Bridget did not venture to answer a word, for it would only have raised a more violent storm, but retreated crestfallen to her own realm, and left our hero in possession of the field. She contented herself with muttering under her breath what she did not dare to speak aloud.
"You are Tom Nelson, are you not?" asked the squire, adjusting his spectacles, and looking more carefully at the boy.
"Yes, sir."
"Have you any message from your father?"
"No, sir."
"Then why did you come here to take up my time?" demanded the squire, frowning.
"I came to do you a service, Squire Hudson."
"You came--to--do--me--a--service?" repeated the squire slowly.
"Yes, sir."
"You may as well come in," said the rich man, leading into the sitting-room.
Tom followed him into a handsomely furnished room, and the two sat down opposite each other.
CHAPTER III.
TOM ASKS A LOAN.
"I don"t know what service you can do me," said Squire Hudson incredulously.
His manner implied: "I am a rich man and you are a poor boy. How can you possibly serve me?"
"Have you lost anything lately?" inquired Tom, coming at once to business.
I suppose most men, when asked such a question, would first think of their pocket-books. It was so with Squire Hudson. He hastily thrust his hand into his pocket, and found--a large hole, through which, doubtless, the wallet had slipped.
"I have lost my wallet," he said anxiously. "Have you found it?"
In reply Tom produced the missing article. The squire took it hurriedly, and, at once opening it, counted the money. It was all there, and he heaved a sigh of relief, for he was a man who cared for money more than most people.
"Where did you find it?" he asked.
Tom answered the question.
"It is very fortunate you came along before anyone else saw it. I rode that way on horse-back this morning. I told Mrs. Hudson that my pocket needed repairing, but she put it off, according to her usual custom. If it had not been found, I would have kept her on short allowance for a year to come."
Tom felt rather embarra.s.sed, for, of course, it would not do to join in with the squire in his complaints of his wife. Suddenly Squire Hudson said, eying him keenly: "Do you know how much money there is in this wallet?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you counted it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why did you do it?"
"I wanted to know how much there was, so that no one might blame me if any were missing."
"Didn"t you want to take any?" asked the squire bluntly.
"Yes," answered Tom promptly.
"Why didn"t you? For fear you would be found out?"
"That may have had something to do with it, but it was princ.i.p.ally because it would have been stealing and stealing is wrong."
"What would you have done with the money if you had taken it?"
"Started for California next week," answered Tom directly.
"Eh?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the squire, rather astonished. "Why do you want to go to California--a boy like you?"
"To dig gold. I suppose a boy can dig gold, as well as a man. There doesn"t seem to be much chance for me here. There"s nothing to do but to work on the farm, and father and Walter can do all there is to be done there."
"How is your father getting along?" asked the rich man, with an interest which rather surprised Tom.
"Poorly," said Tom. "He makes both ends meet; but we all have to do without a great many things that we need."
The squire looked thoughtful. He took half a dollar from his wallet and tendered it to Tom.
"You"ve done me a service," he said. "Take that."
Tom drew back.
"I would rather not take money for being honest," he said.
"That"s all nonsense," said Squire Hudson sharply.
"That"s the way I feel about it," said Tom stoutly.
"Then you"re a fool."
"I hope not, sir."
"This would have been quite a large loss to me. I am perfectly willing to give you this money."
Then Tom gathered courage and said boldly, "You can do me a great favor, Squire Hudson, if you choose."