English
THATwasTom'sgreatsecret—theschemetoreturnhomewithhisbrotherpiratesandattendtheirownfunerals.
TheyhadpaddledovertotheMissourishoreonalog,atduskonSaturday,landingfiveorsixmilesbelowthevillage;theyhadsleptinthewoodsattheedgeofthetowntillnearlydaylight,andhadthencreptthroughbacklanesandalleysandfinishedtheirsleepinthegalleryofthechurchamongachaosofinvalidedbenches.
Atbreakfast,Mondaymorning,AuntPollyandMarywereverylovingtoTom,andveryattentivetohiswants.Therewasanunusualamountoftalk.InthecourseofitAuntPollysaid:
"Well,Idon'tsayitwasn'tafinejoke,Tom,tokeepeverybodysuffering'mostaweeksoyouboyshadagoodtime,butitisapityyoucouldbesohard–heartedastoletmesufferso.
Ifyoucouldcomeoveronalogtogotoyourfuneral,youcouldhavecomeoverandgivemeahintsomewaythatyouwarn'tdead,butonlyrunoff."
"Yes,youcouldhavedonethat,Tom,"saidMary;"andIbelieveyouwouldifyouhadthoughtofit."
"Wouldyou,Tom?"saidAuntPolly,herfacelightingwistfully."Say,now,wouldyou,ifyou'dthoughtofit?"
"I—well,Idon'tknow.'Twould'a'spoiledeverything."
"Tom,Ihopedyoulovedmethatmuch,"saidAuntPolly,withagrievedtonethatdiscomfortedtheboy."Itwouldhavebeensomethingifyou'dcaredenoughtoTHINKofit,evenifyoudidn'tDOit."
"Now,auntie,thatain'tanyharm,"pleadedMary;"it'sonlyTom'sgiddyway—heisalwaysinsucharushthatheneverthinksofanything."
"More'sthepity.Sidwouldhavethought.
AndSidwouldhavecomeandDONEit,too.
Tom,you'lllookback,someday,whenit'stoolate,andwishyou'dcaredalittlemoreformewhenitwouldhavecostyousolittle."
"Now,auntie,youknowIdocareforyou,"saidTom.
"I'dknowitbetterifyouactedmorelikeit."
"IwishnowI'dthought,"saidTom,witharepentanttone;"butIdreamtaboutyou,anyway.That'ssomething,ain'tit?"
"Itain'tmuch—acatdoesthatmuch—butit'sbetterthannothing.Whatdidyoudream?"
"Why,WednesdaynightIdreamtthatyouwassittingovertherebythebed,andSidwassittingbythewoodbox,andMarynexttohim."
"Well,sowedid.Sowealwaysdo.I'mgladyourdreamscouldtakeeventhatmuchtroubleaboutus."
"AndIdreamtthatJoeHarper'smotherwashere."
"Why,shewashere!Didyoudreamanymore?"
"Oh,lots.Butit'ssodim,now."
"Well,trytorecollect—can'tyou?"
"Somehowitseemstomethatthewind—thewindblowedthe—the—"
"Tryharder,Tom!Thewinddidblowsomething.Come!"
Tompressedhisfingersonhisforeheadananxiousminute,andthensaid:
"I'vegotitnow!I'vegotitnow!Itblowedthecandle!"
"Mercyonus!Goon,Tom—goon!"
"Anditseemstomethatyousaid,'Why,Ibelievethatthatdoor—'"
"GoON,Tom!"
"Justletmestudyamoment—justamoment.Oh,yes—yousaidyoubelievedthedoorwasopen."
"AsI'msittinghere,Idid!Didn'tI,Mary!Goon!"
"Andthen—andthen—wellIwon'tbecertain,butitseemslikeasifyoumadeSidgoand—and—"
"Well?Well?WhatdidImakehimdo,Tom?WhatdidImakehimdo?"
"Youmadehim—you—Oh,youmadehimshutit."
"Well,fortheland'ssake!Ineverheardthebeatofthatinallmydays!
Don'ttellMEthereain'tanythingindreams,anymore.
SerenyHarpershallknowofthisbeforeI'manhourolder.
I'dliketoseehergetaroundTHISwithherrubbage'boutsuperstition.Goon,Tom!"
"Oh,it'sallgettingjustasbrightasday,now.NextyousaidIwarn'tBAD,onlymischeevousandharum–scarum,andnotanymoreresponsiblethan—than—Ithinkitwasacolt,orsomething."
