English
TOMpresentedhimselfbeforeAuntPolly,whowassittingbyanopenwindowinapleasantrearwardapartment,whichwasbedroom,breakfast–room,dining–room,andlibrary,combined.
Thebalmysummerair,therestfulquiet,theodoroftheflowers,andthedrowsingmurmurofthebeeshadhadtheireffect,andshewasnoddingoverherknitting—forshehadnocompanybutthecat,anditwasasleepinherlap.
Herspectacleswereproppeduponhergrayheadforsafety.
ShehadthoughtthatofcourseTomhaddesertedlongago,andshewonderedatseeinghimplacehimselfinherpoweragaininthisintrepidway.
Hesaid:"Mayn'tIgoandplaynow,aunt?"
"What,a'ready?Howmuchhaveyoudone?"
"It'salldone,aunt."
"Tom,don'tlietome—Ican'tbearit."
"Iain't,aunt;itISalldone."
AuntPollyplacedsmalltrustinsuchevidence.
Shewentouttoseeforherself;andshewouldhavebeencontenttofindtwentypercent.ofTom'sstatementtrue.
Whenshefoundtheentirefencewhitewashed,andnotonlywhitewashedbutelaboratelycoatedandrecoated,andevenastreakaddedtotheground,herastonishmentwasalmostunspeakable.Shesaid:
"Well,Inever!There'snogettingroundit,youcanworkwhenyou'reamindto,Tom."
Andthenshedilutedthecomplimentbyadding,"Butit'spowerfulseldomyou'reamindto,I'mboundtosay.
Well,go'longandplay;butmindyougetbacksometimeinaweek,orI'lltanyou."
Shewassoovercomebythesplendorofhisachievementthatshetookhimintotheclosetandselectedachoiceappleanddeliveredittohim,alongwithanimprovinglectureupontheaddedvalueandflavoratreattooktoitselfwhenitcamewithoutsinthroughvirtuouseffort.
AndwhilesheclosedwithahappyScripturalflourish,he"hooked"adoughnut.
Thenheskippedout,andsawSidjuststartinguptheoutsidestairwaythatledtothebackroomsonthesecondfloor.
Clodswerehandyandtheairwasfulloftheminatwinkling.
TheyragedaroundSidlikeahail–storm;andbeforeAuntPollycouldcollecthersurprisedfacultiesandsallytotherescue,sixorsevenclodshadtakenpersonaleffect,andTomwasoverthefenceandgone.
Therewasagate,butasageneralthinghewastoocrowdedfortimetomakeuseofit.
Hissoulwasatpeace,nowthathehadsettledwithSidforcallingattentiontohisblackthreadandgettinghimintotrouble.
Tomskirtedtheblock,andcameroundintoamuddyalleythatledbythebackofhisaunt'scow–stable.
Hepresentlygotsafelybeyondthereachofcaptureandpunishment,andhastenedtowardthepublicsquareofthevillage,wheretwo"military"companiesofboyshadmetforconflict,accordingtopreviousappointment.
TomwasGeneralofoneofthesearmies,JoeHarper(abosomfriend)Generaloftheother.
Thesetwogreatcommandersdidnotcondescendtofightinperson—thatbeingbettersuitedtothestillsmallerfry—butsattogetheronaneminenceandconductedthefieldoperationsbyordersdeliveredthroughaides–de–camp.
Tom'sarmywonagreatvictory,afteralongandhard–foughtbattle.
Thenthedeadwerecounted,prisonersexchanged,thetermsofthenextdisagreementagreedupon,andthedayforthenecessarybattleappointed;afterwhichthearmiesfellintolineandmarchedaway,andTomturnedhomewardalone.
AshewaspassingbythehousewhereJeffThatcherlived,hesawanewgirlinthegarden—alovelylittleblue–eyedcreaturewithyellowhairplaitedintotwolong–tails,whitesummerfrockandembroideredpantalettes.
Thefresh–crownedherofellwithoutfiringashot.
AcertainAmyLawrencevanishedoutofhisheartandleftnotevenamemoryofherselfbehind.
Hehadthoughthelovedhertodistraction;hehadregardedhispassionasadoration;andbeholditwasonlyapoorlittleevanescentpartiality.
Hehadbeenmonthswinningher;shehadconfessedhardlyaweekago;hehadbeenthehappiestandtheproudestboyintheworldonlysevenshortdays,andhereinoneinstantoftimeshehadgoneoutofhisheartlikeacasualstrangerwhosevisitisdone.
