TomandhisfatherhadalightedatthePeacockataboutsevenintheevening；andhavingheardwithunfeignedjoythepaternalorder，atthebar，ofsteaksandoyster-sauceforsupperinhalfanhour，andseenhisfatherseatedcozilybythebrightfireinthecoffee-roomwiththepaperinhishand，Tomhadrunouttoseeabouthim，hadwonderedatallthevehiclespassingandrepassing，andhadfraternizedwiththebootsandhostler，fromwhomheascertainedthattheTally-howasatip-topgoer——tenmilesanhourincludingstoppages——andsopunctualthatalltheroadsettheirclocksbyher。
Thenbeingsummonedtosupper，hehadregaledhimselfinoneofthebrightlittleboxesofthePeacockcoffee-room，onthebeef-
steakandunlimitedoyster-sauceandbrownstouttastedthenforthefirsttime——adaytobemarkedforeverbyTomwithawhitestone；hadatfirstattendedtotheexcellentadvicewhichhisfatherwasbestowingonhimfromoverhisglassofsteamingbrandy-and-water，andthenbegannodding，fromtheunitedeffectsofthestout，thefire，andthelecture；tilltheSquire，observingTom’sstate，andrememberingthatitwasnearlynineo’clock，andthattheTally-holeftatthree，sentthelittlefellowofftothechambermaid，withashakeofthehandTomhavingstipulatedinthemorningbeforestartingthatkissingshouldnowceasebetweenthem，andafewpartingwords:
“Andnow，Tom，myboy，“saidtheSquire，“rememberyouaregoing，atyourownearnestrequest，tobechuckedintothisgreatschool，likeayoungbear，withallyourtroublesbeforeyou——earlierthanweshouldhavesentyouperhaps。Ifschoolsarewhattheywereinmytime，you’llseeagreatmanycruelblackguardthingsdone，andhearadealoffoul，badtalk。Butneverfear。Youtellthetruth，keepabraveandkindheart，andneverlistentoorsayanythingyouwouldn’thaveyourmotherandsisterhear，andyou’llneverfeelashamedtocomehome，orwetoseeyou。“
TheallusiontohismothermadeTomfeelratherchoky，andhewouldhavelikedtohavehuggedhisfatherwell，ifithadn’tbeenfortherecentstipulation。