Chapter II. Mr Tulliver, of Dorlcote Mill, Declares His Resolution about Tom

ormyownchilddoes.Maggie,Maggie,”continuedthemother,inatoneofhalf-coaxingfretfulness,asthissmallmistakeofnatureenteredtheroom,“where’stheuseo’mytellingyoutokeepawayfromthewater?You’lltumbleinandbedrowndedsomeday,an’thenyou’llbesorryyoudidn’tdoasmothertoldyou.” Maggie’shair,asshethrewoffherbonnet,painfullyconfirmedhermother’saccusation.MrsTulliver,desiringherdaughtertohaveacurledcrop,“likeotherfolks’schildren,”hadhaditcuttooshortinfronttobepushedbehindtheearsandasitwasusuallystraightanhourafterithadbeentakenoutofpaper,Maggiewasincessantlytossingherheadtokeepthedark,heavylocksoutofhergleamingblackeyes,—anactionwhichgaveherverymuchtheairofasmallShetlandpony. “Oh,dear,oh,dear,Maggie,whatareyouthinkin’of,tothrowyourbonnetdownthere?Takeitupstairs,there’sagoodgell,an’letyourhairbebrushed,an’putyourotherpinaforeon,an’changeyourshoes,do,forshamean’comean’goonwithyourpatchwork,likealittlelady.” “Oh,mother,”saidMaggie,inavehementlycrosstone,“Idon’twanttodomypatchwork.” “What!notyourprettypatchwork,tomakeacounterpaneforyourauntGlegg?” “It’sfoolishwork,”saidMaggie,withatossofhermane,—“tearingthingstopiecestosew’emtogetheragain.AndIdon’twanttodoanythingformyauntGlegg.Idon’tlikeher.” ExitMaggie,draggingherbonnetbythestring,whileMrTulliverlaughsaudibly. “Iwonderatyou,asyou’lllaughather,MrTulliver,”saidthemother,withfeeblefretfulnessinhertone.“Youencourageheri’naughtiness.An’herauntswillhaveitasit’smespoilsher.” MrsTulliverwaswhatiscalledagood-temperedperson,—nevercried,whenshewasababy,onanyslightergroundthanhungerandpinsandfromthecradleupwardhadbeenhealthy,fair,plump,anddull-wittedinshort,theflowerofherfamilyforbeautyandamiability.Butmilkandmildnessarenotthebestthingsforkeeping,andwhentheyturnonlyalittlesour,theymaydisagreewithyoungstomachsseriously.IhaveoftenwonderedwhetherthoseearlyMadonnasofRaphael,withtheblondfacesandsomewhatstupidexpression,kepttheirplacidityundisturbedwhentheirstrong-limbed,strong-willedboysgotalittletoooldtodowithoutclothing.Ithinktheymusthavebeengiventofeebleremonstrance,gettingmoreandmorepeevishasitbecamemoreandmoreineffectual.