The Crofton Boys Part 24

Hugh muttered that that was fine talking for people that did not know.

"That is true, I dare say; and I do not believe I should be half as brave as you, but I _should_ like to see you quite brave."

"It is a pretty thing for you to lecture me, when I got down those books on purpose for you,--those Voyages and Travels. And how can I look at those same books, now and not--"

Hugh could not go on, and he turned away his head.

"Was it for me?" exclaimed Holt, in great concern. "Then I am very sorry. I will carry them to Mrs Proctor, and ask her to put them quite away till we are gone back to Crofton."

"No, no. Don't do that. I want them," said Hugh, finding now that he had not fetched them down entirely on Holt's account. But Holt took him at his word, and carried the books away, and succeeded in persuading Hugh that it was better not to look at volumes which he really almost knew by heart, and every crease, stain, and dog's-ear of which brought up fresh in his mind his old visions of foreign travel and adventure.

Then, Holt never encouraged any conversation about the accident with Susan, or with Mr Blake, when they were in the shop; and he never pretended to see that Hugh's lameness was any reason why he should have the best of their places in the Haymarket Theatre (where they went once), or be the chief person when they capped verses or played other games round the table, in the evenings at home. The next time Hugh was in his right mood, he was sure to feel obliged to Holt; and he sometimes said so.

"I consider you a real friend to Hugh," said Mrs Proctor, one day, when they three were together. "I have dreaded seeing my boy capable only of a short effort of courage;--bearing pain of body and mind well while everybody was sorry for him, and ready to praise him; and then failing in the long trial afterwards. When other people are leaving off being sorry for him, you continue your concern for him, and still remind him not to fail."

"Would not it be a pity, ma'am," said Holt, earnestly, "would it not be a pity for him to fail when he bore everything so well at first, and when he helped me so that I don't know what I should have done without him? He made me write to Mr Tooke, and so got me out of debt; and a hundred times, I am sure, the thought of him and his secret has put spirit into me. It would be a pity if he should fail without knowing it, for want of somebody to put him in mind. He might so easily think he was bearing it all well, as long as he could talk about his foot, and make a joke of being lame, when, all the while, he might be losing his temper in other ways."

"Why, how true that is!" exclaimed Hugh. "I was going to ask if I was ever cross about being lame: but I know I am about other things, because I am worried about that, sometimes."

"It is so easy to put you in mind," continued Holt; "and we shall all be so glad if you are brave to the very end--"

"I will," said Hugh. "Only do you go on to put me in mind--"

"And _you_ will grow more and more brave, too," observed Mrs Proctor to Holt.

Holt sighed; for he thought it would take a great deal of practice yet to make him a brave boy. Other people thought he was getting on very fast.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

CONCLUSION.

The longer these two boys were together, the more they wished they could spend their lives side by side; or, at least, not be separated by half the globe. Just before the Christmas holidays, some news arrived which startled them so much that they could hardly speak to one another about it for some hours. There was a deep feeling in their hearts which disposed them to speak alone to the Ruler of their lives, before they could even rejoice with one another. When they meditated upon it, they saw that the event had come about naturally enough; but it so exactly met the strongest desire they had in the world, that if a miracle had happened before their eyes, they could not have been more struck.

Holt's father wrote a letter to Mr Proctor, which reached its destination through Mr Tooke's hands; and Mr Tooke was consulted in the whole matter, and requested by Mr Proctor to tell the two boys and Phil all about it. These three were therefore called into Mr Tooke's study one day, to hear some news.

The letters which Mr Tooke read were about Hugh. Mr Holt explained that his son's best years were to be spent, like his own, in India; that his own experience had made him extremely anxious that his son should be a.s.sociated with companions whom he could respect and love; and that he had long resolved to use such interest as he had in bringing out only such a youth, or youths, as he could wish his son to a.s.sociate with. He mentioned that he was aware that one lad now at Crofton was destined for India--

"That is Lamb," whispered the boys to each other.

But that he did not hear of any friends.h.i.+p formed, or likely to be formed with advantage between his son and this young gentleman.

"No, indeed!" muttered Holt.

There was one boy, however, Mr Holt went on to say, to whom his son seemed to be attached, and concerning whom he had related circ.u.mstances which inspired a strong interest, and which seemed to afford an expectation of an upright manhood following a gallant youth.

Here all the boys reddened, and Hugh looked hard at the carpet.

This boy had evidently a strong inclination for travel and adventure; and though his lameness put military or naval service out of the question, it might not unfit him for civil service in India. If Mr Tooke could give such a report of his health, industry, and capability as should warrant his being offered an appointment, and if his parents were willing so to dispose of him, Mr Holt was anxious to make arrangements for the education of the boys proceeding together, in order to their being companions in their voyage and subsequent employments.

And then followed some account of what these arrangements were to be.

"Now, Proctor," said Mr Tooke to the breathless Hugh, "you must consider what you have to say to this. Your parents are willing to agree if you are. But if," he continued, with a kind smile, "it would make you very unhappy to go to India, no one will force your inclinations."

"Oh, sir," said Hugh, "I will work very hard,--I will work as hard as ever I can, if I may go."

"Well: you may go, you see, if you will work hard. You can consider it quietly, or talk it over with your brother and Holt; and to-morrow you are to dine at your uncle's, where you will meet your father; and he and you will settle what to write to Mr Holt, by the next s.h.i.+p."

"And you, sir," said Phil, anxiously--"Mr Holt asks your opinion."

"My opinion is that your brother can be what he pleases. He wants some inducement to pursue his learning more strenuously than he has done yet--"

"I will, sir. I will," indeed, cried Hugh.

"I believe you will. Such a prospect as this will be an inducement, if anything can. You are, on the whole, a brave boy; and brave boys are not apt to be ungrateful to G.o.d or man; and I am sure you think it would be ungrateful, both to G.o.d 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 grat.i.tude, 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.