It was, notwithstanding, broad enough already so to
cover Tom with its shadow that under it he was able to creep into
several houses of a sort of distinction, and among them into Mrs.
Redmain's.
Nothing of less potency than the presumption attendant on self-
satisfaction could have emboldened him to call thus early, and
that in the hope not merely of finding Mrs. Redmain at home, but
of finding her alone; and, with the not unusual reward of
unworthy daring, he had succeeded. He was ambitious of making
himself acceptable to ladies of social influence, and of being
known to stand well with such. In the case of Mrs. Redmain he was
the more anxious, because she had not received him on any footing
of former acquaintance.
At the gathering to which I have referred, a certain song was
sung by a lady, not without previous manoeuvre on the part of
Tom, with which Mrs. Redmain had languidly expressed herself
pleased; that song he had now brought her--for, concerning words
and music both, he might have said with Touchstone, "An ill-
favored thing, but mine own." He did not quote Touchstone because
he believed both words and music superexcellent, the former being
in truth not quite bad, and the latter nearly as good.
Appreciation was the very hunger of Tom's small life, and here
was a chance!
"I ought to apologize," he said, airily, "and I will, if you will
allow me.
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