m the
sofa by the fire-side one might see the laurustinus on the
grass-plot,--now covered with flowers: and when the day was warm enough
to let him lie in the window, he could see the mill, and all that was
going on round it.

Hugh liked the idea of all this: but he still looked anxious.

"Now tell me," said his uncle, "what person in all the world you would
like best for a companion."

"In all the world!" exclaimed Hugh. "Suppose I say the Great Mogul!"

"Well; tell us how to catch him, and we will try. Meantime, you can have
his picture. I believe we have a pack of cards in the house."

"But do you mean really, uncle,--the person I should like best in all
the world,--out of Crofton?"

"Yes; out with it!"

"I should like Agnes best," said Hugh, timidly.

"We thought as much. I am glad we were right. Well, my boy, Agnes is
there."

"Agnes there! Only two miles off! How long will she stay?"

"O, there is no hurry about that. We shall see when you are well what to
do next."

"But will she stay till the holidays?"

"O, yes, longer than that, I hope."

"But then she will not go home with me for the holidays?"

"Never mind about the holidays now. Your holidays begin to-day. You have
nothing to do but to get well now, and make yourself at home at my
house, and be merry with Agnes. Now shall we go, while the sun shines?
Here is your mother all cloaked up in her warm things."

"O, mother! Agnes is come," cried Hugh.

This was no news; for it was his mother who had guessed what companion
he would like to have. She now showed her large warm cloak, in which
Hugh was to be wrapped; and his neck was muffled up in a comforter.

"But how am I to go?" asked Hugh, trembling with this little bustle.

"Quietly in your bed," said his uncle. "Come, I will lift you into it."

And his uncle carried him downstairs to the front door, where two of Mr.
Shaw's men stood with a litter, which was slung upon poles, and carried
like a sedan-chair. There was a mattress upon the litter, on which Hugh
lay as comfortably as on a sofa. He said it was like being carried in a
palanquin in India,--if only there was hot sunshine, and no frost and
snow.

Mr. Tooke, and Mrs. Watson, and Firth shook hands with Hugh, and said
they should be glad to see him back again: and Mr. Tooke added that some
of the boys should visit him pretty often till the breaking-up. Nobody
else was allowed to come quite near; but the boys clustered at that side