Tom found, however, when he told the incident to the people who were assembled in Aunt Margaret’s cabin when he came in at night, that it created quite a sensation. The idea of any one of them being sent for into the master’s library was a wonder, and Tom found himself a lion among them. He did not feel the least elated, however. He only feared, when he came to think of it, that his master’s discovery of his knowledge would lead to his dismissal, and he had felt as if he was just beginning to gain the friendship of his fellow-workers which he so much wished to have. Therefore it was with rather a grave face and sober step that he walked in the gathering twilight toward the mansion. Aunt Dinah was standing on the back porch, throwing corn and feed to the chickens, who, having grown tame from long acquaintance, were crowding close around her, in order to get each one a full share of the evening meal. Tom came up and touched his cap. “Auntie,” said he, “has Mr. Sutherland finished his supper?” Now Aunt Dinah was crabbed, and she determined, when she saw him coming, that she would send him off rather quicker than he came, but the touched cap and voice of respect went to just the right place in her heart. “Sure, honey, he’s done supper,” she said. “What did you want with him?” “He bade me come up after tea,” replied Tom, “and he said you would show me the way to the library.” Tom rose higher in Aunt Dinah’s regard immediately. In her own words, “If marster wanted one of them field hands in the lib’ry, it meant sumthin’, sure enough.” Therefore, with a little smoothing touch to her apron, she led the way through the matted hall, and knocked at one of the doors which opened from it. “This is the library,” she said, and so left him. A little girl came and opened the door--a sweet-looking, black-eyed child of about seven years old--and held it open as he stepped in. Mr. Sutherland lifted his eyes from a bundle of papers, and seeing who it was, said, “Ah! here you are. Just sit down a few minutes and I shall be able to attend to you.”