Snags and sand-bars grew less and less frequent, and Tom grew more and
more at his ease, seeing that all were so lovingly bent upon helping
him and overlooking his mistakes. When it came out that the little
ladies were to accompany him to the Lord Mayor's banquet in the
evening, his heart gave a bound of relief and delight, for he felt
that he should not be friendless now, among that multitude of
strangers, whereas, an hour earlier, the idea of their going with
him would have been an insupportable terror to him.
Tom's guardian angels, the two lords, had had less comfort in
the interview than the other parties to it. They felt much as if
they were piloting a great ship through a dangerous channel; they were
on the alert constantly, and found their office no child's play.
Wherefore, at last, when the ladies' visit was drawing to a close
and the Lord Guilford Dudley was announced, they not only felt that
their charge had been sufficiently taxed for the present, but also
that they themselves were not in the best condition to take their ship
back and make their anxious voyage all over again. So they
respectfully advised Tom to excuse himself, which he was very glad
to do, although a slight shade of disappointment might have been
observed upon my Lady Jane's face when she heard the splendid
stripling denied admittance.
There was a pause now, a sort of waiting silence which Tom could
not understand. He glanced at Lord Hertford, who gave him a sign-
but he failed to understand that also.
Pages:
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46