"You certainly may," Tom replies. "And if you need boots, then you shall have boots."

If he knew for what purpose, he'd likely not be quite as enthusiastic in providing said boots. Not for a while, anyway.

Ingress waves and heads for Milliways.

"I hope you found her to be the kind of pupil you can work with," he says to Havelock. "Oh, and do forgive me for asking, but what do you prefer me to call you?"

Names are important, and Tom does not wish to assume they are on a first name basis.