, of course, but he is quite hopeful about it. He has been here nearly two hours, though knowing perfectly well that I can’t pay him. And what do you think he has offered to do?" "I can’t guess," replied the boy. "To get her into the private hospital for children. He’s going to send a nurse and a proper invalid-chair in the morning, and attend to her himself, just as if he were charging a big fee." "He’s a real old brick!" exclaimed Jim enthusiastically.