“Maiden,” quoth the Dominie, “thou art under a mistake.”
“Another miss, I declare,” cried Tom, laughing.
“What an old Turk!” continued Mary, getting further off.
“Nay, then, I will not reply,” said the Dominie indignantly, putting down his pipe, leaning back on his chair, and pulling out his great red handkerchief, which he applied to his nose, and produced a sound that made the windows of the little parlour vibrate for some seconds.
“I say, master Tom, don’t you make too free with your betters,” said old Tom, when he saw the Dominie affronted.
“Nay,” replied the Dominie, “there’s an old adage which saith, ‘As the old cock crows, so doth the young.’ Wherefore didst thou set him the example?”
“Very true, old gentleman, and I axes your pardon, and here’s my hand upon it.”
“And so do I, sir, and here’s my hand upon it,” said young Tom, extending his hand on the Dominie’s other side.
“Friend Dux, and thou, young Tom, I do willingly accept thy proffered reconciliation; knowing, as I well do, that there may be much mischief in thy composition, but naught of malice.” The Dominie extended his hands, and shook both those offered to him warmly.
“There,” said old Tom, “now my mind’s at ease, as old Pigtown said.”