Dick helped his chum home; and while Mrs. Hartland doctored the bruised limb, he chatted gaily with Susie, telling her all about the match and the scholarship, and making merry jokes for her to laugh at.
Owing to a weak spine, Susie spent most of her time lying on the sofa; but she was a bright, intelligent girl, very fond of mischievous Dick, and immensely proud of her brother.
She was very glad when her mother said Jim's leg would soon be well, for this cricket match was to be a great event in her life—a gleam of gold in a gray sky.
Mrs. Hartland had hired an invalid chair, and the two boys had promised to take her to the county ground, where the game was to be played.
"I do hope it will be fine," she exclaimed rather wistfully, for there were few pleasures in her life.
"It's bound to be," cried Dick, with a merry laugh. "The sun will come out on purpose to see you. Now I must be off for the practice. Give Jim plenty of goose-grease, Mrs. Hartland, and make him stay in bed till the last minute.—I'll be round in good time in the morning, Susie.—Ta, ta, Jimmy. This will teach you not to go about knocking inspectors over in the future."
"I like that," said Jim. "Why, you little fraud—"
But Dick had picked up his hat, and was outside the door before he could finish.
CHAPTER II.
THE CHALLENGE SHIELD.