“Yes, sir,” said Tom; “here I am, alive and kicking. I didn’t think you’d remember me. How do you do, Mrs. Middleton?”
“I am well,” said the lady stiffly.
“I thought you were in California, Thomas,” said Mr. Middleton.
“So I was.”
“We heard that you were reduced to going by steerage,” remarked Mrs. Middleton with spiteful triumph.
“You were misinformed,” said Tom coolly, “I went first-class, and returned in the same way.”
“Oh, indeed. I heard that you had a few hundred dollars left. You must have spent it all by this time.”
“You will doubtless be glad to learn that I have got my fortune all back,” said Tom, glancing mischievously at the faces of his friends, in which surprise contended with mortification.
“Is that so?” ejaculated Mr. Middleton.
“Quite so. The ship supposed to be lost has returned; Mr. Armstrong has recovered sufficiently to pay me back my ten thousand dollars, and the mining stock turns out to be good. Besides that I have been adopted by a rich man, who has made me his heir.”