; and at last he remembered that it was
far indeed out of his reach,--in the drawer of his aunt's work-table,
where it had lain ever since she had asked him for it, to read to a lady
who had visited her.

The themes would certainly be called for the first thing on Mr Tooke's
appearance in school, at nine the next morning. The duties of the early
morning would leave no one any time to run to Mr Shaw's then. If
anybody went, it must be now. The first day was one of little
regularity; it was only just beginning so grow dusk; any willing boy
might be back before supper; and there was no doubt that leave would be
given on such an occasion. So Hugh made his way to the playground as
fast as possible, and told his trouble to his best friends there,--to
Phil, and Holt, and Dale, and as many as happened to be within hearing.

"Never mind your theme!" said Phil. "Nobody expected you to do one; and
you have only to say that you left it behind you."

"It is not that," said Hugh. "I must show up my theme."

"You can't, you know, if you have it not to show," said two or three,
who thought this settled the matter.

"But it is there: it is at my uncle's, if any one would go for it," said
Hugh, beginning to be agitated.

"Go for it!" exclaimed Phil. "What, in the dark,--this freezing
afternoon?"

"It is not near dark; it will not be dark this hour. Anybody might run
there and back before supper."

He looked at Dale; but Dale looked another way. For a moment he thought
of Tooke's permission to appeal to him when he wanted a friend: but
Tooke was not within hearing; and he dismissed the thought of pointing
out Tooke to anybody's notice. He turned away as Phil repeated that it
was quite certain that there would be no bad consequences from his being
unprovided with a theme, which was not one of his regular lessons.

Phil was not quite easy, however: nor were the others who heard; and in
a minute they looked round for Hugh. He was leaning his face upon his
arms, against the orchard-wall; and when, with gentle force, they pulled
him away, they saw that his face was bathed in tears. He sobbed out,--

"I took such pains with that theme,--all the holidays! And I can't go
for it myself."

There were loud exclamations from many against Phil, against one
another, and against themselves; and now everybody was eager to go.
Phil stopped all who had started off, saying that it was his business;
and the next moment, Phil was at