oon found that would not do. Some
were indifferent, but most laughed at him. Then he ran to Mrs Watson's
parlour, and knocked. Nobody answered; for the room was empty: so Hugh
sought her in various places, and at last found her in the kitchen,
boiling some preserves.

"What do you come here for? This is no place for you," said she, when
the maids tried in vain to put Hugh out.

"I only want to tell you one thing," cried Hugh; and he repeated exactly
what Mr Tooke had said of his theme. Mrs Watson laughed, and the
maids laughed, and Hugh left them, angry with them, but more angry with
himself. They did not care for him,--nobody cared for him, he said to
himself; he longed for his mother's look or approbation when he had done
well, and Agnes' pleasure, and even Susan's fondness and praise. He
sought Dale. Dale was in the midst of a game, and had not a word or
look to spare till it was over. The boys would have admitted Hugh; for
he could now play as well as anybody; but he was in no mood for play
now. He climbed his tree, and sat there, stinging his mind with the
thought of his having carried his boastings into the kitchen, and with
his recollection of Mrs Watson's laugh.

It often happened that Firth and Hugh met at this tree; and it happened
now. There was room for both; and Firth mounted, and read for some
time. At last he seemed to be struck by Hugh's restlessness and heavy
sighs; and he asked whether he had not got something to amuse himself
with.

"No. I don't want to amuse myself," said Hugh, stretching so as almost
to throw himself out of the tree.

"Why, what's the matter? Did you not come off well with your theme? I
heard somebody say you were quite enough set up about it."

"Where is the use of doing a thing well, if nobody cares about it?" said
Hugh. "I don't believe anybody at Crofton cares a bit about me--cares
whether I get on well or ill--except Dale. If I take pains and succeed,
they only laugh at me."

"Ah! You don't understand school and schoolboys yet," replied Firth.
"To do a difficult lesson well is a grand affair at home, and the whole
house knows of it. But it is the commonest thing in the world here. If
you learn to feel with these boys, instead of expecting them to feel
with you (which they cannot possibly do), you will soon find that they
care for you accordingly."

Hugh shook his head.

"You will find it in every school in England," continued Firth, "that it
is n