."

He looked at Dale; but Dale looked another way. For a moment he thought
of Tooke's permission to appeal to him when he wanted a friend: but
Tooke was not within hearing; and he dismissed the thought of pointing
out Tooke to anybody's notice. He turned away as Phil repeated that it
was quite certain that there would be no bad consequences from his being
unprovided with a theme, which was not one of his regular lessons.

Phil was not quite easy, however: nor were the others who heard; and in
a minute they looked round for Hugh. He was leaning his face upon his
arms, against the orchard wall; and when, with gentle force, they pulled
him away, they saw that his face was bathed in tears. He sobbed out,--

"I took such pains with that theme,--all the holidays! And I can't go
for it myself."

There were loud exclamations from many against Phil, against one
another, and against themselves; and now everybody was eager to go. Phil
stopped all who had started off saying that it was his business; and the
next moment, Phil was at Mr. Tooke's study-door, asking leave of absence
till supper.

"Little Holt has been beforehand with you," said Mr. Tooke. "I refused
him, however, as he is not so fit as you to be out after dark. Off with
you!"

Before Phil returned, it struck Hugh that he had been very selfish; and
that it was not a good way of bearing his trial to impose on any one a
walk of four miles, to repair a piece of carelessness of his own. Nobody
blamed him; but he did not like to look in the faces round him, to see
what people thought. When Phil returned, fresh and hungry from the
frosty air, and threw down the paper, saying,--

"There is your theme, and my aunt is very sorry." Hugh said,--

"Oh! Phil, and I am so sorry too! I hope you are not very tired."

"Never mind!" replied Phil. "There is your theme."

And with this Hugh was obliged to be satisfied; but it left him
exceedingly uncomfortable--sorry for Phil--disappointed in Dale--and
much more disappointed in himself. The thought of what Holt had wished
to do was the only pleasant part of it; and Hugh worked beside Holt, and
talked with him all the evening.

Hugh felt, the next morning, as if he was never to have any pleasure
from his themes, though they were the lesson he did best. This one was
praised, quite as much as the former one: and he did not this time tell
anybody what Mr. Tooke had said about it: but the pleasure was spoiled
by the recollection t