“Yes. Mike, the errand-boy, found it. Shall we have a toss?”
“I should like it.”
They went into the field before referred to, and spent a couple of hours very pleasantly. James and Edwin, looking upon their companion as a young man of fortune, were very courteous and polite. Indeed it was hard to think of them as the same boys who had treated Tom so rudely the day before. Our hero was clear-sighted and understood very well the meaning of the change in their manners, but he took the world as he found it, and didn’t choose to quarrel with the respect which his wealth procured him.
At dinner he made acquaintance with Mrs. Davenport. This lady was very much like her husband and son. When she had heard of Tom’s difficulty with James, she was very indignant, supposing our hero to be a poor boy. Now that she had ascertained his circumstances, she was prepared to receive him cordially.
“I am glad that my son and nephew have found a suitable companion,” she said affably. “I don’t want to say anything against the village boys, who are very well in their way, but of course they are not the social equals of my boys. They are lacking in culture and refinement.”
“They’re low,” said James.
“I was low yesterday,” thought Tom, “but it’s different to-day.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, “you are very obliging.”
“I am told you are to reside with the Middletons, Mr. Temple,” the lady proceeded.
“Yes, ma’am.”