“But still, if it were not for—”
“For what? Do you see any comfort under it?” asked Firth, fixing his eyes on Hugh.
Hugh nodded, without speaking.
“That One understands us who cannot be unjust!” whispered Firth. “I am glad you feel that.”
“Even home would be bad enough without that,” said Hugh. “And what would school be?”
“Or the world?” added Frith. “But do not get cross, and complain again. Leave that to those who have no comfort.”
Hugh nodded again. Then he got down, and ran to tell Holt that he did not want a shilling from him, because he thought sixpence would be fairer.
Holt was glad to hear this at first; but he presently said that it did not much matter, for that he had no more chance of being able to pay sixpence than a shilling. His parents were in India, and his uncle never offered him any money. He knew indeed that his uncle had none to spare; for he had said in the boy’s hearing, that it was hard on him to have to pay the school-bills (unless he might pay them in the produce of his farm), so long as it must be before he could be repaid from India. So Holt did not dare to ask for pocket-money; and for the hundredth time he sighed over his debt. He had almost left off hoping that Hugh, would excuse him altogether, though everybody knew that Hugh had five shillings in Mrs Watson’s hands. This fact and Hugh’s frequent applications to Lamb for payment, had caused an impression that Hugh was fond of money. It was not so; and yet the charge was not unfair. Hugh was ready to give if properly asked; but he did not relish, and could not bear with temper, the injustice of such a forced borrowing as had stripped him of his half-crown. He wanted his five shillings for presents for his family; and for these reasons, and not because he was miserly, he did not offer to excuse Holt’s debt; which it would have been more generous to have done. Nobody could wish that he should excuse Lamb’s.
“When are you going to your uncle’s?” asked Holt. “I suppose you are going some day before Christmas.”
“On Saturday, to stay till Sunday night,” said Hugh.