They had an excellent supper, prepared by Carol with the assistance of an old colored mammy, and a very delightful evening, spent chiefly by Tom in conversation with Mr. Goby, whom he found to be well informed and an entertaining talker.
Ned had developed a sudden interest in flowers, and was very anxious to have Carol show him her garden. She was not unwilling, for this handsome young man who seemed to have dropped down on them from the skies was not an unwelcome visitor.
“Carol’s a beautiful name,” murmured Ned later that night, as he and Tom were getting ready for bed in the comfortable room to which they had been shown.
Tom stopped in his work of unlacing a shoe and stared at him.
“Sounds like the singing of birds,” mused Ned dreamily.
“For the love of Pete!” cried Tom, “what’s the matter with you?”
“Oh,” said Ned in some confusion, “did I say anything? Guess I must have been thinking out loud.”
The next day Judge Wilson came over to the farm. He was a keen, cultivated man of high standing in the legal profession.
“Swift,” he repeated, when he was introduced to Tom. “That’s a famous name. Any relation to the inventor, Tom Swift?”
Tom flushed with embarrassment.