ink it would be
ungrateful, both to God and man, to refuse to do your best in the
situation which gratifies the first wish of your heart."

Hugh could not say another word. He made his lowest bow, and went
straight to his desk. As the first-fruits of his gratitude, he learned
his lessons thoroughly well that night; much as he would have liked to
spend the time in dreaming.

His father and he had no difficulty in settling what to write to Mr.
Holt; and very merry were they together when the business was done. In
a day or two, when Hugh had had time to think, he began to be glad on
Tooke's account; and he found an opportunity of saying to him one day,

"I never should have gone to India if I had not lost my foot; and I
think it is well worth while losing my foot to go to India."

"Do you really? or do you say it because----"

"I think so really." And then he went off into such a description as
convinced Tooke that he was in earnest, though it was to be feared that
he would be disappointed by experience. But then again, Mr. Tooke was
heard to say that one chief requisite for success and enjoyment in
foreign service of any kind was a strong inclination for it. So Tooke
was consoled, and easier in mind than for a whole year past.

Hugh was able to keep his promise of working hard. Both at Crofton and
at the India College, where his education was finished, he studied well
and successfully; and when he set sail with his companion, it was with a
heart free from all cares but one. Parting from his family was certainly
a great grief; and he could not forget the last tone he had heard from
Agnes. But this was his only sorrow. He was, at last, on the wide sea,
and going to Asia. Holt was his dear friend. He had left none but
well-wishers behind. His secret was his own; (though, indeed, he
scarcely remembered that he had any secret;) and he could not but be
conscious that he went out well prepared for honourable duty.

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crofton Boys, by Harriet Martineau

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