, and succeeded in persuading
Hugh that it was better not to look at volumes which he really almost
knew by heart, and every crease, stain, and dog's-ear of which brought
up fresh in his mind his old visions of foreign travel and adventure.
Then, Holt never encouraged any conversation about the accident with
Susan, or with Mr Blake, when they were in the shop; and he never
pretended to see that Hugh's lameness was any reason why he should have
the best of their places in the Haymarket Theatre (where they went
once), or be the chief person when they capped verses or played other
games round the table, in the evenings at home. The next time Hugh was
in his right mood, he was sure to feel obliged to Holt; and he sometimes
said so.

"I consider you a real friend to Hugh," said Mrs Proctor, one day, when
they three were together. "I have dreaded seeing my boy capable only of
a short effort of courage;--bearing pain of body and mind well while
everybody was sorry for him, and ready to praise him; and then failing
in the long trial afterwards. When other people are leaving off being
sorry for him, you continue your concern for him, and still remind him
not to fail."

"Would not it be a pity, ma'am," said Holt, earnestly, "would it not be
a pity for him to fail when he bore everything so well at first, and
when he helped me so that I don't know what I should have done without
him? He made me write to Mr Tooke, and so got me out of debt; and a
hundred times, I am sure, the thought of him and his secret has put
spirit into me. It would be a pity if he should fail without knowing
it, for want of somebody to put him in mind. He might so easily think
he was bearing it all well, as long as he could talk about his foot, and
make a joke of being lame, when, all the while, he might be losing his
temper in other ways."

"Why, how true that is!" exclaimed Hugh. "I was going to ask if I was
ever cross about being lame: but I know I am about other things, because
I am worried about that, sometimes."

"It is so easy to put you in mind," continued Holt; "and we shall all be
so glad if you are brave to the very end--"

"I will," said Hugh. "Only do you go on to put me in mind--"

"And _you_ will grow more and more brave, too," observed Mrs Proctor to
Holt.

Holt sighed; for he thought it would take a great deal of practice yet
to make him a brave boy. Other people thought he was getting on very
fast.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.