s
intimate friend; and Hugh asking how he could make a friend of a boy who
wanted spirit. They broke away from one another at last, Hugh declaring
Holt to be unreasonable and selfish, and Holt thinking Hugh cruel and
insulting.

Of course Mrs Watson would not hear of Holt's going to Mr Shaw, to ask
for an invitation for Saturday. He was told he must wait till another
time. It was no great consolation to Holt that on Sunday it would want
only nineteen days to the holidays: for he was to remain at Crofton. He
hoped to like the holidays better than school-days, and to be petted by
Mrs Watson, and to sit by the fire, instead of being forced into the
playground in all weathers; but still he could not look forward to
Christmas with the glee which other boys felt.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

A LONG DAY.

Hugh, meantime, was counting the hours till Saturday. Perhaps, if the
truth were known, so was Phil, though he was too old to acknowledge such
a longing. But the climbing about the mill,--the play encouraged there
by his uncle and the men,--his uncle's stories within doors, his aunt's
good dinners,--the fire-side, the picture-books, the talk of home,
altogether made up the greatest treat of the half-year. Phil had plenty
of ways of passing the time. Hugh began a long letter home,--the very
last letter, except the short formal one which should declare when the
Christmas vacation should commence. Hugh meant to write half the letter
before Saturday, and then fill it up with an account of his visit to his
uncle's.

The days were passed, however, when Hugh had the command of his leisure
time, as on his arrival, when his hours were apt to hang heavy. He had
long since become too valuable in the playground to be left to follow
his own devices. As the youngest boy, he was looked upon as a sort of
servant to the rest, when once it was found that he was quick and
clever. Either as scout, messenger, or in some such capacity, he was
continually wanted; and often at times inconvenient to himself. He then
usually remembered what Mr Tooke had told him of his boy, when Tooke
was the youngest,--how he bore things--not only being put on the high
wall, but being well worked in the service of the older boys. Usually
Hugh was obliging, but he could and did feel cross at times. He was
cross on this Friday,--the day when he was so anxious to write his
letter before going to his uncle's. On Saturday there would be no time.
The early m