He felt much as an astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with the boy, not the astronomer.
The summer evenings were long.

It was not dark, yet.

Presently Tom checked his whistle.

A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger than himself.

A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St.Petersburg.This boy was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day.