"What!" she exclaimed, "you don't mean to tell me you _are_ going to
Randlebury?"
"I am, though."
"Well, I never," cried the good old soul, "who would have believed it!
Think of your going to the same school as my Tom."
"Is Tom your boy's name?"
"Yes."
"Is he a nice boy?"
Such a question to ask any one's mother!
The old lady burst into tears instead of answering--a proceeding which
greatly alarmed and disconcerted my master.
"Don't cry," he said excitedly. "Look here! I didn't mean--oh, don't!
Look here, shall I tell you the time? It's--it's sixteen minutes to
four--I didn't mean, you know. Of course he's a nice boy--oh, don't
cry!"
And he got into such a state that the old lady dried her eyes at once.
"Never mind me, dear," said she, "it wasn't you made me cry: it was
thinking of my Tom. You'll be a good friend to him, won't you, dear?"
"Perhaps he won't like me."
"Now I'm sure he will," exclaimed the lady warmly; so warmly that I
quite loved her for my little master's sake. Both were silent for some
time, and then Charlie asked,--
"I say, has he got a watch?"
"No."
"Oh, never mind," said he, in a tone of evident relief, "I can tell him
the time, you know, whenever he wants to know."
"To be sure you can."
Then Charlie took to polishing me and the chain up again, an occupation
which lasted until we arrived at Gunborough Junction, where passengers
changed for Randlebury.
"Good-bye, dear," said the old lady, as Charlie proceeded to get
together his things.
"Good-bye," said he. "Would you like to know the time before I go?
It's eight past five. Good-bye."
"May I give you a kiss?" said she.
Charlie blushed, but offered his cheek hurriedly.
"And you promise to be a good friend to Tom," said she, kissing him,
"won't you?"
"All right," said the boy, jumping out on to the platform, and running
to see after his luggage.
In a moment however he returned to the window and put his head in.
"I say," said he, "what's his name--Tom what?"
"Drift," said the old lady, "Tom Drift!"
"Oh!" replied my master, "all right, good-bye;" and next minute the
train went on, and he was left standing surrounded by his luggage in the
middle of the platform, like a lighthouse in the middle of an island.