“Well, of course it’s no concern of mine. But don’t you think you might have consulted me?”
“I should have been glad of your advice, sir,” said Tom. Then added firmly, “but you have never given me any reason to suppose you would have been willing to give it me.”
Mr. Tinker glanced sharply at the youth. He saw nothing of impertinent suggestion in Tom’s face. Tom had spoken, simply and plain, what was to him a plain and simple matter of fact.
“What do you mean, Pinder? Have you any complaint to make. Haven’t I always done my duty by you?”
“I don’t know, sir. If your duty was to let me severely alone, you have done your duty. You know better than I whether that is a master’s duty to an apprentice. I’m no lawyer. But Mr. Black always told me I was to be taught your trade.”
“Well, it seems you fancy you know enough about it to start for yourself.”
“Little thanks to you,” thought Tom, but what use to say?
“But I didn’t send for you to-day, Pinder, to discuss my duty or yours. I think you’re foolish to begin on your own account. I have had it in my mind for some time back to put you forward in the mill. I’m weary of Sam Buckley and his drunken ways. He gets beyond bearing. I had thought of putting you in his place—at a lower wage, of course. ’Twould have been a big lift for you, but I’ve had my eye on you, and I think you’d have done.”
Tom’s feelings at these unexpected words were of mingled pride, gratitude, and self-reproach. He had never suspected that his conduct in the mill was observed by the reserved, self-contained master. He had done his duty as he conceived it, simply because it was his duty.
He knew, of course, that many of the apprentices shirked their work and gave as much trouble as possible. In acting otherwise Tom had neither sought nor expected notice and approbation. He was conscious-stricken both in that he had attributed Mr. Tinker’s reserve to callous indifference, and in that the first use he contemplated making of his freedom was to start in what might seem to be a competition with one whom he knew now to have had his advancement in view.