"Where are you going to-night?" asked Alice.
"Only with Mr. Waterman," replied Tom.
"But where?"
"To a kind of club we have at the Rose and Crown. Come now, Alice, it's no use looking like that; you can't expect me to be a ninny. Besides, Waterman's a swell, he is the son of a squire."
"That is how you are going to spend your Sunday evening, then?" said the girl.
"Certainly," replied Tom. He felt angry that Alice should interfere with his pleasures. Besides, he remembered that Waterman had once said to him that any fellow was a fool who allowed a woman to interfere with his pleasures.
"I see you have made your choice," said Alice.
"Look here, Alice," said Tom angrily, "if you mean that you expect me to behave like a Methody parson, I have. I mean to get on, and Waterman can help me; and—and—— I say, Alice, don't look like that!" for the look in the girl's eyes had almost destroyed the influence which Waterman had over him.
"I am going home now," said the girl.
"May I come with you?" asked Tom.