"There is real danger," said Miss Julia. "He is caught with an impossible country girl."
"Caught by her? Fie, Tom! aren't you wiser?"
"That's not fair!" cried Tom hotly. "She catches nobody, nor tries it, in the way you mean. I am not caught, either; that's more; but you shouldn't speak in that way."
"Who is the lady? It is very plain Tom isn't caught. But where is she?"
"She is a little country girl come to see the world for the first time. Of course she makes great eyes; and the eyes are pretty; and Tom couldn't stand it." Miss Julia spoke laughing, yet serious.
"I should not think a little country girl would be dangerous to Tom."
"No, would you? It's vexatious, to have one's confidence in one's brother so shaken."
"What's the matter with her?" broke out Tom here. "I am not caught, as you call it, neither by her nor with her; but if you want to discuss her, I say, what's the matter with her?"
"Nothing, Tom!" said his mother soothingly; "there is nothing whatever the matter with her; and I have no doubt she is a nice girl. But she has no education."
"Hang education!" said Tom. "Anybody can pick that up. She can talk, I can tell you, better than anybody of all those you had round your table the other day. She's an uncommon good talker."