Tom had unquestionably performed a brave act, but no more so than hundreds of others that were continually being done every day--some of them entitled to far more credit than was his.
But the fact that he was about to spend an evening in the company of Miss Jennie herself, outweighed all these slight objections.

Conscious, too, of her feeling toward him, he could not help viewing the hours just before him with a delightful flutter of anticipation.
The first pleasant disappointment which came to Tom, after reaching the fine residence and receiving the cordial welcome of the family, was the discovery that G.Field Catherwood was not present, and would not form one of the little party.

That lifted a load of apprehension from his shoulders.
Inasmuch as it had to come, Tom took the thanks of the parents like a hero.

He listened with a respectful smile, blushed under the compliments, and blushed still more when Jennie with a straightforward, earnest look said,-- "Mr.Gordon may say it was not much, but it saved my life, and I shall _never_, NEVER forget it.

If Mr.Catherwood had shown a hundredth part of his courage"-- "There, there, daughter," protested her father, as they seated themselves at the table, "a truce to all that; let us leave him out of the conversation." "And, if you please, drop the whole thing," added Tom, who began to feel uncomfortable under it all.
"Since it will be more agreeable to you, we will do so," was the hearty remark of the head of the family, as all began "discussing," as the expression goes, the feast before them.