"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, and every fibre of his body quivering with excitement. Then he shook his head 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, to pass your examinations high up, and, generally speaking, to do me credit." "I would do my very best!" exclaimed the lad earnestly. "I believe you would. Well, now run away, while I have a talk with your mother." The boy went out to the front door, and stood looking into the dingy street. 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 was really there. It seemed altogether too wonderful; he feared almost to dwell 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 was Mr. Laythorne shaking his hand. What did he say? What strange noises buzzed in his head! Ah, the words became plain. "I hope, my boy, that this will be putting your foot on the first rung of the ladder." So the wonderful thing had come to pass, and he was really to go! I cannot write down Jim’s answer because neither his mother nor Mr. Laythorne understood his broken words; but it is certain that he was extremely grateful and supremely happy. "By the way," said their visitor, before taking leave, "it will not be necessary to inform the world of our private arrangement. It will be sufficient to say that Jim is coming with me." For Mr. Laythorne was a gentleman, and had no sympathy with the blowing of trumpets at street corners. Jim and his mother had little to say when they were left alone. They were overwhelmed with surprise, and their happiness was too great for words. But when the boy had gone to his room, he knelt by his bedside and asked for strength to prove himself worthy of his benefactor’s generosity; and many times over, before falling asleep, he said to himself, "I will not disappoint him!" Of course, Mr. Broad had to be told of the contemplated change, and he was really sorry to have to part with Jim. "I should have liked to keep you, Hartland," he said, "but I mustn’t stand in your light; and, by the way, don’t buy any lesson-books. Ask your master to write out a list of what you will require for next two years, and I will get them." "Why," exclaimed the Angel delightedly, when he heard the news, "there’s such a lot of silver lining that very soon you won’t be able to see the black cloud at all!" Dick was prophesying better than he knew. But we must not anticipate.