"And what does Jim think of the proposal?"
"He doesn't really like it, but he is a good boy, and raises no objection."
Mr. Laythorne was more than ordinarily thoughtful that evening. For more than an hour he sat in his room, thinking deeply, too absorbed even to open one of his favourite books.
"It's a quixotic scheme," he muttered once, "but upon my word I've a good mind to try it. The lad has brains, and, properly trained, should do well. He'll do no good here if his heart isn't in the work and he may slip back. It would remove him from temptation, too. Well, I'll sleep on it, and ask Holmore's advice."
The result of these cogitations, and of an interview with the head-master, became apparent at the end of the week, when he once more called 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 introduced the object of his visit at once.
"Hartland," he began quietly, "I understand from your mother that you would like to be a pupil-teacher?"
"Yes, sir," answered Jim readily, "but," trying to smile, "that's out of the 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."