w out, whirring, from some
ferns and brambles, and showed its long tail-feathers before it
disappeared over the hedge. All these sights were new to Hugh: and all,
after pain and confinement, looked beautiful and gay.

Mr. Shaw could not stop for Hugh to get out at Crofton; so, when his
arrival was seen, the boys were allowed to go out of bounds, as far as
the gig, to speak to their school-fellow. Mr. Shaw asked Tooke to mount,
and go home with them for the day; and Tooke was so pleased,--so
agreeably surprised to see Hugh look quite well and merry, that he
willingly ran off to ask leave, and to wash his face, and change his
jacket. When he had jumped in, and Hugh had bidden the rest good-bye, a
sudden shyness came over his poor conscious visitor: and it was not
lessened by Mr. Shaw telling Tooke that he did not do credit to Crofton
air,--so puny as he seemed: and that he looked at that moment more like
one that had had a bad accident than Hugh did. When Mr. Shaw perceived
how the boy's eyes filled with tears in an instant, he probably thought
within himself that Tooke was sadly weak-spirited, and altogether more
delicate than he had been aware of.

Hugh was full of questions about Crofton matters, however; and long
before they reached Mr. Shaw's, they were chattering as busily as
possible. But then it was all spoiled to Tooke again by seeing Hugh
lifted out, and his crutches brought to him, and Agnes ready to take his
hat and cloak, instead of his being able to run about, doing everything
for himself.

The sofa had been left in Hugh's room, and there was a fire there every
afternoon, for him and Agnes, that their aunt might have the parlour to
herself till tea-time. The three young people went therefore to this
room after dinner. Agnes felt a little uncomfortable, as she always did
when any Crofton boys came. They had so much to say to each other of
things that she did not understand, and so very little to say to her,
that she continually felt as if she was in the way. When she proposed,
as usual, that Hugh should go through his exercises in walking and
running (for she was indefatigable in helping him to learn to walk well,
and superintended his practice every afternoon), he refused hastily and
rather rudely. Of course, she could not know that he had a reason for
wishing not to show off his lameness before Tooke; and she thought him
unkind. He might indeed have remembered to ask her before to say nothing
this aftern