On his return he seemed to view with displeasure the intimacy between Mr. Brush and his young secretary, and took the occasion of Mr. Brush leaving the room, to say:
“Don’t get too intimate with that man. I don’t like his looks.”
“He seems like a good, honest fellow,” Tom could not help saying.
“Don’t trust to appearances. I’ve seen more of the world than you, and to me he looks like a rascal.”
“I don’t believe there’s anything out of the way with him,” thought Tom, but he remained silent.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MR. BURNETT BEATS A RETREAT.
THE NIGHT passed, and the travelers breakfasted together in the plain dining-room of the inn. Tom and his employer sat together, and Peter Brush occupied a seat directly opposite Tom. He was disposed to be social, and Tom was entirely ready to respond, but Percy Burnett was reticent. He answered the hunter in monosyllables, whenever he could, and very evidently did not care to converse with him. Brush, however, was not a sensitive man, and mentally pronouncing Burnett “grouty,” he kept up a conversation with Tom.
Our hero knew very well that his companion was displeased, but he felt that in such a matter as this Burnett had no business to dictate. He himself liked Brush, and saw no reason why he should not meet his friendly advances.
Just before they rose from the table, Brush said to Tom: