in; and he could walk up the aisle quite
well. He had been pleased at the idea of attending church again, and had
never thought of the pain of being stared at for his lameness. This pain
came upon him as he entered the church; and as he went up towards his
uncle's pew, and saw the crowd of Crofton boys all looking at him, and
some of the poor people turning their heads as he passed, to observe how
he got on, he felt covered with confusion, and wished that he had waited
one more Sunday, when the Crofton boys would have been all gone, and
there would have been fewer eyes to mark his infirmity. But better
thoughts soon arose, and made him ashamed of his false shame; and
before the service was over, he felt how trifling is any misfortune
while we are friends with God, in comparison with the least wrong-doing
which sets us at a distance from him. He could not but feel after church
that he had rather, a thousand times, be as he was than be poor Lamb,
who slunk away from him, and hid himself behind the other boys,--his
mind sore and troubled, no doubt, about his debt, and his cheating
transaction, so long ago. Hugh asked some of the boys to bring up Lamb,
to shake hands before parting for the holidays; but he would not come,
and wriggled himself out of sight. Then Hugh recollected that he could
forgive Lamb as well without Lamb's knowing it; and he let him alone.

Then there was Holt. He and Holt had parted on uneasy terms; and Holt
now looked shy and uncomfortable. Hugh beckoned to him, and asked him
whether he was really to remain at Crofton all the holidays.

"Yes," said Holt. "I am the only one not going home, unless you are to
stay hereabouts. Even Tooke is to be at his uncle's in London. When do
you go home?"

"Not quite yet;--not at the beginning of the holidays," said Hugh,
hesitating, and looking up at his uncle. For, in truth, he did not know
exactly what was planned for him, and had been afraid to ask.

His uncle said, very kindly, that he was not going to part with Hugh
till school opened again. He would recover his full strength better in
the country; and his aunt had promised his parents that he should be a
stout boy again by the time he was wanted at Crofton.

This was what Hugh had dreaded to hear; and when he thought that he
should not see his parents, nor little Harry, for so many months, his
heart sank. But he was still in the church; and perhaps the place helped
him to remember his mother's expectation