Final answer:
Master Thomas' exact reaction is not detailed, but it can be inferred from the context that, despite earlier tensions, Douglass's return occurred under circumstances that might have involved a form of reluctant acceptance or necessity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Master Thomas' reaction to Douglass' return is not explicitly stated in the excerpts provided; however, we can infer from the context that the relationship was strained due to the prejudices of the community which Master Thomas feared might lead to violence against Douglass. Despite prior statements that he would never let Douglass return, the fact that Douglass did return to his old home suggests that some sort of reconciliation or necessity brought about this change. Upon Douglass' return, he encountered a different sort of reception from Mrs. Sophia Auld, who greeted him with kindness and a sense of beginning anew.