ry had learned to like and to
trust Tom Pinch, in spite of his mistaken worship of Pecksniff. One day
while Tom was practising the organ at the church she came to him and,
confiding in him, told all that she had endured.

In his simple-heartedness he had admired and looked up to Pecksniff all
his life, but this evidence opened Tom Pinch's eyes. At last he saw the
pompous hypocrite in his true light. He agreed with her that the
architect was a scoundrel, and comforted her, and asked her always to
trust in his own friendship.

Unluckily while they talked there was an eavesdropper near. It was
Pecksniff himself. He had gone into the church to rest, and lying down
in one of the high-back pews, had gone to sleep, and now the voices of
Tom and Mary had awakened him. He listened and waited till they had both
gone; then he stole out and went home by a roundabout way.

That night he went to old Chuzzlewit and, pretending to shed tears of
sorrow, told him he had overheard Tom Pinch, the pauper pupil, whom he
had trusted and befriended, making love to Mary, the old man's ward, in
the church. Making a great show of his respect and regard for old
Chuzzlewit, he told him this villain should not remain under his roof
one night longer. Then he called in Tom Pinch and, abusing and insulting
him in Chuzzlewit's presence, sent him away as he had sent away Martin.

Tom was feeling so bad over his loss of faith in his idol, Pecksniff,
that he did not greatly mind this last blow. In fact, he had about
concluded he could not live any longer with such a wicked hypocrite
anyway. He packed his things and set off for London, feeling almost as
if the world had come to an end.

Once there, however, he plucked up spirit and felt better. First of all
he looked up Westlock, the former pupil of Pecksniff's, and found him
the same friendly, clever fellow now in his riches as he was of old.
Westlock was glad Tom had at last found his master out, and began at
once to plan for his future. Next Tom went to see his sister Ruth at the
house where she was governess.

He arrived there at a fortunate time, for the vulgar brass and iron
founder who had hired her to try to teach his spoiled little daughter
was at that moment scolding Ruth harshly for what was not her fault at
all.

Tom had been gaining a spirit of his own since he had parted from
Pecksniff, and, now, at sight of his gentle little sister's tears, his
honest indignation rose. He gave her unj