“The lady don’t know.”
“Then how am I to carry you there?”
“Look into the Directory,” said Tom. “If it’s too much trouble for you, we’ll take another man.”
The hackman made no further objections, but resolved to increase his charge to compensate for the extra trouble. But here again Tom defeated him, compelling him to agree to a price considerably less than he at first demanded.
“Young lady,” said he, paying an involuntary tribute to Tom’s shrewdness, “you’re about as sharp as they make ’em.”
“That’s so,” said Tom. “You’re right the first time.”
Mrs. Parmenter and Tom entered the carriage, and the driver mounted his box.
“I don’t see how you dared to talk to that man so,” said the lady. “I should have paid him whatever he asked.”
“Then you’d have got awfully cheated,” said Tom. “I know their tricks.”
“I’m sure I’m much obliged to you. I don’t know how I should have got along without you.”