When she had had her tea, and was somewhat revived, Tom went to tell Mr. Murray that he feared he had failed, and should not bring the honour to Fairfield Village School that he had hoped to do.
"Never mind, my lad; you have done your best, and no man can do more. If you have failed, it is an honourable failure, and you must try again next year, you will still be eligible as to age."
But Tom shook his head. "If I have failed, sir, I must go to work, and do something to help mother; I cannot stay at school another year. I am afraid Elsie is going to be ill now," he added.
"Is Elsie ill? Is that why she has not been to see me the last two days?" asked Mary, eagerly and anxiously.
"Very likely. I have only just come in, and my news seemed to upset her so much, that she sat down and fainted when we got into the kitchen."
"Oh, poor Elsie; she will be disappointed if you have failed, Tom," said Mary. "Mother, do let me go and see her," she added.
But Mrs. Murray would not hear of it. She would call and ask Mrs. Winn how she was in the evening; and if it was fine, she should perhaps go round and see her the next day, but that was all she would concede.
"Stay and have some tea with us," said Mr. Murray. "You look as though you would be ill yourself, if you did not have something soon. Did you have comfortable lodgings, my lad?"
"Oh yes; I went to stay with a school-fellow, and he took good care of me. Everybody has been very kind."
And then they caught sight of Betsy Gunn standing at the gate, waiting to hear how he had fared.