You shall rue the day you made enemies of us!" "Do your worst!" cried Tom scornfully.

"Do you think I fear any such ruffians as you ?" "Strike me purple!" raged Bully Bullen, using an oath which had come into vogue since the terrible days of the Plague, "if I do not make you bitterly repent this day's work, you insolent young coxcomb!" "Get off with you, or I call my dogs!" cried William, who saw that Rosamund's cheeks were growing pale; and at this hint the bullies made the best of their way out of sight, never to be seen again in the neighbourhood where so many perils awaited them.
Rose was rid of her tormentors, but she cast apprehensive glances in the direction of Tom.
"Can they hurt him ?" she asked of Harry.
And he replied, with a light laugh: "He looks a child that can stand up for himself!" Nevertheless, after William had taken Rose to his house to pass the rest of the time of her aunt's absence, and Tom and Harry were walking southwards again, the latter said to his friend: "All the same, Tom, I would have you take care of yon braggarts.
They are as evil a set of fellows as walk the streets of this city, and if they could chance to do you an ill turn, be sure they would not let it pass." But Tom only laughed.

He had passed through many perils of late, and he felt that in the heart of this great city he could take care of himself.

A sort of careless self confidence had been his chief peril through life, and his association with Lord Claud had not tended to diminish it.

In the presence of his patron, indeed, he often felt of little account; but elsewhere he fancied himself something of a hero, and was by no means disposed to tremble before the malevolence of a set of swaggering bullies.
The town was very gay this bright springtide, and Tom was more than ready to plunge into the vortex of such amusements as were open to him.