Mrs. Winn looked anxiously at Tom, for it was the first time she had heard of the examination lasting a week, and she said, rather sharply, "Did you know of this, Tom?"
"Not until last week, mother. Mr. Cotton told me then that I should have to look-out for a lodging, and I thought if Jack should happen to come over, I would ask him about it."
"Bless you, I don't believe you would get a lodging for love or money nearer the college than we are. They tell me lots of chaps come for this, and it'll be a rare honour for Tom and the school, and all the lot of you, if he gets this scholarship. But he must have a place to live in while he is there, so why shouldn't you let me have a share in the honour, as well as the rest of you. We're a bit roughish as I said, but my father's getting on: he's in business for himself. Got a board as big as that wall. 'John Bond, Carpenter and Builder,' writ on it, as large as you please. So you see, Mrs. Winn, you need not mind him coming to us," concluded Jack.
Mrs. Winn did not know what to think, or what to say. She did not like being indebted to strangers for Tom's accommodation, and yet what could she do, she had no means to spare for this, and she seemed almost bewildered as to what she ought to do.
"We are very much obliged to you for your kind invitation," she said, "but I am afraid it will be giving your mother a great deal of trouble."
"Not a bit of it," said Jack. "Let me see, the examination begins next Monday week, I shall come over next Saturday and fetch Tom, so mind he is all ready, Mrs. Winn, for we shall have to start early, because I want to show Tom about the town a bit."
Mrs. Winn had no better plan to offer in opposition to this, and so the matter was settled, and a great weight of anxiety was lifted from Tom's mind, for now he was able to devote his whole attention to his lessons during this last week.
Betsy Gunn had heard about this college, and was determined to have some hand in sending Tom there if she could, and so she came in after Jack had gone, and gave him some practical lessons in grafting and pruning, which she said would be sure to come in useful.
Tom had learned to like the gossiping old woman, or he would not have paid any attention to what she had to show him. But as it was, he watched how she used her knife, and then tried to imitate her method in a way that quite delighted the woman.
He little thought, as he went on practising Betsy's lesson, how much would depend upon his compliant civility to the old woman, and how large a share Betsy Gunn would have in securing his success.