"Andsoitwas!Well,goodnessgracious!Goon,Tom!"
"Andthenyoubegantocry."
"SoIdid.SoIdid.Notthefirsttime,neither.Andthen—"
"ThenMrs.Harpershebegantocry,andsaidJoewasjustthesame,andshewishedshehadn'twhippedhimfortakingcreamwhenshe'dthroweditoutherownself—"
"Tom!Thesperritwasuponyou!Youwasaprophesying—that'swhatyouwasdoing!Landalive,goon,Tom!"
"ThenSidhesaid—hesaid—"
"Idon'tthinkIsaidanything,"saidSid.
"Yesyoudid,Sid,"saidMary.
"ShutyourheadsandletTomgoon!Whatdidhesay,Tom?"
"Hesaid—ITHINKhesaidhehopedIwasbetteroffwhereIwasgoneto,butifI'dbeenbettersometimes—"
"THERE,d'youhearthat!Itwashisverywords!"
"Andyoushuthimupsharp."
"IlayIdid!Theremust'a'beenanangelthere.ThereWASanangelthere,somewheres!"
"AndMrs.HarpertoldaboutJoescaringherwithafirecracker,andyoutoldaboutPeterandthePainkiller—"
"JustastrueasIlive!"
"Andthentherewasawholelotoftalk'boutdraggingtheriverforus,and'bouthavingthefuneralSunday,andthenyouandoldMissHarperhuggedandcried,andshewent."
"Ithappenedjustso!Ithappenedjustso,assureasI'ma–sittingintheseverytracks.Tom,youcouldn'ttolditmorelikeifyou'd'a'seenit!Andthenwhat?Goon,Tom!"
"ThenIthoughtyouprayedforme—andIcouldseeyouandheareverywordyousaid.
Andyouwenttobed,andIwassosorrythatItookandwroteonapieceofsycamorebark,'Weain'tdead—weareonlyoffbeingpirates,'andputitonthetablebythecandle;andthenyoulookedsogood,layingthereasleep,thatIthoughtIwentandleanedoverandkissedyouonthelips."
"Didyou,Tom,DIDyou!Ijustforgiveyoueverythingforthat!"Andsheseizedtheboyinacrushingembracethatmadehimfeelliketheguiltiestofvillains.
"Itwasverykind,eventhoughitwasonlya—dream,"Sidsoliloquizedjustaudibly.
"Shutup,Sid!Abodydoesjustthesameinadreamashe'ddoifhewasawake.
Here'sabigMilumappleI'vebeensavingforyou,Tom,ifyouwaseverfoundagain—nowgo'longtoschool.
I'mthankfultothegoodGodandFatherofusallI'vegotyouback,that'slong–sufferingandmercifultothemthatbelieveonHimandkeepHisword,thoughgoodnessknowsI'munworthyofit,butifonlytheworthyonesgotHisblessingsandhadHishandtohelpthemovertheroughplaces,there'sfewenoughwouldsmilehereoreverenterintoHisrestwhenthelongnightcomes.
Go'longSid,Mary,Tom—takeyourselvesoff—you'vehenderedmelongenough."
Thechildrenleftforschool,andtheoldladytocallonMrs.HarperandvanquishherrealismwithTom'smarvellousdream.
Sidhadbetterjudgmentthantoutterthethoughtthatwasinhismindasheleftthehouse.
Itwasthis:"Prettythin—aslongadreamasthat,withoutanymistakesinit!"
WhataheroTomwasbecome,now!Hedidnotgoskippingandprancing,butmovedwithadignifiedswaggerasbecameapiratewhofeltthatthepubliceyewasonhim.
Andindeeditwas;hetriednottoseemtoseethelooksorheartheremarksashepassedalong,buttheywerefoodanddrinktohim.
Smallerboysthanhimselfflockedathisheels,asproudtobeseenwithhim,andtoleratedbyhim,asifhehadbeenthedrummerattheheadofaprocessionortheelephantleadingamenagerieintotown.
Boysofhisownsizepretendednottoknowhehadbeenawayatall;buttheywereconsumingwithenvy,nevertheless.
Theywouldhavegivenanythingtohavethatswarthysuntannedskinofhis,andhisglitteringnotoriety;andTomwouldnothavepartedwitheitherforacircus.
AtschoolthechildrenmadesomuchofhimandofJoe,anddeliveredsucheloquentadmirationfromtheireyes,thatthetwoheroeswerenotlonginbecominginsufferably"stuck–up."
