Tommy shot another grateful glance at his mother, and then looked back at his father. He knew that from him must come the final word.
“You kin try it,” said his father, at last. “I reckon you’ll soon git tired of it, anyway.”
But Tommy was out of his chair before he could say more, and threw his arms about his neck.
“I’m so glad!” he cried. “You’ll see how I’ll work in th’ afternoons. We’ll git out more coal ’n ever!”
“Well, well,” protested Silas, awkwardly returning his caress, “we’ll see. I don’t know but what your ma’s right. You’ve been a good boy, Tommy, an’ deserve a chance.”
And mother and father alike looked after the boy with unaccustomed tenderness as he ran out of the house and up the mountain-side to think it all over. Up there, with only the stars to see, Tommy flung himself on the ground and sobbed aloud in sheer gladness of heart.
CHAPTER III
THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY
When Bessie Andrews came within sight of the door of the little schoolhouse next morning, she was surprised to see a boy sitting on the step; but as she drew nearer, she discovered it was her visitor of the evening before. He arose when he saw her coming and took off his cap. Cap and clothes alike showed evidence of work in the mines, but face and hands had been polished until they shone again. Her heart leaped as she recognized him, for she had hardly dared to hope that her talk with him would bear such immediate and splendid fruit. Perhaps this was only the beginning, she thought, and she hurried forward toward him, her face alight with pleasure.
“Good morning,” she said, holding out her hand. “Your father said yes? I’m so glad!”
He placed his hand in hers awkwardly. She could feel how rough and hard it was with labor—not a child’s hand at all.