Altogether, Billy had a delightful party.
Mr. Prescott brought word that Thomas Murphy would come the next day, because that would be Saturday, and the mill would be closed in the afternoon.
Thomas Murphy came, clean shaven, and dressed in his best.
“Well, William,” he said, shaking Billy’s hand hard, “how are you, William?”
“Don’t you think, Mr. Murphy,” said Billy, “that I look pretty well?”
“Better than I ever expected to see you, William, after that day.”
“Mr. Prescott,” said Billy, “thinks we’d better not talk very much about that.”
“No, William,” said Thomas Murphy, “we won’t talk about the martyr side of it. But there’s something we will talk about. That’s why I’ve come. There are things, William, that you ought to know.”
Seeing how warm Thomas Murphy was growing, Billy suggested that they had better go out into the garden.
“That’s a good idea, William,” said he, limping after Billy.