CHAPTER VIII NEVER WONDER

ed,Tom?Doyoureallyandtrulysayso?’ ‘Why,ofcourseIdo.What’stheuseoftalkingaboutit!’returnedTom,chafinghisfaceonhiscoat-sleeve,asiftomortifyhisflesh,andhaveitinunisonwithhisspirit. ‘Because,Tom,’saidhissister,aftersilentlywatchingthesparksawhile,‘asIgetolder,andnearergrowingup,Ioftensitwonderinghere,andthinkhowunfortunateitisformethatIcan’treconcileyoutohomebetterthanIamabletodo.Idon’tknowwhatothergirlsknow.Ican’tplaytoyou,orsingtoyou.Ican’ttalktoyousoastolightenyourmind,forIneverseeanyamusingsightsorreadanyamusingbooksthatitwouldbeapleasureorarelieftoyoutotalkabout,whenyouaretired.’ ‘Well,nomoredoI.IamasbadasyouinthatrespectandIamaMuletoo,whichyou’renot.IffatherwasdeterminedtomakemeeitheraPrigoraMule,andIamnotaPrig,why,itstandstoreason,ImustbeaMule.AndsoIam,’saidTom,desperately. ‘It’sagreatpity,’saidLouisa,afteranotherpause,andspeakingthoughtfullyoutofherdarkcorner:‘it’sagreatpity,Tom.It’sveryunfortunateforbothofus.’ ‘Oh!You,’saidTom‘youareagirl,Loo,andagirlcomesoutofitbetterthanaboydoes.Idon’tmissanythinginyou.YouaretheonlypleasureIhave—youcanbrighteneventhisplace—andyoucanalwaysleadmeasyoulike.’ ‘Youareadearbrother,TomandwhileyouthinkIcandosuchthings,Idon’tsomuchmindknowingbetter.ThoughIdoknowbetter,Tom,andamverysorryforit.’Shecameandkissedhim,andwentbackintohercorneragain. ‘IwishIcouldcollectalltheFactswehearsomuchabout,’saidTom,spitefullysettinghisteeth,‘andalltheFigures,andallthepeoplewhofoundthemout:andIwishIcouldputathousandbarrelsofgunpowderunderthem,andblowthemalluptogether!However,whenIgotolivewitholdBounderby,I’llhavemyrevenge.’ ‘Yourrevenge,Tom?’ ‘Imean,I’llenjoymyselfalittle,andgoaboutandseesomething,andhearsomething.I’llrecompensemyselfforthewayinwhichIhavebeenbroughtup.’ ‘Butdon’tdisappointyourselfbeforehand,Tom.Mr.Bounderbythinksasfatherthinks,andisagreatdealrougher,andnothalfsokind.’ ‘Oh!’saidTom,laughing‘Idon’tmindthat.Ishallverywellknowhowtomanagea