“Sakes alive!” says Mrs. Tidd. “Sakes alive!” And she kept looking and looking at Zadok like he was a curiosity out of a sideshow—which he pretty nearly was. Then she remembered her manners and asked us to come in.
“Madam,” says Zadok, “you have a son to be proud of. And he, Marcus Aurelius, has parents that in turn he may well boast about. His name, Mrs. Tidd, attracted me to him. I knew that one with such a name must be out of the ordinary run, and so it proved. He’s a remarkable boy, ma’am.”
Mrs. Tidd blushed and looked at Mark out of the corner of her eye as proud as a hen with eleven chickens.
“I won’t go as far’s to say he’s a bad boy, Mr. Biggs. He’s been well spoke of, though he is a trial, what with his mischief and his appetite. But there’s worse boys in Wicksville!” Here she looked at me, and I looked out of the window. Maybe she didn’t mean anything that time, but mostly she did.
Mrs. Tidd went to the back door and called Mr. Tidd, who was out in his workshop fussing with his turbine. It seemed he was so glad to get it back he couldn’t leave it alone a minute. But he came in to supper because he knew his wife would come out and make him whether he wanted to or not.
“Dad,” says Mark, “this is Mr. Zadok Biggs. If it hadn’t been for him Tallow and I never would have got the engine back safe.”
Mr. Tidd shook hands with Zadok, so there couldn’t be any doubt what he thought. As for Zadok, he stood off and bowed to Mr. Tidd with his hand on his stomach.
“Mr. Tidd,” says he, “it was you, I understand, who gave the remarkable, the admirable name of Marcus Aurelius Fortunatus to your son. It was an achievement, sir. Beside it even the Tidd turbine is insignificant—some folks would say small. I congratulate you, sir.”
“It ain’t such a bad name,” agreed Mr. Tidd, pretty well pleased.
“Bad, sir! It is stupendous—no less. But, my friends, let us consider business. How have you succeeded, Mr. Tidd, with your affairs in the city?”