“O, I’ll do it. I’d like the practise, don’t you know. I’ll play the spell-binder,” Tommy returned with a cheerful grin.
He would have walked in spite of the storm; but he took the train for the first time in order to deliver the message. A truthful lad, scorning prevarication, he glibly, and perhaps not without complacence, informed Mrs. Harrow that some of the high school girls wanted to practise dancing in the gym after school and Rose had stayed to play for them. Wherefore she and Betty wouldn’t be home until the half-past four train came in.
Mrs. Harrow, proud that Rose should be in demand, was unusually cordial. She made Tommy come in and eat a good-sized triangle of cream cake.
He met the girls at the station and lest Rose should make any embarrassing remarks, explained how he had accounted for their absence.
“O, Tommy! you are so clever. You beat the Dutch!” cried Rose. But Betty was secretly shocked and conscience-smitten. She couldn’t speak all the way to Rose’s.
Of course, it was all for Rose—for the restoration of her sight—and anything that worked in any small way towards that was not only legitimate but praiseworthy. Tommy hadn’t in any way done wrong—real wrong; but if only he hadn’t had that air of almost boastful satisfaction! If he had looked sober, chastened, as who should say “I suffer in the cause of righteousness,” Betty felt sure that she would not have that distressingly uncomfortable sensation at her heart. But after all, that could hardly have been without fuller knowledge on Tommy’s part. And truly he was a loyal soul, breaking his proud precedent without a word and coming home by train to bring the message. And perhaps he had excuse for satisfaction in the manner he had carried out Betty’s request. Moreover, he wouldn’t tell the whitest lie, the merest fib, to save himself. He had lost hours and hours with his magic which he could have saved by untruthfulness or evasion.
CHAPTER XXIV
AFTER they left Rose and were walking home under his faded umbrella with its streaks of green, Tommy left off his chattering and fell silent. He had felt Betty’s involuntary recoil from his falsehood and his heart was heavy. The boy hardly knew how he reckoned upon Betty’s good opinion.
“You’re awfully good, Tommy, to be so ready to help out,” she said gratefully. “I don’t know what I should ever do without you to turn to. I have told Rose I sha’n’t see her all day Saturday. In the morning I’ll help Aunt Sarah and study and practise, but I’m saving the whole afternoon for your magic. Have you got something nice?”
“Bully!” he cried, all cheerfulness again. “There’s a peach of a trick where you pour water out of a jug and have it turn out wine. Then pour it back and it’s water again. How’s that?”