“ Yes, it certainly is our light-hearted Dick, whom we will take the liberty of following, as he pilots his mother through the crowded streets, then into the quieter part of the town, and so to the foot of a fairly steep hill facing the sea.
He is evidently well known in Beauleigh, and respected, too, one would imagine. Many people stop to shake his hand, and to wish him a "merry Christmas." Some are poor, other well-to-do; but their wealth or poverty makes no difference in the warmth of his greeting. ”

“ THE GAYTON SCHOLARSHIP.
CHAPTER I.
THE DEANERY CANDIDATES.
"Good-morning, Mrs. Hartland. Isn't Jim ready? All right; I'll wait for him. Do you think Susie would care for these wild flowers and grasses? I picked them this morning. Rover and I have been for a splendid run over the common, nearly as far as the forest."
"Thanks, Dick," said Mrs. Hartland, with a pleased smile; "Susie will be delighted with them. Poor girl! it's little chance she has to see them growing herself. What a pretty white dog-rose!"
"Isn't it a beauty? I thought Susie would like that.—Hullo, Jim!" ”

“ This absolute trust brought back Jim's self-respect. If his employer believed in his innocence, why should he trouble himself about the sneers of others? His courage gradually rose; he threw off the gloom that hung about him. He determined to hold up his head and bear himself bravely, whatever happened.
"'Twill be jolly hard, I know," he said to himself; "but I'll live it down." And his heart grew lighter as he registered the resolve.
"By the way, Hartland," remarked his employer later in the evening, "I have been thinking we might make a fresh arrangement. ”

“ Everything went wrong that morning with Jim. He made the most stupid mistakes in class, and behaved so badly that Mr. Laythorne felt sorely tempted to send him to the head-master. He was kept in during the interval, and again at noon, and accordingly looked on himself as a martyr. When he at last got out, the playground was empty except for Dick, who would never have dreamed of going without his chum.
"Get your face straight, old man," cried he; "it's as long as a fiddle. I wish I had a looking-glass, so that you could see yourself. Think of the milkmen down your way! ”

“ I'll hide it somewhere in the Old Fort, and you can try to find it."
"It will soon be dark," objected Braithwaite.
"Not too dark to see the knife, for a bit."
"The tide's coming in too, and you know how fast it comes in just here."
"Oh, go on, Dick!" cried Jim scornfully; "don't take any notice of him: he's always showing the white feather!"
Braithwaite flushed. "You think you're very brave, Jim Hartland," he said, "but you're no braver than any one else. I'm not afraid of going to the Fort."
"Oh, not a bit!" sneered Jim; "you'd walk across to France if the sea was all dry land. ”

“ If you have ever felt the shock of an earthquake, or been shipwrecked, or in a railway collision, you will have some faint idea of the fright which held the handful of Deanery boys spellbound.
"The inspector!" whispered Tompkins in a tone of awe, and a shiver ran through the little crowd. ”

“ Thinking of this, he turned on Dick savagely, saying,—
"He's good enough for me if he isn't for you."
"All right," exclaimed Dick; "every one to his taste. Some people I know have a lot of taste—all bad. Good-night, old man. Hope you'll have a bath when you get home."
"My stars!" cried Curly, as Dick went off; "ain't we getting proud? Washing and charing must be goin' up. It ought to make you feel taller, Jimmy, talking to a toff like that."
"Keep your chaff to yourself," said Jim crossly. "Dick Boden's a heap better than you or me." ”

“ Inside the shop of Messrs. Gotch and Parker, the eminent jewellers, a young man is buying an exquisite brooch.
"I think, mother, that this will please her," he remarks to the well-dressed woman seated close by.
Look at the laughing blue eyes, the fresh-coloured cheeks, the winning smile. Surely this young gentleman is an old acquaintance. Mr. Boden, the shopman calls him; but to us he is Dick, or Dicky, or the Angel, just as memory prompts.
"Thanks," he says, placing the tiny packet in his pocket. "Now, mother, lean on my arm." ”

“ Broad took the watch from the counter, replaced it in his pocket, and waited for the boy to answer.
Jim looked helplessly from one to the other of the two men. What could he say? How could he prove his innocence? No magistrate would believe his story, and, as likely as not, Curly would deny it, in order to save himself. A boy of Curly's doubtful character was not likely to admit being in possession of a stolen sixpence.
"It is no good," said he wearily; "I have told the truth. I am not a thief, Mr. Broad. I have never stolen a ha'penny in my life, either from you or from any one else." ”

“ Stewart!" cried Dick; "he's a fine fellow. I'll keep a place for him on my visiting-list."
Thus they laughed and chattered, enjoying themselves in an innocent way, and endeavouring to banish the disagreeable incidents of the morning, until it was time for Jim to start for work.
"I may as well walk with you as far as the shop," said Dick, going out with him; "I feel like a fish out of water, not being at school to-day. Won't there be a buzz when the fellows hear the news?"
"Too much for me. I don't think I shall go back."
"What?" Dicky turned and looked his chum full in the face. ”

“ And why? Because, when his father was drowned, he went to work to help his mother. If it hadn't been for that, he'd have won the 'Gayton' easily."
"Well, he lost it!" growled Simpson; "and through him the Deanery lost it, too!"
"How's that?"
"How's that! Why, wasn't it through his bounce that Dandy Braithwaite got drowned?"
"Don't listen to him, Angel," said Macdonald, for Dick had doubled up his fists, and his eyes were flashing fire.
"Pooh!" said Simpson. "I don't care; everybody knows it's true."
"He owned as much as that himself," chimed in Archer, who owed Jim a grudge. ”

“ No one looked behind till reaching the shore, and then Tom Moon noticed that Braithwaite had stopped.
"Unless he hurries up, he'll get a jolly good wetting," said Dick, and they all began to shout.
"What a muff the fellow is!" said Moon. "Why doesn't he come? There's Jimmy Hartland just come out; he'll bustle him along."
"Dick," suddenly said one of the other boys in a grave tone, "he'll be drowned, I'm sure." His name was Spencer, and his father being a fisherman, he was well acquainted with the bay. ”

“ Children stand at the shop windows, gazing in wonder and delight at the gorgeous toys, the pretty picture-books, and the numerous games which make them look like fairyland. The bright red berries of the holly shine and sparkle in the brilliant light, the mistletoe hangs temptingly overhead, the turkeys and geese are garlanded with ribbons and decked with green. ”

“ Jim stalked across the playground without deigning to reply.
"Whew!" whistled the Angel; "you ought to be marked dangerous, like a magazine. No wonder Laythorne was afraid to keep you inside any longer. But I say, Jim, that was a lovely tap you gave Braithwaite. He asked me if I thought his nose was broken."
"I'll break his head next time!" said Jim savagely.
The Angel clapped him on the back.
"There's nothing like making a good job of a thing while you're at it," he said. "Going up the lane? All right. I'll call for you after dinner. ”

“ You're always having a dig at Hartland, because he wouldn't have you in the cricket eleven."
"Well said, Alec!" cried the Angel. "That's the truth. Now look at me. I came out fourth."
"So you did!"
"Good old Angel!"
"You'll be first another time!"
"Oh, what rot!" exclaimed Dick. "Can't you let a fellow speak? What I want to say is that Jim Hartland's twice as good as me."
"He didn't make much show, anyhow," growled Simpson. ”

“ Beyond the three of us, no one shall be any the wiser. If you still remain obstinate at the end of five minutes, I shall place the matter in the hands of the police."
Jim is not likely ever to forget that tiny fraction of his life. His master stood by his side; Mr. Farrant seated himself on the counter; no one spoke, and the only sound to break the silence was the monotonous ticking of the watch.
Five minutes—and then? The boy dared not think of it. He was pale and deadly cold, but he tried to stand firm, to hold himself erect, so that his employer should not think he was afraid. ”

“ She reappears presently, followed by a young girl, the neck of whose dress is fastened by an exquisite brooch.
"O Dick!" she exclaims, running forward, "thank you very much. It is just lovely!"
Dick, looking a trifle shamefaced, murmurs some reply, while Jim can hardly take his eyes from his sister's face. He has not been at home much of late years, and he can never quite restrain a thrill of surprise on seeing the beautiful girl as she passes before him with all the grace of a young fawn. ”

