rd and the green, and were
wading through the sandy road which led up to the heath, Firth saw Hugh
running and leaping hither and thither, not knowing what to do with his
spirits. Firth called him, and putting his arm round Hugh's neck, so as
to keep him prisoner, said he did not know how he might want his
strength before he got home, and he had better not spend it on a bit of
sandy road. So Hugh was made to walk quietly, and gained his breath
before the breezy heath was reached.

On the way, he saw that a boy of the name of Dale, whom he had never
particularly observed before, was a good deal teased by some boys who
kept crossing their hands before them, and curtseying like girls,
talking in a mincing way, and calling one another Amelia, with great
affectation. Dale tried to get away, but he was followed, whichever way
he turned.

"What do they mean by that?" inquired Hugh of Firth.

"Dale has a sister at a school not far off, and her name is Amelia; and
she came to see him to-day. Ah! You have not found out yet that boys
are laughed at about their sisters, particularly if the girls have fine
names."

"What a shame!" cried Hugh; words which he had used very often already
since he came to Crofton.

He broke from Firth, ran up to Dale, and said to him, in a low voice, "I
have two sisters, and one of them is called Agnes."

"Don't let them come to see you, then, or these fellows will quiz you as
they do me. As if I could help having a sister Amelia!"

"Why, you are not sorry for that? You would not wish your sister dead,
or not born, would you?"

"No; but I wish she was not hereabouts: that is, I wish she had not come
up to the pales, with the maid-servant behind her, for everybody to see.
And then, when Mr Tooke sent us into the orchard together, some spies
were peeping over the wall at us all the time."

"I only wish Agnes would come," cried Hugh, "and I would--"

"Ah! You think so now; but depend upon it, you would like much better
to see her at home. Why, her name is finer than my sister's! I wonder
what girls ever have such names for!"

"I don't see that these names are finer than some boys' names. There's
Frazer, is not his name Colin? And then there's Hercules Fisticuff--"

"Why, you know--to be sure you know that is a nick-name?" said Dale.

"Is it? I never thought of that," replied Hugh. "What is his real
name?"

"Samuel Jones. However, there is Colin Frazer--and Fry, his name is