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.
On Sunday Jim went with his mother to the Children's Hospital. Susie still kept her bed, and her back was encased in plaster of Paris; but she had grown decidedly stronger, and the nurse spoke most hopefully of her case.
"And if she does walk," said she, "you will have to thank Dr. Stewart. I have never known any one take such an interest in a case."
Mrs. Hartland left Jim to reveal his great secret, and it was charming to observe the look of delighted surprise steal into the girl's face.
"Do you know," she said thoughtfully, after congratulating her brother on his good fortune, "I think people have been very kind to us."
"Yes," exclaimed her mother, kissing her fondly; "and I hope we shall never forget it."