Hugh was left alone to think this over, when he had given his messages home, and got Dale’s promise to come again as soon as he could obtain leave to do so. Both the boys were warned that this would not be till to-morrow, as Hugh had seen quite company enough for one day. Indeed, he slept so much, that night seemed to be soon come.
Chapter Ten.
Little Victories.
Though Mr Tooke was so busy from having no usher, he found time to come and see Hugh pretty often. He had a sofa moved into that room: and he carried Hugh, without hurting him at all, and laid him down there comfortably, beside the fire. He took his tea there, with Mrs Proctor; and he brought up his newspaper, and read from it anything which he thought would amuse the boy. He smiled at Hugh’s scruple about occupying his room, and assured him that he was quite as well off in Mr Carnaby’s room, except that it was not so quiet as this, and therefore more fit for a person in health than for an invalid. Mr Tooke not only brought up plenty of books from the school library, but lent Hugh some valuable volumes of prints from his own shelves.
Hugh could not look at these for long together. His head soon began to ache, and his eyes to be dazzled; for he was a good deal weakened. His mother observed also that he became too eager about views in foreign countries, and that he even grew impatient in his temper when talking about them.
“My dear boy,” said she one evening, after tea, when she saw him in this state, and that it rather perplexed Mr Tooke, “if you remember your resolution, I think you will put away that book.”
“O, mother!” exclaimed he, “you want to take away the greatest pleasure I have!”
“If it is a pleasure, go on. I was afraid it was becoming a pain.”