d his mother, "and yet I could not work early and late for them,
with the same pleasure as for you."

Hugh laughed; and then he asked whether Jane was not now as useful as
Susan.

"Perhaps she is," replied his mother; "and the more she learns and does,
and the more she becomes my friend,--the more I respect her: but it is
impossible to love her more than I did before she could speak or walk.
There is some objection in your mind still, my dear. What is it?"

"It makes us of so much consequence,--so much more than I ever thought
of,--that the minds of grown people should be busy about us."

"There is nothing to be vain of in that, my dear, any more than for
young kittens, and birds just hatched. But it is very true that all
young creatures are of great consequence; for they are the children of
God. When, besides this, we consider what human beings are,--that they
can never perish, but are to live for ever,--and that they are meant to
become more wise and holy than we can imagine, we see that the feeblest
infant is indeed a being of infinite consequence. This is surely a
reason for God filling the hearts of parents with love, and making them
willing to work and suffer for their children, even while the little
ones are most unwise and unprofitable. When you and Agnes fancied I
should forget you and desert you, you must have forgotten that you had
another Parent who rules the hearts of all the fathers and mothers on
earth."

Hugh was left alone to think this over, when he had given his messages
home, and got Dale's promise to come again as soon as he could obtain
leave to do so. Both the boys were warned that this would not be till
to-morrow, as Hugh had seen quite company enough for one day. Indeed,
he slept so much, that night seemed to be soon come.

CHAPTER TEN.

LITTLE VICTORIES.

Though Mr Tooke was so busy from having no usher, he found time to come
and see Hugh pretty often. He had a sofa moved into that room: and he
carried Hugh, without hurting him at all, and laid him down there
comfortably, beside the fire. He took his tea there, with Mrs Proctor;
and he brought up his newspaper, and read from it anything which he
thought would amuse the boy. He smiled at Hugh's scruple about
occupying his room, and assured him that he was quite as well off in Mr
Carnaby's room, except that it was not so quiet as this, and therefore
more fit for a person in health than for an invalid. Mr Tooke not only
br