"No, I shall be home by eight."
"That doesn't leave you much time."
"Oh, I shall manage. Laythorne is taking all the subjects at school, and I can get in at least two hours extra every day."
As it happened, Jim found in a short time that he was reckoning without his book.
At the close of afternoon school Jim stepped up to the master's desk.
"Do you wish to speak to me?" asked Mr. Laythorne, looking rather surprised.
"Yes, sir," replied Jim bravely. "I want to beg your pardon for my rudeness this morning. Things seemed to go quite wrong somehow, and I was in a bad temper."
"It's very manly to come forward of your own account like this," said Mr. Laythorne pleasantly, "and it does you credit. But you must learn to govern your temper, Hartland, or it will bring you into mischief. How are you getting on for the 'Gayton'? Don't forget that if I can help you in any way I shall be pleased to do so."
"Thank you, sir," replied Jim brightly. "I am hoping to make a good fight for it."
He left the room in good spirits, stopped a minute or two in the playground to chat with Dick, and then ran off to town.