Tom took her in his arms.
"How handsome you have grown, Tom!" said Amy; and breaking from him, ran up to her mother's room.
Passing the dining-room door, Tom saw Mr. Simon looking into the fire. The fact was he had just made Amy an offer of marriage. Tom let him stand, and hurried back on foot to his friend, his heart full, and his thoughts in confusion.
He found him in his study, where he had made a point of staying all day that Tom might find him at any moment when he might want him. He rose eagerly to meet him.
"'Now I see by thine eyes that this is done,'" he said, quoting King Arthur.
They sat down, and Tom told him all.
"I wish you had managed a little better with your father," he said.
"I wish I had, sir. But it's done, and there's no help for it."
"No; I suppose not—at present, at least."
"As far as Lucy is concerned, it would have made no difference, if you had been in my place—I am confident of that."