heated. That was the thing. What a shame--"

"By-the-by, did your uncle ever ask what you did with that half-crown?"

"No; but he will next week, at the January fair. He will be sure to ask
then. What a shame of the boys to say so, when I forgave--"

He remembered, just in time, that he had better not boast, or speak
aloud, of having forgiven Lamb his debt in secret. He resolved that he
would not say another word, but let the boys see that he did not care
for money for its own sake. They were all wrong, but he would be above
noticing it; and, besides, he really had been very anxious about his
half-crown, and they had only mistaken the reason.

"How much did you bet on the balloon?" he inquired of Holt.

"A shilling; and I lost."

"Then you owe eighteen-pence."

"But that is not all. I borrowed a shilling of Meredith to pay
school-fines--"

"What for?"

"Chiefly for leaving my books about. Meredith says I promised to pay
him before the holidays; but I am sure I never did. He twitted me about
it, so that I declare I would have fought him, if I could have paid him
first."

"That's right," exclaimed Hugh. "Why, Holt, what a different fellow you
are! You never used to talk of fighting."

"But this fellow Meredith plagued me so! If it had not been for that
shilling, I would have knocked him down. Well, here is half-a-crown
altogether; and how am I ever to get half-a-crown?"

"Cannot you ask your uncle?"

"No; you know I can't. You know he complains about having to pay the
bills for me before my father can send the money from India."

"I suppose it would take too long to ask your father. Yes; of course it
would. There would be another holidays before you could have an answer;
and almost another still. I wonder what uncle Shaw would say. He is
very kind always, but it might set him asking--"

"And what should I do, staying here, if he should be angry and refuse?
What should I do every day at dinner?"

"I know what I would do?" said Hugh, decidedly. "I would tell Mr Tooke
all about it, and ask him for half-a-crown."

"Mr Tooke? Oh! I dare not."

"I dare,--in holiday-time. He is your master,--next to being your
father, while your father is so far away. You had better ask Mr Tooke,
to be sure."

"What go to Crofton, and speak to him? I really want not to be a
coward,--but I never could go and tell him."

"Write him a letter, then. Yes: that is the way. Write a letter, and I
will