That afternoon has often been talked of since. Every one was in good spirits, and Dick rattled on like a merry madcap, building, half in jest, half in earnest, golden castles in the air. To judge by his remarks when Mrs. Hartland began talking of his kindness to Jim, the whole affair had been got up specially for his benefit. "It’s I who have to thank Jim," he laughed. "But for him I shouldn’t have had an interview with Sir Thomas!" adding solemnly, "I won’t forget you, Jim; you shall have a ticket for my mayoral banquet, and shall sit near me." "Thanks," replied Jim humbly; "I shall be satisfied with a seat at the bottom of the table." "What a rattle-pate you are, Dick!" laughed Mrs. Hartland. "How poor Susie would enjoy being here now!" "Is the doctor really doing her good?" asked Dick’s mother. "He thinks so. He is trying a wonderful new discovery of some foreign doctor, and the nurse told me on Sunday he’s more than satisfied with the result." "Hurrah for Dr. Stewart!" cried Dick; "he’s a fine fellow. I’ll keep a place for him on my visiting-list." Thus they laughed and chattered, enjoying themselves in an innocent way, and endeavouring to banish the disagreeable incidents of the morning, until it was time for Jim to start for work. "I may as well walk with you as far as the shop," said Dick, going out with him; "I feel like a fish out of water, not being at school to-day. Won’t there be a buzz when the fellows hear the news?" "Too much for me. I don’t think I shall go back." "What?" Dicky turned and looked his chum full in the face. "Surely you aren’t going to show the white feather, old man. Why, that would be just giving the fellows a stick to beat you with." "It is easy to talk," said Jim, "but I don’t want to see sour looks and hear sneering remarks every day. I know what chaps like Simpson will say." "And I know what they’ll say if you don’t turn up." For some distance the two boys walked in silence. Jim was thinking. His chum was right, of course. It would be much braver and more manly to "face the music;" but he shrank, and perhaps naturally, from the ordeal. Besides, he would be leaving in any case at the end of a few weeks, and why should he go out of his way to suffer misery for the sake of a fad? "Here we are nearly at the shop," cried Dick, stopping suddenly. "You will come in the morning, won’t you?" "I won’t promise," said Jim slowly. I think that at this juncture it was the boy’s master who proved his guardian angel. He greeted him cheerily, and showed by every means in his power that he had confidence in his honesty. This absolute trust brought back Jim’s self-respect. If his employer believed in his innocence, why should he trouble himself about the sneers of others? His courage gradually rose; he threw off the gloom that hung about him. He determined to hold up his head and bear himself bravely, whatever happened.