ware of.

Hugh was full of questions about Crofton matters, however; and long
before they reached Mr Shaw's, they were chattering as busily as
possible. But then it was all spoiled to Tooke again by seeing Hugh
lifted out, and his crutches brought to him, and Agnes ready to take his
hat and cloak, instead of his being able to run about, doing everything
for himself.

The sofa had been left in Hugh's room, and there was a fire there every
afternoon, for him and Agnes, that their aunt might have the parlour to
herself till tea-time. The three young people went therefore to this
room after dinner. Agnes felt a little uncomfortable, as she always did
when any Crofton boys came. They had so much to say to each other of
things that she did not understand, and so very little to say to her,
that she continually felt as if she was in the way. When she proposed,
as usual, that Hugh should go through his exercises in walking and
running (for she was indefatigable in helping him to learn to walk well,
and superintended his practice every afternoon), he refused hastily and
rather rudely. Of course, she could not know that he had a reason for
wishing not to show off his lameness before Tooke; and she thought him
unkind. He might indeed have remembered to ask her before to say
nothing this afternoon about his exercises. She took out her work, and
sat down at some distance from the boys; but they did not get on. It
was very awkward. At last, the boys' eyes met, and they saw that they
should like to talk freely, if they could.

"Agnes," said Hugh, "cannot you go somewhere, and leave us alone?"

"I hardly know where I can go," replied Agnes. "I must not disturb
aunt; and there is no fire anywhere else."

"O, I am sure aunt won't mind, for this one afternoon. You can be still
as a mouse; and she can doze away, as if nobody was there."

"I can be as still as a mouse here," observed Agnes. "I can take my
work to that farthest window; and if you whisper, I shall not hear a
word you say. Or, if I do hear a word, I will tell you directly. And
you will let me come, now and then, and warm myself, if I find I cannot
hold my needle any longer."

"No, no; that won't do. We can't talk so. Do just go, and see whether
aunt cannot let you be there for this one afternoon."

Agnes did not like to refuse anything to Hugh: but she hesitated to take
such a bold step as this. In his eagerness, Hugh requested the same
favour of Took