He cared little how his father scraped and saved, if he had but money in his pockets sufficient for the needs of the day.

Extravagance in money was less Tom's foible than recklessness in his exploits, and a daring disregard of authority.

No doubt he would have made away with money had he possessed it; but as everybody knew that he did not possess a long purse, and that the Squire would not be likely to pay his son's debts of honour, he was saved from the temptation of plunging deeply into debt.

People did not care to trust him too far.
So, as he climbed the shallow stairs three at once, he told himself that his father had no need to speak severely to him.

He had only been as other young men, and had not got into serious debt or trouble.