"I wish you would come and live with me."
"What for?"
"Because, though you are younger, you know how to take care of yourself. I think you would take care of me, too."
"If you pay me good wages," said Tom, "I'm willin' to be your guardian."
"I am in earnest," said the young man. "It would do me good to have some one help me keep straight."
"How many times a week would you want me to jump into the water after you?" asked our hero, jocularly. "Because I'd want to keep a good stock of dry clothes on hand; or maybe I might wear a bathin' suit all the time."
"I sha'n't try that again," said the other, smiling; "I don't like it well enough."
By this time they reached a handsome brick house, in a fine street.
"This is where I board," said the young man. "Come in."
He rang the bell, and a servant answered the summons. She looked surprised at the appearance of the pair, both showing signs of the wetting they had received.