k, and even ventured to tie it on, as if it had not been school-time.

"I declare I can't learn my lesson--'tis too bad!" cried Hugh.

"'Tis a shame!" said Tom Holt, sighing for breath after his struggle not
to laugh. "We shall never be ready."

Hugh made gestures of indignation at the boys, which only caused worse
faces to be made, and the mask to nod.

"We wont look at them," proposed Holt. "Let us cover our eyes, and not
look up at all."

Hugh put his hands before his eyes; but still his mind's eye saw the
grinning mask, and his lesson did not get on. Besides, a piece of wet
sponge lighted on the very page he was learning from. He looked up
fiercely, to see who had thrown it. It was no other than Tooke, who
belonged to that class:--it was Tooke, to judge by his giggle, and his
pretending to hide his face, as if ashamed. Hugh tossed back the
sponge, so as to hit Tooke on the nose. Then Tooke was angry, and threw
it again, and the sponge passed backwards and forwards several times:
for Hugh was by this time very angry,--boiling with indignation at the
hardship of not being able to learn his lesson, when he really would if
he could. While the sponge was still passing to and fro, Mr Carnaby's
voice was heard from the far end of the room, desiring Warner, Page,
Davison, and Tooke to be quiet, and let the boys alone till Mr Tooke
came in, when Mr Tooke would take his own measures.

Hugh, wondering how Mr Carnaby knew, at that distance, what was going
on, found that Holt was no longer by his side. In a moment, Holt
returned to his seat, flushed and out of breath. A very slight hiss was
heard from every form near, as he came down the room.

"O! Holt! You have been telling tales!" cried Hugh.

"Telling tales!" exclaimed Holt, in consternation, for Holt knew nothing
of school ways. "I never thought of that. They asked me to tell Mr
Carnaby that we could not learn our lessons."

"They! Who? I am sure I never asked you."

"No; you did not: but Harvey and Prince did,--and Gillingham. They said
Mr Carnaby would soon make those fellows quiet; and they told me to
go."

"You hear! They are calling you `tell-tale.' That will be your name
now. Oh, Holt! You should not have told tales. However, I will stand
by you," Hugh continued, seeing the terror that Holt was in.

"I meant no harm," said Holt, trembling. "Was not it a shame that they
would not let us learn our lessons?"

"Yes, it was--but--"