"I'll take jolly good care not to stroke that fellow the wrong way again," said Jim, afterwards; "and if I should, I won't waste my time in stroking him the right way." Just fancy what sort of man such a fellow as Tom is likely to turn out.
Is he likely to have many friends?
Unless he can get a few of his own sort, I'm afraid he'll be rather badly off in that respect.

And then, oh, horrors! fancy half a dozen Tom Sulks together! What a happy family they would be! When Tom goes to business, he had better make up his mind to start a concern of his own, for I'm afraid he would have some difficulty in getting a partner, or, at any rate, keeping one.

I could quite fancy some important question arising where Tom and his partner might hold different views.

Tom insists he's right, the partner insists he's right.

Tom consequently stays away for a week from the office, during which the poor partner has to manage as best he can.
Whatever Tom will do about marrying I don't know; and when he is married, what his wife will do, I know still less--it's no use speculating on such a matter.