The ladies could not find words to express their admiration, but Mrs. Tregennis’s vocabulary was such that she could cope bravely with the situation.
“Ain’t he flish, Miss?” she asked, with pride. “Proper titched ’e be.”
The ladies felt that this exactly expressed what they wished to say.
“Dressed to death, ’e be, and thinks ’tis Sunday,” Mrs. Tregennis continued, and was leading Tommy from the room when he was hastily summoned by Miss Margaret, while Miss Dorothea handed him a large plate on which were two Easter eggs full of sweets; a chocolate donkey harnessed with wire and pink ribbon to a chocolate cart; a chocolate ship in full sail and three chocolate hares. One hare stood on its hind legs, one was in the act of running, while the brown body of the other lay stretched out flat upon the white china plate.
“Which’ll I eat first, and which’ll I give to Ruthie?” Tommy asked excitedly while the plate was being passed to him and before he yet held it in his hands.
Discussing these two important points with his mother he walked from the room.
Accompanied by Auntie Jessie and Ruthie, Tommy went to church. At first he was very devout; his new clothes helped to keep him in a state of spiritual exaltation. When the singing was over he wanted to go outside into the alley and blow his whistle. In the open window of Mrs. Ham’s cottage her parrot was calling. “Tommy, Tommy, Tommy,” it cried; and again, “Tommy, Tommy, Tommy!” Tommy very much wished he could obey the summons, although he knew by experience that if he were there to reply to the persistent bird Polly would merely put her head on one side, turn slowly round on her perch, and refuse to speak another word.
At last the long service ended and he was free. “Where’ll I go till dinner time?” he asked as he ran into the kitchen.
Daddy suggested his Granny might like to see the long trousers and hear the whistle blown. Away Tommy sped and did not return until dinner was on the table.
After dinner Tommy went upstairs with Mammy to dress, but stayed behind in the bedroom when she returned to Daddy in the kitchen.