boys want Dale to try. They made me come. I could not help
it."

Hugh looked at Dale, with eyes which said, as plainly as eyes could
speak, "You will not go--you will not leave me at such a moment?"

But Dale was not looking at his face, but at the clusters of boys beside
the brook. He said--

"You will not mind my going, just for one leap. It will hardly take a
minute. I shall not stay for a game. But I must have just one leap."

And he was off. Holt looked after him, and then towards Hugh,
hesitating whether to go or stay. Hugh took no notice of him: so he
went slowly away, and Hugh was left alone.

He was in an extreme perturbation. At the first moment, he was beyond
measure hurt with Dale. He did not think his best friend would have so
reminded him of his infirmity, and of his being a restraint on his
companions. He did not think any friend could have left him at such a
moment. Then it occurred to him,--

"What, then, am I? If Dale was selfish, what was I? I was just going
to tell what would have pointed out Tooke to him for life. I know as
well as can be that it was all accident his pulling me off the wall; and
yet I was going to bring it up against him; and for the very reason why
I should not,--because he has not behaved well to me. I was just going
to spoil the only good thing I ever did for anybody in my life. But it
is spoiled--completely spoiled. I shall never be able to trust myself
again. It is all by mere accident that it is not all over now. If Holt
had not come that very instant, my secret would have been out, and I
could never have got it back again! I could never have looked Tooke in
the face any more. I don't know that I can now; for I am as wicked as
if I had told."

Dale came back presently, fanning himself with his cap. As he plunged
into the reeds, and threw himself down beside Hugh, he cried,--

"I did it! I took the leap, and came off with my shoe-soles as dry as a
crust. Ah! They are wet now; but that is with another leap I took for
sport. I told you I should not be long gone. Now for it! Who did it?"

"I am not going to tell you, Dale,--not now, nor ever."

"Why, that is too bad! I am sure I stay beside you often enough, when
the others are playing: you need not grudge me this one leap,--when the
boys sent for me, too."

"It is not that, Dale. You are very kind always in staying beside me;
and I do not wish that you should give up play for my sake ha