Theybegantotelltheiradventurestohungrylisteners—buttheyonlybegan;itwasnotathinglikelytohaveanend,withimaginationsliketheirstofurnishmaterial.
Andfinally,whentheygotouttheirpipesandwentserenelypuffingaround,theverysummitofglorywasreached.
TomdecidedthathecouldbeindependentofBeckyThatchernow.Glorywassufficient.Hewouldliveforglory.
Nowthathewasdistinguished,maybeshewouldbewantingto"makeup."
Well,lether—sheshouldseethathecouldbeasindifferentassomeotherpeople.Presentlyshearrived.Tompretendednottoseeher.
Hemovedawayandjoinedagroupofboysandgirlsandbegantotalk.
Soonheobservedthatshewastrippinggaylybackandforthwithflushedfaceanddancingeyes,pretendingtobebusychasingschoolmates,andscreamingwithlaughterwhenshemadeacapture;buthenoticedthatshealwaysmadehercapturesinhisvicinity,andthatsheseemedtocastaconsciouseyeinhisdirectionatsuchtimes,too.
Itgratifiedalltheviciousvanitythatwasinhim;andso,insteadofwinninghim,itonly"sethimup"themoreandmadehimthemorediligenttoavoidbetrayingthatheknewshewasabout.
Presentlyshegaveoverskylarking,andmovedirresolutelyabout,sighingonceortwiceandglancingfurtivelyandwistfullytowardTom.
ThensheobservedthatnowTomwastalkingmoreparticularlytoAmyLawrencethantoanyoneelse.
Shefeltasharppangandgrewdisturbedanduneasyatonce.
Shetriedtogoaway,butherfeetweretreacherous,andcarriedhertothegroupinstead.
ShesaidtoagirlalmostatTom'selbow—withshamvivacity:
"Why,MaryAustin!youbadgirl,whydidn'tyoucometoSunday–school?"
"Ididcome—didn'tyouseeme?"
"Why,no!Didyou?Wheredidyousit?"
"IwasinMissPeters'class,whereIalwaysgo.IsawYOU."
"Didyou?Why,it'sfunnyIdidn'tseeyou.Iwantedtotellyouaboutthepicnic."
"Oh,that'sjolly.Who'sgoingtogiveit?"
"Myma'sgoingtoletmehaveone."
"Oh,goody;Ihopeshe'llletMEcome."
"Well,shewill.Thepicnic'sforme.She'llletanybodycomethatIwant,andIwantyou."
"That'seversonice.Whenisitgoingtobe?"
"Byandby.Maybeaboutvacation."
"Oh,won'titbefun!Yougoingtohaveallthegirlsandboys?"
"Yes,everyonethat'sfriendstome—orwantstobe";andsheglancedeversofurtivelyatTom,buthetalkedrightalongtoAmyLawrenceabouttheterriblestormontheisland,andhowthelightningtorethegreatsycamoretree"alltoflinders"whilehewas"standingwithinthreefeetofit."
"Oh,mayIcome?"saidGraceMiller.
"Yes."
"Andme?"saidSallyRogers.
"Yes."
"Andme,too?"saidSusyHarper."AndJoe?"
"Yes."
Andsoon,withclappingofjoyfulhandstillallthegrouphadbeggedforinvitationsbutTomandAmy.
ThenTomturnedcoollyaway,stilltalking,andtookAmywithhim.
Becky'slipstrembledandthetearscametohereyes;shehidthesesignswithaforcedgayetyandwentonchattering,butthelifehadgoneoutofthepicnic,now,andoutofeverythingelse;shegotawayassoonasshecouldandhidherselfandhadwhathersexcall"agoodcry."
Thenshesatmoody,withwoundedpride,tillthebellrang.
Sherousedup,now,withavindictivecastinhereye,andgaveherplaitedtailsashakeandsaidsheknewwhatSHE'Ddo.
AtrecessTomcontinuedhisflirtationwithAmywithjubilantself–satisfaction.
AndhekeptdriftingabouttofindBeckyandlacerateherwiththeperformance.
Atlasthespiedher,buttherewasasuddenfallingofhismercury.
Shewassittingcosilyonalittlebenchbehindtheschoolhouselookingatapicture–bookwithAlfredTemple—andsoabsorbedwerethey,andtheirheadssoclosetogetheroverthebook,thattheydidnotseemtobeconsciousofanythingintheworldbesides.