Heworshippedthisnewangelwithfurtiveeye,tillhesawthatshehaddiscoveredhim;thenhepretendedhedidnotknowshewaspresent,andbeganto"showoff"inallsortsofabsurdboyishways,inordertowinheradmiration.
Hekeptupthisgrotesquefoolishnessforsometime;butby–and–by,whilehewasinthemidstofsomedangerousgymnasticperformances,heglancedasideandsawthatthelittlegirlwaswendingherwaytowardthehouse.
Tomcameuptothefenceandleanedonit,grieving,andhopingshewouldtarryyetawhilelonger.
Shehaltedamomentonthestepsandthenmovedtowardthedoor.
Tomheavedagreatsighassheputherfootonthethreshold.
Buthisfacelitup,rightaway,forshetossedapansyoverthefenceamomentbeforeshedisappeared.
Theboyranaroundandstoppedwithinafootortwooftheflower,andthenshadedhiseyeswithhishandandbegantolookdownstreetasifhehaddiscoveredsomethingofinterestgoingoninthatdirection.
Presentlyhepickedupastrawandbegantryingtobalanceitonhisnose,withhisheadtiltedfarback;andashemovedfromsidetoside,inhisefforts,heedgednearerandnearertowardthepansy;finallyhisbarefootresteduponit,hisplianttoescloseduponit,andhehoppedawaywiththetreasureanddisappearedroundthecorner.
Butonlyforaminute—onlywhilehecouldbuttontheflowerinsidehisjacket,nexthisheart—ornexthisstomach,possibly,forhewasnotmuchpostedinanatomy,andnothypercritical,anyway.
Hereturned,now,andhungaboutthefencetillnightfall,"showingoff,"asbefore;butthegirlneverexhibitedherselfagain,thoughTomcomfortedhimselfalittlewiththehopethatshehadbeennearsomewindow,meantime,andbeenawareofhisattentions.
Finallyhestrodehomereluctantly,withhispoorheadfullofvisions.
Allthroughsupperhisspiritsweresohighthathisauntwondered"whathadgotintothechild."
HetookagoodscoldingaboutcloddingSid,anddidnotseemtominditintheleast.
Hetriedtostealsugarunderhisaunt'sverynose,andgothisknucklesrappedforit.Hesaid:
"Aunt,youdon'twhackSidwhenhetakesit."
"Well,Siddon'ttormentabodythewayyoudo.You'dbealwaysintothatsugarifIwarn'twatchingyou."
Presentlyshesteppedintothekitchen,andSid,happyinhisimmunity,reachedforthesugar–bowl—asortofgloryingoverTomwhichwaswellnighunbearable.
ButSid'sfingersslippedandthebowldroppedandbroke.Tomwasinecstasies.
Insuchecstasiesthatheevencontrolledhistongueandwassilent.
Hesaidtohimselfthathewouldnotspeakaword,evenwhenhisauntcamein,butwouldsitperfectlystilltillsheaskedwhodidthemischief;andthenhewouldtell,andtherewouldbenothingsogoodintheworldastoseethatpetmodel"catchit."
Hewassobrimfulofexultationthathecouldhardlyholdhimselfwhentheoldladycamebackandstoodabovethewreckdischarginglightningsofwrathfromoverherspectacles.Hesaidtohimself,"Nowit'scoming!"
Andthenextinstanthewassprawlingonthefloor!
ThepotentpalmwasupliftedtostrikeagainwhenTomcriedout:
"Holdon,now,what'eryoubeltingMEfor?—Sidbrokeit!"
AuntPollypaused,perplexed,andTomlookedforhealingpity.Butwhenshegothertongueagain,sheonlysaid:
"Umf!Well,youdidn'tgetalickamiss,Ireckon.YoubeenintosomeotheraudaciousmischiefwhenIwasn'taround,likeenough."
Thenherconsciencereproachedher,andsheyearnedtosaysomethingkindandloving;butshejudgedthatthiswouldbeconstruedintoaconfessionthatshehadbeeninthewrong,anddisciplineforbadethat.
Soshekeptsilence,andwentaboutheraffairswithatroubledheart.
Tomsulkedinacornerandexaltedhiswoes.
Heknewthatinherhearthisauntwasonherkneestohim,andhewasmoroselygratifiedbytheconsciousnessofit.
