he continued, "that you will not be nearly so
happy at Crofton as you expect--at least, at first. It grieves me to see
you so full of expectation----"

"Does it indeed, mother?"

"It does indeed. But my comfort is----"

"You think I can bear it," cried Hugh, holding up his head. "You think I
can bear anything."

"I think you are a brave boy, on the whole. But that is not the comfort
I was speaking of; for there is a world of troubles too heavy for the
bravery of a thoughtless child, like you. My comfort is, my dear, that
you know where to go for strength when your heart fails you. You will be
away from your father and me; but a far wiser and kinder parent will be
always with you. If I were not sure that you would continually open your
heart to Him, I could not let you go from me."

"I will--I always do," said Hugh, in a low voice.

"Then remember this, my boy. If you have that help, _you must not fail_.
Knowing that you have that help, I expect of you that you do your own
duty, and bear your own troubles, like a man. If you were to be all
alone in the new world you are going to, you would be but a helpless
child: but remember, when a child makes God his friend, God puts into
the youngest and weakest the spirit of a man."

"You will ask Him too, mother;--you will pray Him to make me brave,
and--and----"

"And what else?" she inquired, fixing her eyes upon him.

"And steady," replied Hugh, casting down, his eyes; "for that is what I
want most of all."

"It is," replied his mother. "I do, and always will, pray for you."

Not another word was said till they went down into the parlour. Though
it was only eleven o'clock, Miss Harold was putting on her bonnet to go
away: and there was a plate of bread and cheese on the table.

"Lunch!" said Hugh, turning away with disgust.

"Do eat it," said Agnes, who had brought it. "You had no breakfast, you
know."

"Because I did not want it; and I can't eat anything now."

Jane made a sign to Agnes to take the plate out of sight: and she put
some biscuits into a paper bag, that he might eat on the road, if he
should become hungry.

Neither Miss Harold nor Hugh could possibly feel any grief at parting;
for they had had little satisfaction together; but she said very kindly
that she should hope to hear often of him, and wished he might be happy
as a Crofton boy. Hugh could hardly answer her;--so amazed was he to
find that his sisters were giving up an hour of their lesso