“ When he wanted any money he used to take it from the till, and pay it back Saturday nights."
"Why, he was just a common thief!" exclaimed Jim scornfully. "I'd rather starve than do that."
"Of course you would," said Curly approvingly, "and so would I. Let us be honest if we are poor; that's my motto. But it's hard when a chap's starvin', you know. Where are you goin'?"
"Home," said Jim. "I'm tired."
"All right. I'll pay you that tanner soon. Wouldn't it be a lark to march into the shop and ask the boss for my friend, Jim Hartland?"
"I don't think you'd better," said Jim. "He mightn't like it." ”

“ Only Susie said it could be true, and even her faith failed."
The woman had put down her work. Her face was white, her lips twitched nervously.
"Jim," she said pathetically—"Jim, this can only be one thing. Tell me quickly! O Jim, I can't bear it!"
"It's true, mother!" cried the boy. "It is the one thing. Yes, father is alive; there's news of him. He's coming home—coming to Beauleigh!"
Mrs. Hartland slipped to the floor, clasped her hands, and offered up a silent prayer to Heaven. ”

“ Meanwhile the excitement over the match grew very keen. The Deanery innings opened well, fifty runs being scored for the loss of two wickets; but after that matters went badly.
One after the other, the batsmen were caught or bowled; and it seemed as if the captain could not get any one to stay with him for long.
When the seventh wicket fell for exactly a hundred, Dick began to whistle comically.
"There's only Archer to depend on now," said he, "and it isn't often he makes more than a dozen."
"Why don't you go in?" asked Susie.
"Oh, I'm last man. I'm no good with the bat. ”

“ Broad has been very kind, and has offered to take him into the shop altogether."
"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. ”

“ Great sympathy is felt for the sorrowing parents. It is sad to think of the early termination to what evidently might have been a distinguished career. The scholarship will therefore be awarded to the candidate next on the list, Hugh Temple of St. Paul's, who, it will be noticed, is only three marks behind the leader."
At first, Jim could think of nothing but the blow to his own pride. Most of the Deanery boys fully expected him to win the scholarship; they had coupled his name with it as far back as the cricket match for the Challenge Shield; they had looked up to him as their champion. ”

“ Boden!" he exclaims. "A merry Christmas to you both!"
"The same to you, Jim, and many of 'em. You're looking well, old chap, considering that heavy grind.—A merry Christmas, Mrs. Hartland! See, you have half killed mother! How? Why, by living up in the clouds. You ought to keep a special tramway for your guests—'pon my word you ought."
"Quite right, Dick, my boy!" exclaims a deep voice; and a tanned, bearded man comes into the room with a sailor-like roll.
"Let me congratulate you on your appointment, Mr. Hartland," cries Dick. "No more ploughing the salt seas for you!" ”

“ I think we can abandon all hope of winning the shield this year."
The Deanery boys looked glum, but the Magpies beamed with satisfaction, for they all knew Dick. Though a good bowler, he had batting notions of his own which generally brought him to grief. He treated all balls alike, banging at each with a mighty swipe till a crash in the timber-yard told him it was time to retire.
"For goodness sake, be careful, Dicky," whispered Jim, as his chum passed him; "block everything, and keep your wicket up for once. I'll do the hitting." ”

“ Perhaps you'll take him with you on Sunday to see Susie?"
That shot struck home, and Jim winced, but he answered sneeringly,—
"You'll be getting another nickname soon: they'll be calling you the Saint."
"They might do worse," replied Dick cheerfully. "Anyhow, I'd make a cleaner saint than Curly."
"That's right!" exclaimed Jim, trying to work himself into a passion; "you're like all the rest. Just because the chap's poor and has no friends you're down on him. I've been through it myself."
The Angel laughed genially. ”

“ Nowhere was the result of the examination received with greater surprise than at the Deanery School. It is safe to say that every boy looked twice at the published list before admitting Jim Hartland's name was not there.
On the following morning the boys of the upper classes, gathering together in the playground, discussed the matter excitedly.
"It's just what I've always said," exclaimed Simpson; "the chap's no better than the rest of us. Just because he can play cricket a bit, we put him on the top of a monument, and now, down he comes—flop!" ”