'No, no,' said Mrs Lupin. 'It's only a little something for refreshment
on the road. Sit fast, Jack. Drive on, sir. All right! Good-bye!'
She was a quarter of a mile off, before Tom collected himself; and then
he was waving his hand lustily; and so was she.
'And that's the last of the old finger-post,' thought Tom, straining
his eyes, 'where I have so often stood to see this very coach go by,
and where I have parted with so many companions! I used to compare this
coach to some great monster that appeared at certain times to bear my
friends away into the world. And now it's bearing me away, to seek my
fortune, Heaven knows where and how!'
It made Tom melancholy to picture himself walking up the lane and back
to Pecksniff's as of old; and being melancholy, he looked downwards at
the basket on his knee, which he had for the moment forgotten.
'She is the kindest and most considerate creature in the world,' thought
Tom. 'Now I KNOW that she particularly told that man of hers not to look
at me, on purpose to prevent my throwing him a shilling! I had it ready
for him all the time, and he never once looked towards me; whereas that
man naturally, (for I know him very well,) would have done nothing but
grin and stare.
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