After dinner, Phil thought it time to be off to Crofton. He had missed something by coming away at all to-day; and he was not going to run the chance of losing the top of the class by not having time to do his Sallust properly. Mrs Shaw said they must have some of her plums before they went, and a glass of wine; and Mr Shaw ordered the gig, saying he would drive them, and thus no time would be lost, though he hoped Phil would not mind being at the bottom of every class for once to help his brother, seeing how soon a diligent boy might work his way up again. Phil replied that that was not so easy as people might think, when there was one like Joe Cape determined to keep him down, if he could once get him down. "I hope you will find time to help Hugh up from the bottom, in a class or two," said Mr Shaw. "You will not be too busy about your own affairs to look to his, I suppose." "Where is the use of my meddling?" said Phil. "He can't rise for years to come. Besides--" "Why can't I rise?" exclaimed Hugh, with glowing cheeks. "That is right, Hugh," said his uncle. "Let nobody prophesy for you till you show what you can do." "Why, uncle, he is nearly two years younger than any boy in the school; and--" "And there is little Page above you in algebra. He is about two years younger than you, Phil, if I remember right." Hugh could not help clapping his hands at the prospect this held out to him. Phil took the act for triumphing over him, and went on to say, very insultingly, that a little fellow who had been brought up among the girls all his life, and had learned of nobody but Miss Harold, could not be expected to cut any figure among boys. Hugh looked so grieved for a moment, and then suddenly so relieved, that his kind uncle wondered what was in his mind. He took the boy between his knees and asked him. Hugh loved his uncle already, as if he had always known him. He put his arms round his neck, and whispered in his ear what he was thinking of;-- his mother's saying that God could and would, if He was sought, put the spirit of a man into the feeblest child. "True!--quite true! I am very glad you know that, my boy. That will help you to learn at Crofton, though it is better than anything they can teach you in their school-room." Mrs Shaw and Phil looked curious; but Mr Shaw did not repeat a word of what Hugh had said. He put the boy away from his knees, because he heard the gig coming round. Mrs Shaw told Hugh that she hoped he would spend some of his Sundays with his uncle and her; and his uncle added that he must come on holidays as well as Sundays,--there was so much to see about the mill.