Hewouldhangoutnosignals,hewouldtakenoticeofnone.
Heknewthatayearningglancefelluponhim,nowandthen,throughafilmoftears,butherefusedrecognitionofit.
Hepicturedhimselflyingsickuntodeathandhisauntbendingoverhimbeseechingonelittleforgivingword,buthewouldturnhisfacetothewall,anddiewiththatwordunsaid.Ah,howwouldshefeelthen?
Andhepicturedhimselfbroughthomefromtheriver,dead,withhiscurlsallwet,andhissoreheartatrest.
Howshewouldthrowherselfuponhim,andhowhertearswouldfalllikerain,andherlipsprayGodtogiveherbackherboyandshewouldnever,neverabusehimanymore!
Buthewouldlietherecoldandwhiteandmakenosign—apoorlittlesufferer,whosegriefswereatanend.
Hesoworkeduponhisfeelingswiththepathosofthesedreams,thathehadtokeepswallowing,hewassoliketochoke;andhiseyesswaminablurofwater,whichoverflowedwhenhewinked,andrandownandtrickledfromtheendofhisnose.
Andsuchaluxurytohimwasthispettingofhissorrows,thathecouldnotbeartohaveanyworldlycheerinessoranygratingdelightintrudeuponit;itwastoosacredforsuchcontact;andso,presently,whenhiscousinMarydancedin,allalivewiththejoyofseeinghomeagainafteranage–longvisitofoneweektothecountry,hegotupandmovedincloudsanddarknessoutatonedoorasshebroughtsongandsunshineinattheother.
Hewanderedfarfromtheaccustomedhauntsofboys,andsoughtdesolateplacesthatwereinharmonywithhisspirit.
Alograftintheriverinvitedhim,andheseatedhimselfonitsouteredgeandcontemplatedthedrearyvastnessofthestream,wishing,thewhile,thathecouldonlybedrowned,allatonceandunconsciously,withoutundergoingtheuncomfortableroutinedevisedbynature.Thenhethoughtofhisflower.
Hegotitout,rumpledandwilted,anditmightilyincreasedhisdismalfelicity.
Hewonderedifshewouldpityhimifsheknew?
Wouldshecry,andwishthatshehadarighttoputherarmsaroundhisneckandcomforthim?
Orwouldsheturncoldlyawaylikeallthehollowworld?
Thispicturebroughtsuchanagonyofpleasurablesufferingthatheworkeditoverandoveragaininhismindandsetitupinnewandvariedlights,tillheworeitthreadbare.
Atlastheroseupsighinganddepartedinthedarkness.
Abouthalf–pastnineorteno'clockhecamealongthedesertedstreettowheretheAdoredUnknownlived;hepausedamoment;nosoundfelluponhislisteningear;acandlewascastingadullglowuponthecurtainofasecond–storywindow.Wasthesacredpresencethere?
Heclimbedthefence,threadedhisstealthywaythroughtheplants,tillhestoodunderthatwindow;helookedupatitlong,andwithemotion;thenhelaidhimdownonthegroundunderit,disposinghimselfuponhisback,withhishandsclaspeduponhisbreastandholdinghispoorwiltedflower.
Andthushewoulddie—outinthecoldworld,withnoshelteroverhishomelesshead,nofriendlyhandtowipethedeath–dampsfromhisbrow,nolovingfacetobendpityinglyoverhimwhenthegreatagonycame.
AndthusSHEwouldseehimwhenshelookedoutuponthegladmorning,andoh!
wouldshedroponelittletearuponhispoor,lifelessform,wouldsheheaveonelittlesightoseeabrightyounglifesorudelyblighted,sountimelycutdown?
Thewindowwentup,amaid–servant'sdiscordantvoiceprofanedtheholycalm,andadelugeofwaterdrenchedthepronemartyr'sremains!
Thestranglingherosprangupwitharelievingsnort.
Therewasawhizasofamissileintheair,mingledwiththemurmurofacurse,asoundasofshiveringglassfollowed,andasmall,vagueformwentoverthefenceandshotawayinthegloom.
Notlongafter,asTom,allundressedforbed,wassurveyinghisdrenchedgarmentsbythelightofatallowdip,Sidwokeup;butifhehadanydimideaofmakingany"referencestoallusions,"hethoughtbetterofitandheldhispeace,fortherewasdangerinTom'seye.
Tomturnedinwithouttheaddedvexationofprayers,andSidmadementalnoteoftheomission.
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