"And does Jack ring the bell still?" Tom asked, with a little laugh.
"No, he got late one or two Sundays, and Mr. Curtis told him that if he could not be there in time he would rather ring it himself. The novelty and honour of the thing had worn off a little, and Jack would not go any more and I did not think it wise to force him."
"But he goes to church?"
"Oh yes, he goes with me, and to Sunday School also. He announced last Sunday that he was getting too old to go to Sunday School, but I promptly sat on him."
"To sum up the matter, Master Jack has grown a little too big for his boots."
"Metaphorically and literally," Betty answered smiling. "He's such a big boy for his age and very manly; he is always out-growing his suits. People often take him for twelve or thirteen, and he's only eleven, and as it has always been his ambition to be big, he assumes the airs of boys much older than himself."
Then Tom led Betty's thoughts to other channels, told her something of his own travels and experiences, and left her at last refreshed and soothed. But all Betty had told him about Jack troubled him rather. The boy must be summarily dealt with. Jack was terribly chagrined in the morning when he heard that Uncle Tom had arrived, and had asked to see him.
JACK, WITH HIS FACE SKYWARD, SMOKING A CIGARETTE. p. 109