The other laughed, and followed Burnett.
“I don’t much fancy that fellow,” thought Tom. “Why did he call Mr. Burnett Jim? His name is Percy.”
He was still wondering that his employer should have such a friend, when Burnett came back.
CHAPTER XXII.
A ROUGH DIAMOND.
“RATHER a rough fellow that,” said Percy Burnett, as he resumed his seat beside Tom.
“Yes, sir.”
“A rough diamond, I call him,” said Burnett.
Perhaps he saw by Tom’s face that his friend had not struck his young secretary as a diamond, rough or otherwise, for he proceeded:
“He has sterling qualities, Jack has, and an excellent heart. He is not refined, I grant. Indeed, he is rather coarse—never moved in good society, but he’ll stand by a friend through thick and thin. Why, he once watched beside my sick bed, when I had a fever, day and night, and wouldn’t leave me till I was out of danger.”