They were glad enough that Master Cale had vouched for Tom's honesty, and that the other four had betaken themselves away.

Hard knocks and sometimes fatal injury were often the portion of these old men, so incapable of keeping order in the streets; and thankful were they when any fray ended in the manner of this one.
But Cale's face was rather grave as he turned homewards, his daughter clinging to his arm, and Tom marching upon her other side with his head high in the air.
"I thank you, my good lad, for being so stout a champion to my little girl," he said; "and yet I would it had not happened; for it is ill work making enemies in these days of lawlessness and duelling." But Tom gave a little laugh.

He had no desire to make boast of his prowess; yet he felt that he could settle a score of quarrels with such besotted creatures as the four he had put to rout so lately, and be no manner the worse for it himself.

He was not at all sorry for the adventure.

He felt a flutter of pride and pleasure in the shy glances shot at him from the dark eyes beneath the crimson hood.