“He looked perfectly bowed down with remorse last time I saw him,” said Will, regarding Tom with eyes full of fun, for Will was a boy as well as a bookworm, and relished a joke as well as scatter-brained Tom.
“He always is remorseful after a scrape, I’ve understood, for he isn’t a very bad fellow, only his spirits are one too many for him, and he isn’t as fond of his book as another fellow I know.”
“I’m afraid he’ll be expelled if he don’t mind,” said Polly, warningly.
“Shouldn’t wonder if he was, he’s such an unlucky dog,” answered Tom, rather soberly.
“I hope he’ll remember that his friends will be very much disappointed if he is. He might make them so proud and happy; that I guess he will, for he isn’t half as thoughtless as he makes himself out,” said Polly, looking across at Tom with such friendly eyes that he was quite touched, though of course he didn’t show it.
“Thank you, Polly; he may pull through, but I have my doubts. Now, old man, let us ‘pud’ along; it’s getting late for the chicken,” he added, relapsing into the graceful diction with which a classical education gifts its fortunate possessor.
Taking advantage of the moment while Will was wrestling with his boots in the closet, and Maud was absorbed in packing her apple into a large basket, Polly said to Tom in a low tone,—
“Thank you very much, for being so kind to Will.”
“Bless your heart, I haven’t done anything; he’s such a proud fellow, he won’t let me,” answered Tom.
“But you do in many little ways; to-night for example. Do you think I don’t know that the suit of clothes he’s just got would have cost a good deal more if your tailor hadn’t made them? He’s only a boy, and don’t understand things yet; but I know your way of helping proud people, so that they don’t find it out, and I do thank you, Tom, so much.”
“Oh, come, Polly, that won’t do. What do you know about tailors and college matters?” said Tom, looking as much confused as if she had found him out in something reprehensible.
“I don’t know much, and that’s the reason why I’m grateful for your kindness to Will. I don’t care what stories they tell about you, I’m sure you won’t lead him into trouble, but keep him straight, for my sake. You know I’ve lost one brother, and Will takes Jimmy’s place to me now.”
The tears in Polly’s eyes as she said that made Tom vow a tremendous vow within himself to stand by Will through thick and thin, and “keep him straight for Polly’s sake”; feeling all the time how ill-fitted he was for such a task.
“I’ll do my best,” he said, heartily, as he pressed the hand Polly gave him, with a look which assured her that he felt the appeal to his honour, and that henceforth the country lad was safe from all the temptations Tom could have offered him.
“There! now I shall give that to mamma to take her pills in; it’s just what she likes, and it pleases her to be thought of,” said Maud, surveying her gift with complacency, as she put on her things.
“You’re a good little soul, to remember poor mum,” said Tom, with an approving nod.
“Well, she was so pleased with the grapes you brought her, I thought I’d try something, and maybe she’d say ‘Thank you, darling,’ to me too. Do you think she will?” whispered Maud, with the wistful look so often seen on her little plain face.