TOMarrivedathomeinadrearymood,andthefirstthinghisauntsaidtohimshowedhimthathehadbroughthissorrowstoanunpromisingmarket: "Tom,I'veanotiontoskinyoualive!" "Well,you'vedoneenough.HereIgoovertoSerenyHarper,likeanoldsofty,expectingI'mgoingtomakeherbelieveallthatrubbageaboutthatdream,whenloandbeholdyoushe'dfoundoutfromJoethatyouwasoverhereandheardallthetalkwehadthatnight. Tom,Idon'tknowwhatistobecomeofaboythatwillactlikethat. ItmakesmefeelsobadtothinkyoucouldletmegotoSerenyHarperandmakesuchafoolofmyselfandneversayaword." Thiswasanewaspectofthething.HissmartnessofthemorninghadseemedtoTomagoodjokebefore,andveryingenious.Itmerelylookedmeanandshabbynow. Hehunghisheadandcouldnotthinkofanythingtosayforamoment.Thenhesaid: "Auntie,IwishIhadn'tdoneit—butIdidn'tthink." "Oh,child,youneverthink.Youneverthinkofanythingbutyourownselfishness. YoucouldthinktocomeallthewayoverherefromJackson'sIslandinthenighttolaughatourtroubles,andyoucouldthinktofoolmewithalieaboutadream;butyoucouldn'teverthinktopityusandsaveusfromsorrow." "Auntie,Iknownowitwasmean,butIdidn'tmeantobemean.Ididn't,honest.Andbesides,Ididn'tcomeoverheretolaughatyouthatnight." "Whatdidyoucomefor,then?" "Itwastotellyounottobeuneasyaboutus,becausewehadn'tgotdrownded." "Tom,Tom,IwouldbethethankfullestsoulinthisworldifIcouldbelieveyoueverhadasgoodathoughtasthat,butyouknowyouneverdid—andIknowit,Tom." "Indeedand'deedIdid,auntie—IwishImayneverstirifIdidn't." "Oh,Tom,don'tlie—don'tdoit.Itonlymakesthingsahundredtimesworse." "Itain'talie,auntie;it'sthetruth.Iwantedtokeepyoufromgrieving—thatwasallthatmademecome." "I'dgivethewholeworldtobelievethat—itwouldcoverupapowerofsins,Tom.I'd'mostbegladyou'drunoffandactedsobad.Butitain'treasonable;because,whydidn'tyoutellme,child?" "Why,yousee,whenyougottotalkingaboutthefuneral,Ijustgotallfulloftheideaofourcomingandhidinginthechurch,andIcouldn'tsomehowbeartospoilit. SoIjustputthebarkbackinmypocketandkeptmum." "ThebarkIhadwroteontotellyouwe'dgonepirating.Iwish,now,you'dwakedupwhenIkissedyou—Ido,honest." Thehardlinesinhisaunt'sfacerelaxedandasuddentendernessdawnedinhereyes. "Why,yes,Idid,auntie—certainsure." "Whatdidyoukissmefor,Tom?" "BecauseIlovedyouso,andyoulaidtheremoaningandIwassosorry." Thewordssoundedliketruth.Theoldladycouldnothideatremorinhervoicewhenshesaid: "Kissmeagain,Tom!—andbeoffwithyoutoschool,now,anddon'tbothermeanymore." Themomenthewasgone,sherantoaclosetandgotouttheruinofajacketwhichTomhadgonepiratingin.Thenshestopped,withitinherhand,andsaidtoherself: "No,Idon'tdare.Poorboy,Ireckonhe'sliedaboutit—butit'sablessed,blessedlie,there'ssuchacomfortcomefromit. IhopetheLord—IKNOWtheLordwillforgivehim,becauseitwassuchgoodheartednessinhimtotellit. ButIdon'twanttofindoutit'salie.Iwon'tlook." Sheputthejacketaway,andstoodbymusingaminute. Twicesheputoutherhandtotakethegarmentagain,andtwicesherefrained. Oncemoresheventured,andthistimeshefortifiedherselfwiththethought:"It'sagoodlie—it'sagoodlie—Iwon'tletitgrieveme."Soshesoughtthejacketpocket. AmomentlatershewasreadingTom'spieceofbarkthroughflowingtearsandsaying:"Icouldforgivetheboy,now,ifhe'dcommittedamillionsins!" 
