Front that the shaft was overshot; so she tranquilly delivered a return volley of

sounding Greek on Tom's behalf, and then straightway changed the talk to

Other matters.

Time wore on pleasantly, and likewise smoothly, on the whole. 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.

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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