No example could he find, to his satisfaction, this day. He gave it up till to-morrow, and then asked Holt what was on his mind. But Holt now drew back, and did not think he could tell. This made Hugh press; and Hugh’s pressing looked like sympathy, and gave Holt courage: so that the thing came out at last. Holt was very miserable, for he was deep in debt, and the boys never let him alone about it; and he did not see how he should ever pay, as nobody was likely to give him any money.
“Remember, it is only sixpence that you owe me—not a shilling,” said Hugh.
Holt sighed. Perhaps he had hoped that Hugh would excuse him altogether. He explained that this sixpence was not all, nor the chief part. He told that, when the whole school was on the heath, one Saturday, they had seen a balloon rising at a distance, and some boys began betting about what direction it would move in when it ceased to rise perpendicularly. The betting spread till the boys told him he must bet, or he would be the only one left out, and would look like a shabby fellow.
“And you did?” exclaimed Hugh. “How silly!”
“You would have done it, if you had been there.”
“No: I should not.”
“Yes, you would. Or, if you had not, it would have been because of— I know what.”
“Because of what, pray?”
“Because of something the boys say about you. They say you are very fond of money.”
“I! Fond of money! I declare I never heard of such a thing.”