If they had mothers like mine they wouldn't be the cads they were! So, with almost unnecessary pomp, I raised my hat to my parent, and put my hand in her arm.
"You're going up to Miss Bousfield's," said she; "I thought I should meet you.

What a hurry you were in!" "Yes; I'm sorry I knocked against you, mother." "I'm glad you did.

I'm longing to hear how you got on to-day." "Oh, pretty well." "Was it very hard work ?" "Not particularly." "You'll soon be quite a man of business." It occurred to me that if my business career was to be based on no better experience than that I had hitherto had in my guardian's office, I should not rank as a merchant prince in a hurry.
"Would you like me to go with you to Miss Bousfield's ?" "If you like, mother.

But I can go alone all right." She was a brick.
She guessed what I hoped she would say, and she said it.
"Well, I'll be looking out for you at tea-time, dear boy," said she.
And she patted my arm lovingly as I started on.
I wished those fellows could have heard her voice and seen her kind face.

_She_ treated me like a man--which was more than could be said for them.
I went on my way soothed in my ruffled spirits.