Jealousyranred–hotthroughTom'sveins.
HebegantohatehimselfforthrowingawaythechanceBeckyhadofferedforareconciliation.
Hecalledhimselfafool,andallthehardnameshecouldthinkof.Hewantedtocrywithvexation.
Amychattedhappilyalong,astheywalked,forherheartwassinging,butTom'stonguehadlostitsfunction.
HedidnothearwhatAmywassaying,andwhenevershepausedexpectantlyhecouldonlystammeranawkwardassent,whichwasasoftenmisplacedasotherwise.
Hekeptdriftingtotherearoftheschoolhouse,againandagain,tosearhiseyeballswiththehatefulspectaclethere.Hecouldnothelpit.
Anditmaddenedhimtosee,ashethoughthesaw,thatBeckyThatcherneveroncesuspectedthathewaseveninthelandoftheliving.
Butshedidsee,nevertheless;andsheknewshewaswinningherfight,too,andwasgladtoseehimsufferasshehadsuffered.
Amy'shappyprattlebecameintolerable.Tomhintedatthingshehadtoattendto;thingsthatmustbedone;andtimewasfleeting.Butinvain—thegirlchirpedon.
Tomthought,"Oh,hangher,ain'tIevergoingtogetridofher?"
Atlasthemustbeattendingtothosethings—andshesaidartlesslythatshewouldbe"around"whenschoolletout.
Andhehastenedaway,hatingherforit.
"Anyotherboy!"Tomthought,gratinghisteeth.
"AnyboyinthewholetownbutthatSaintLouissmartythatthinkshedressessofineandisaristocracy!
Oh,allright,Ilickedyouthefirstdayyoueversawthistown,mister,andI'lllickyouagain!YoujustwaittillIcatchyouout!I'lljusttakeand—"
Andhewentthroughthemotionsofthrashinganimaginaryboy—pummellingtheair,andkickingandgouging."Oh,youdo,doyou?Youholler'nough,doyou?Now,then,letthatlearnyou!"
Andsotheimaginaryfloggingwasfinishedtohissatisfaction.
Tomfledhomeatnoon.HisconsciencecouldnotendureanymoreofAmy'sgratefulhappiness,andhisjealousycouldbearnomoreoftheotherdistress.
BeckyresumedherpictureinspectionswithAlfred,butastheminutesdraggedalongandnoTomcametosuffer,hertriumphbegantocloudandshelostinterest;gravityandabsent–mindednessfollowed,andthenmelancholy;twoorthreetimessheprickedupherearatafootstep,butitwasafalsehope;noTomcame.
Atlastshegrewentirelymiserableandwishedshehadn'tcarrieditsofar.
WhenpoorAlfred,seeingthathewaslosingher,hedidnotknowhow,keptexclaiming:"Oh,here'sajollyone!lookatthis!"
shelostpatienceatlast,andsaid,"Oh,don'tbotherme!Idon'tcareforthem!"
andburstintotears,andgotupandwalkedaway.
Alfreddroppedalongsideandwasgoingtotrytocomforther,butshesaid:
"Goawayandleavemealone,can'tyou!Ihateyou!"
Sotheboyhalted,wonderingwhathecouldhavedone—forshehadsaidshewouldlookatpicturesallthroughthenooning—andshewalkedon,crying.
ThenAlfredwentmusingintothedesertedschoolhouse.Hewashumiliatedandangry.
Heeasilyguessedhiswaytothetruth—thegirlhadsimplymadeaconvenienceofhimtoventherspiteuponTomSawyer.
HewasfarfromhatingTomthelesswhenthisthoughtoccurredtohim.
Hewishedtherewassomewaytogetthatboyintotroublewithoutmuchrisktohimself.Tom'sspelling–bookfellunderhiseye.Herewashisopportunity.
Hegratefullyopenedtothelessonfortheafternoonandpouredinkuponthepage.
Becky,glancinginatawindowbehindhimatthemoment,sawtheact,andmovedon,withoutdiscoveringherself.
Shestartedhomeward,now,intendingtofindTomandtellhim;Tomwouldbethankfulandtheirtroubleswouldbehealed.
Beforeshewashalfwayhome,however,shehadchangedhermind.
ThethoughtofTom'streatmentofherwhenshewastalkingaboutherpicniccamescorchingbackandfilledherwithshame.
Sheresolvedtolethimgetwhippedonthedamagedspelling–book'saccount,andtohatehimforever,intothebargain.
Share this article to
FINISH