lows, and was therefore quite happy on that score. He was very
young, and to a certain degree vain; and if this event went to
strengthen his vanity, to fill his head with selfish thoughts, it would
be a misfortune indeed. The loss of his foot would be the least part of
it. It lay with those about him to make this event a deep injury to
him, instead of the blessing which all trials are meant by Providence
eventually to be. They all promised that, while treating Hugh with the
tenderness he deserved, they would not spoil the temper in which he had
acted so well, by making it vain and selfish. There was no fear,
meantime, of Phil's doing him any harm in that way; for Phil had a great
idea of the privileges and dignity of seniority; and his plan was to
keep down little boys, and make them humble; not being aware that to
keep people down is not the way to make them humble, but the contrary.
Older people than Phil, however, often fall into this mistake. Many
parents do, and many teachers; and very many elder brothers and sisters.

Phil entered the room shyly, and stood by the fire, so that the
bed-curtain was between him and Hugh.

"Are you there, Phil?" cried Hugh, pulling aside the curtain.

"Yes," said Phil; "how do you do this morning?"

"Oh, very well. Come here. I want to know ever so many things. Have
you heard yet anything real and true about the new usher?"

"No," replied Phil. "But I have no doubt it is really Mr Crabbe who is
coming, and that he will be here after Christmas. Why, Hugh, you look
just the same as usual!"

"So I am just the same, except under this thing," pointing to the hoop,
or basket, which was placed over his limb, to keep off the weight of the
bed-clothes. "I am not hurt anywhere else, except this bruise;" and he
showed a black bruise on his arm, such as almost any schoolboy can show,
almost any day.

"That's nothing," pronounced Phil.

"The other was, though, I can tell you," declared Hugh.

"Was it very, very bad? Worse than you had ever fancied?"

"Oh! Yes. I could have screamed myself to death. I did not, though.
Did you hear me, did anybody hear me call out?"

"I heard you--just outside the door there--before the doctors came."

"Ah! But not after, not while uncle was here. He cried so! I could
not call out while was he crying so. Where were you when they were
doing it?"

"Just outside the door there. I heard you once--only once; and that was
not much."