"But this fellow Meredith plagued me so! If it had not been for that shilling, I would have knocked him down. Well, here is half-a-crown altogether; and how am I ever to get half-a-crown?" "Cannot you ask your uncle?" "No; you know I can't. You know he complains about having to pay the bills for me before my father can send the money from India." "I suppose it would take too long to ask your father. Yes; of course it would. There would be another holidays before you could have an answer; and almost another still. I wonder what uncle Shaw would say. He is very kind always, but it might set him asking--" "And what should I do, staying here, if he should be angry and refuse? What should I do every day at dinner?" "I know what I would do?" said Hugh, decidedly. "I would tell Mr Tooke all about it, and ask him for half-a-crown." "Mr Tooke? Oh! I dare not." "I dare,--in holiday-time. He is your master,--next to being your father, while your father is so far away. You had better ask Mr Tooke, to be sure." "What go to Crofton, and speak to him? I really want not to be a coward,--but I never could go and tell him." "Write him a letter, then. Yes: that is the way. Write a letter, and I will get one of my uncle's men to carry it, and wait for an answer: and then you will not be long in suspense, at any rate." "I wish I dare!" Holt was not long in passing from wishing to daring. He wrote a letter, which Hugh thought would do, though he rather wished Holt had not mentioned him as instigating the act. This was the letter: "The Mill, _January 6th_. "Dear Sir, "I am very unhappy; and Proctor thinks I had better tell you what is upon my mind. I owe some money, and I do not see how I can ever pay it, unless you will help me. You know I have owed Proctor sixpence for ginger-beer, this long time; and as Lamb has never paid him his share, Proctor cannot excuse me this debt. Then I owe a boy a shilling, lent me for school-fines; and he never lets me alone about it. Then I was led into betting a shilling on a balloon, and I lost; and so I owe half-a-crown. If you would lend me that sum, sir, I shall be obliged to you for ever, and I shall never forget it. "Yours respectfully, "Thomas Holt." Mr Shaw's man George carried the letter; but he brought back neither letter nor money: only a message that Mr Tooke would call; which put Holt into a great fright, and made Hugh rather uneasy. There was no occasion for this, however. Mr Tooke came alone into the room where the boys were sitting; and neither Mr nor Mrs Shaw appeared during the whole time of his visit: a thing which was rather odd, but which the boys were very glad of. When Mr Tooke had told them a little of some new boys expected after the holidays, he said: "Well, now, Holt, let us see what can be done about your affairs."