over now. If Holt
had not come that very instant, my secret would have been out, and I
could never have got it back again! I could never have looked Tooke in
the face any more. I don't know that I can now; for I am as wicked as if
I had told."

Dale came back presently, fanning himself with his cap. As he plunged
into the reeds, and threw himself down beside Hugh, he cried,

"I did it! I took the leap, and came off with my shoe-soles as dry as a
crust. Ah! they are wet now; but that is with another leap I took for
sport. I told you I should not be long gone. Now for it! Who did it?"

"I am not going to tell you, Dale,--not now, nor ever."

"Why, that is too bad! I am sure I stay beside you often enough, when
the others are playing: you need not grudge me this one leap,--when the
boys sent for me, too."

"It is not that, Dale. You are very kind always in staying beside me;
and I do not wish that you should give up play for my sake half so much
as you do. But I was very, very wrong in meaning to tell you that
secret. I should have been miserable by this time if I had."

"But you promised. You must keep your promise. What would all the boys
say, if I told them you had broken your promise?"

"If they knew what it was about, they would despise me for ever meaning
to tell--not for stopping short in time. That was only accident,
however. But my secret is my own still."

Dale's curiosity was so strong, that Hugh saw how dangerous it was to
have tantalised it. He had to remind his friend of Mr. Tooke's having
put all the boys upon honour not to inquire on this subject. This
brought Dale to himself; and he promised never again to urge Hugh, or
encourage his speaking of the matter at all. They then went to
story-telling; but it would not do to-day. Hugh could not attend; and
Dale could not invent, while there was no sympathy in his hearer. He was
presently released, for it struck Hugh that he should like to write to
his mother this very afternoon. His heart was heavy, and he wanted to
tell her what was in it. Mr. Crabbe gave him leave to go home; and Dale
was in time for plenty more play.

Hugh had the great school-room all to himself; and as the window before
his desk was open, he had the pleasure of the fresh air, and the smell
of the blossoms from the orchard, and the sound of the waving of the
tall trees in the wind, and the cawing of the rooks as the trees waved.
These things all made him enjoy scribbling away to h