t into his waistcoat pocket.
In vain Hugh begged to have it again, saying he would write another. The
more he begged, and the more dismayed Tom Holt looked, the less Mr.
Carnaby would attend to either. Firth let himself be interrupted to hear
the case: but he could do nothing in it. It was a general rule, which he
thought every boy had known; and it was too late now to prevent the
letter being looked over.

Mr. Carnaby was so angry at the liberty Hugh had taken with his face and
figure, that, in spite of all prayers, and a good many tears, he walked
up the school with the letter, followed by poor Hugh, as soon as Mr.
Tooke had taken his seat next morning. Hugh thought that Holt, who had
put him up to the most offensive part of the pictures, might have borne
him company; but Holt was a timid boy, and he really had not courage to
leave his seat. So Hugh stood alone, awaiting Mr. Tooke's awful words,
while the whole of the first class looked up from their books, in
expectation of what was to happen. They waited some time for the
master's words; for he was trying to help laughing. He and Mr. Carnaby
were so much alike in the pictures, and both so like South Sea
islanders, that it was impossible to help laughing at the thought of
this sketch going abroad as a representation of the Crofton masters. At
last, all parties laughed aloud, and Mr. Tooke handed Hugh his
wafer-glass, and bade him wafer up his letter, and by all means send it.
Mr. Carnaby could not remain offended, if his principal was not angry:
so here the matter ended, except that Hugh made some strong resolutions
about his future letters; and that the corners of the master's mouth
were seen to be out of their usual order several times in the course of
the morning.

This incident, and everything which haunted Hugh's mind, and engrossed
his attention, was a serious evil to him; for his business soon grew to
be more than his habit of mind was equal to. In a few days, he learned
to envy the boys (and they were almost the whole school) who could fix
their attention completely and immediately on the work before them, and
relax as completely, when it was accomplished. When his eyes were
wandering, they observed boy after boy frowning over his dictionary, or
repeating to himself, earnestly and without pause; and presently the
business was done, and the learner at ease, feeling confident that he
was ready to meet his master. After double the time had passed, Hugh was
sti