He had a room to himself, and his father gave him sixpence a week pocket-money.

All this he had achieved by Benjy's advice and assistance.

But now he had conquered another step in life--the step which all real boys so long to make: he had got amongst his equals in age and strength, and could measure himself with other boys; he lived with those whose pursuits and wishes and ways were the same in kind as his own.
The little governess who had lately been installed in the house found her work grow wondrously easy, for Tom slaved at his lessons, in order to make sure of his note to the schoolmaster.

So there were very few days in the week in which Tom and the village boys were not playing in their close by three o'clock.

Prisoner's base, rounders, high-cock-a-lorum, cricket, football--he was soon initiated into the delights of them all; and though most of the boys were older than himself, he managed to hold his own very well.