that he should not fail, and
his own resolution to bear cheerfully whatever troubles his misfortune
brought upon him, from the greatest to the least. So when he heard his
uncle saying to Holt that he should ask Mr. Tooke to let him come and
spend two or three weeks at his house, he said so heartily that he hoped
Holt would come, that Holt felt that whatever discontent had been
between them was forgiven and forgotten.

Phil went home, of course; and when Holt arrived at Mr. Shaw's, Agnes
also returned to London, that she might see something of Phil. Then the
two boys were glad to be together, though Hugh would rather have had his
dear friend Dale for a companion; and Holt knew that this was the case.
Yet Hugh saw, and was glad to see, that Holt was improved. He had
plucked up some spirit, and was more like other lads, though still, by
his own account, too much like a timid, helpless foreigner among the
rough Crofton boys.

All the boys had some lessons to prepare in the holidays. Every one who
had ever written a theme had a theme to write now. Every boy who could
construe had a good piece of Latin to prepare; and all had either Latin
or English verses to learn by heart. Mrs. Shaw made a point of her young
visitors sitting down every morning after breakfast to their business;
and Hugh was anxious to spare no pains, this time, about his theme,
that, if he was to be praised, he might deserve it. He saw that Holt
could not fix his attention well, either upon work or play; and one
morning, when Hugh was pondering how, without knowing anything of
history, he should find a modern example to match well with his ancient
one (which he had picked up by chance), Holt burst upon his meditation
with--

"I have a good mind to tell you what has been upon my mind this ever so
long."

"Wait a minute," said Hugh. "I must find my example first."

No example could he find, to his satisfaction, this day. He gave it up
till to-morrow, and then asked Holt what was on his mind. But Holt now
drew back, and did not think he could tell. This made Hugh press; and
Hugh's pressing looked like sympathy, and gave Holt courage: so that the
thing came out at last. Holt was very miserable, for he was deep in
debt, and the boys never let him alone about it; and he did not see how
he should ever pay, as nobody was likely to give him any money.

"Remember, it is only sixpence that you owe me--not a shilling," said
Hugh.

Holt sighed. Perhaps he had h