There was one other letter addressed to Mr. Motherwell, which she took to be a twine bill. It was post-marked Brandon. She put it up in the pudding dish on the sideboard.
As Tom led the horse to the stable he met Pearl coming in with the eggs.
"See here, kid," he said carelessly, handing her the letter.
Tom knew Pearl was to be trusted. She had a good head, Pearl had, for a girl.
"Oh, good shot!" Pearl cried delightedly, as she read the note. "Won't that be great? Are your clothes ready, though?" It was the eldest of the family who spoke.
"Clothes," Tom said contemptuously. "They are a blamed sight readier than I am."
"I'll blacken your boots," Pearl said, "and press out a tie. Say, how about a collar?"
"Oh, the clothes are all right, but pa and ma won't let me go near Nellie Slater."
"Is she tooberkler?" Pearl asked quickly.
"Not so very," Tom answered guardedly. "Ma is afraid I might marry her."