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 X.

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 brought
up plenty of books from the school library, but lent Hugh some valuable
volumes of prints from his own shelves.

Hugh could not look at these for long together. His head soon began to
ache, and his eyes to be dazzled; for he was a good deal weakened. His
mother observed also that he became too eager about views in foreign
countries, and that he even grew impatient in his temper when talking
about them.

"My dear boy," said she one evening, after tea, when she saw him in this
state, and that it rather perplexed Mr. Tooke, "if you remember your
resolution, I think you will put away that book."

"O, mother!" exclaimed he, "you want to take away the greatest pleasure
I have!"

"If it is a pleasure, go on. I was afraid it was becoming a pain."

Mr. Tooke did not ask what this meant; but he evidently wished to know.
He soon knew, for Hugh found himself growing more fidgety and more
cross, the further he looked in the volume of Indian Views, till he
threw himself back upon the sofa, and stuffed his handkerchief into his
mouth, and stared at the fire, struggling, as his mother saw, to help
crying. "I will take away the book,--shall I, my dear?"

"Yes, mother. O dear! I shall never keep my vow,