His delight was so natural, that Betty would not dim it by any expression of personal regret. Besides, although she did not tell Jack this, his father's decision was the result of her own advice. She did not consider that the experiment of sending him to the State school had answered. He was too well known to every boy in the place, and was contracting acquaintances she did not care for him to make, and imitating follies that were by no means harmless, and she believed a complete change of companionship would be better for him and for his progress in learning. She knew that Captain Stephens was making not only a name but some money by his inventive skill and mastership of aircraft, and that it was his full intention to give Jack a good education, so she had written some months back suggesting the change of school and saying that she believed her influence over Jack stood a better chance of making itself felt when he was away from her and constantly in need of her than now, when more than half his time was spent out of her sight, and when her presence at home was so completely a matter of course that he scarcely realised its value. And from Jack's father had come an entirely reassuring answer. No mother could have his little son's interests more entirely at heart than Betty, and he was quite willing to accept her judgment, and that of the man who had acted the part of a kind and wise elder brother to Jack, and to send him to the school Tom Chance recommended.
"And you need not worry about ways and means. Let Jack have a proper school outfit. You will know what he needs better than I. It was certainly my wish at first that he should remain with you at all hazards until I could come and fetch him, but the time has been longer than I at first expected, and I quite see the force of your argument that he shall be able to take his proper standing with other boys of his age on his return, and possibly the education of a State school would hardly prepare him for this. Is it asking too much that Tom Chance will keep an eye to him as regards religious matters? A boy's first plunge into school life is an important era in his life. I'm not sure that Mr. Chance is still in the colony, but if you are in touch with him tell him what I feel about it."
All this was running through Betty's mind as she listened to Jack's outpouring of delight.
"And when am I going, Aunt Betty?"
"Next term if you can be taken in. I've already written to the head-master about you, for this has been in our heads for some time, although I could not mention it to you until I knew father's decision. Now I see no reason why you should not travel back to Melbourne under Uncle Tom's care."
Jack fairly danced with joy.
"I'm off, Aunt Betty; I'm off to find Uncle Tom, and to tell Eva. She'll mind rather much, I fancy, but I'll tell her she can write to me if she likes, and I'll answer as I get time," and away he flew, leaving Betty half amused and half heart-sore.
"A budding lord of creation," she said to Tom later in the day when he came to talk matters over with her.
"Women and girls find their right place in looking after him."
The words were playful, but there was an under-lying sadness in them.