alone with Dale,
delighted Hugh: and when he told Dale, Dale liked the prospect too; and
they went together, at the earliest opportunity, to survey their new
domain, and plan where they would sit in spring, and how they would lie
on the grass in summer, and be closer and closer friends for ever.

Holt was encouraged to hope that he should have his turn sometimes; but
he saw that, though Hugh cared more for him than before the holidays, he
yet loved Dale the best.

While Hugh was still in spirits at the thought that his worst trials
were over, and the pleasure of his indulgences to come, he felt very
complacent; and he thought he would gratify himself with one more
reading of the theme which he had written in the holidays,--the theme
which he really believed Mr. Tooke might fairly praise,--so great had
been the pains he had taken with the composition, and so neatly was it
written out. He searched for it in vain among his books and in his
portfolio. Then he got leave to go up to his room, and turn over all
his clothes. He did so in vain; and at last he remembered that it was
far indeed out of his reach,--in the drawer of his aunt's work-table,
where it had lain ever since she had asked him for it, to read to a lady
who had visited her.

The themes would certainly be called for the first thing on Mr. Tooke's
appearance in school, at nine the next morning. The duties of the early
morning would leave no one any time to run to Mr. Shaw's then. If
anybody went, it must be now. The first day was one of little
regularity; it was only just beginning to grow dusk; any willing boy
might be back before supper; and there was no doubt that leave would be
given on such an occasion. So Hugh made his way to the playground as
fast as possible, and told his trouble to his best friends there,--to
Phil, and Holt, and Dale, and as many as happened to be within hearing.

"Never mind your theme!" said Phil. "Nobody expected you to do one; and
you have only to say that you left it behind you."

"It is not that," said Hugh. "I must show up my theme."

"You can't, you know, if you have it not to show," said two or three,
who thought this settled the matter.

"But it is there: it is at my uncle's, if any one would go for it," said
Hugh, beginning to be agitated.

"Go for it!" exclaimed Phil. "What, in the dark,--this freezing
afternoon?"

"It is not near dark; it will not be dark this hour. Anybody might run
there and back before supper