232 Tom Seven Years Old.

robbers; and when Richard saw him, he said
“he hoped Master Tom wasn’t the worse of
the fight.” And even the gardener wanted
to know how he had meant to knock them
down with his stick; and Jane asked a great
many questions. They seemed all very much
interested, and very much amused. Tom had
to tell it over and over again, and always
ended with saying—

“ But wasn’t it a pity that it was only the
sweeps, and not really and truly robbers ?”