n as usual)
to bear the glances he saw, and the words that came to his ear. Some
boys looked to see how red his eyes were: some were surprised to see him
abroad, and hinted at favouritism because he was not shut up in the
school-room. Some asked whether he could say his alphabet yet; and
others whether he could spell "dunce." The most cruel thing of all was
to see Tooke in particularly high spirits. He kept away from Hugh; but
Hugh's eye followed him from afar, and saw that he capered and laughed,
and was gayer than at any time this half-year. Hugh saw into his heart
(or thought he did) as plain as he saw to the bottom of the clear stream
in the meadows, to which they were bound for their afternoon's sport.

"I know what Tooke is feeling," thought he. "He is pleased to see me
lowered, as long as it is not his doing. He is sorry to see me suffer by
my lameness; because that hurts his conscience: but he is pleased to see
me wrong and disgraced, because that relieves him of the feeling of
being obliged to me. If I were now to put him in mind of his promise, to
stand by me, and protect me----I declare I will----it will stop his
wicked joy----it will make him remember his duty."

Dale wondered to see Hugh start off, as fast as he could go, to overtake
the foremost boys who were just entering the meadow, and spreading
themselves over it. Tooke could, alas! like everybody else, go faster
than Hugh; and there was no catching him, though he did not seem to see
that anybody wanted him. Neither could he be made to hear, though Hugh
called him as loud as he could shout. Holt was so sorry to see Hugh hot
and agitated, that he made no objection to going after Tooke, though he
was pretty sure Tooke would be angry with him. Holt could run as fast as
anybody, and he soon caught the boy he was pursuing, and told him that
little Proctor wanted him very much indeed, that very moment. Tooke sent
him about his business, saying that he could not come; and then
immediately proposed brook-leaping for their sport, leading the way
himself over a place so wide that no lesser boy, however nimble, could
follow. Holt came running back, shaking his head, and showing that his
errand was in vain. Tooke was so full of play that he could think of
nothing else; which was a shame.

"Ah! and you little know," thought Hugh, "how deep a shame it is."

With a swelling heart he turned away, and went towards the bank of the
broader stream which ran through the