ys following to the gate in groups, and
speculating on the result.

The Squire was very angry at first, but the interview, by Tom's
pleading, ended in a compromise. Tom was not to go near the school till
three o'clock, and only then if he had done his own lessons well, in
which case he was to be the bearer of a note to the master from Squire
Brown, and the master agreed in such case to release ten or twelve of
the best boys an hour before the time of breaking up, to go off and play
in the close. The wheelwright's adzes and swallows were to be for ever
respected; and that hero and the master withdrew to the servants' hall,
to drink the Squire's health, well satisfied with their day's work.

The second act of Tom's life may now be said to have begun. The war of
independence had been over for some time: none of the women now, not
even his mother's maid, dared offer to help him in dressing or washing.
Between ourselves, he had often at first to run to Benjy in an
unfinished state of toilet; Charity and the rest of them seemed to take
a delight in putting impossible buttons and ties in the middle of his
back; but he would have gone without nether integuments altogether
sooner than have had recourse to female valeting. He had a room to
himself, and his father gave him sixpence a week pocket-money. All this
he had achieved by Benjy's advice and assistance. But now he had
conquered another step in life, the step which all real boys so long to
make; he had got amongst his equals in age and strength, and could
measure himself with other boys; he lived with those whose pursuits and
wishes and ways were the same in kind as his own.

The little governess who had lately been installed in the house found
her work grow wondrously easy, for Tom slaved at his lessons in order to
make sure of his note to the schoolmaster. So there were very few days
in the week in which Tom and the village boys were not playing in their
close by three o'clock. Prisoner's base, rounders, high-cock-a-lorum,
cricket, football, he was soon initiated into the delights of them all;
and though most of the boys were older than himself, he managed to hold
his own very well. He was naturally active and strong, and quick of eye
and hand, and had the advantage of light shoes and well-fitting dress,
so that in a short time he could run and jump and climb with any of
them.

They generally finished their regular games half an hour or so before
tea-time, and then beg