Anyway, that's
what _I've_ decided. So you'll get your wish, all right, and I should
worry.
"ROY."
Tom took the sealed envelope, but paused irresolutely in the doorway. It
was the first time that he and Roy had ever quarrelled.
"What did you say to her?" he asked.
"Never mind what I said," Roy snapped. "You'll get your wish."
"I'd rather go alone with you," said Tom, simply. "I told you that
already. I'd rather see Pee-wee stay home. I care more for you," he
said, hesitating a little, "than for anyone else. But I vote to take
Pee-wee because Mary wants--asks--us to. I wouldn't call it a good turn
leaving him home, and you wouldn't either--only you're disappointed,
same as I am. I wouldn't even call it much of a good turn taking him. We
can never pay back Mary Temple. It would be like giving her a cent when
we owed her a thousand. I got to do what I think is right--you--you made
me a scout. I--I got to be thankful to you if I can see straight.
It's--it's kind of--like a--like a trail--like," he blundered on. "There
can be trails in your mind, kind of. Once I chucked stones at Pee-wee
and swiped Mary's ball. Now I want to take him along--a little bit for
his sake, but mostly for hers. And I want to go alone with you for my
own sake, because--because," he hesitated, "because I want to be alone
with you. But I got to hit the right trail--you taught me that----"
"Well, go ahead and hit it," said Roy, "it's right outside the door."
Tom looked at him steadily for a few seconds as if he did not
understand.
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