Chapter IV. Tom Is Expected

ItwasaheavydisappointmenttoMaggiethatshewasnotallowedtogowithherfatherinthegigwhenhewenttofetchTomhomefromtheacademybutthemorningwastoowet,MrsTulliversaid,foralittlegirltogooutinherbestbonnet.Maggietooktheoppositeviewverystrongly,anditwasadirectconsequenceofthisdifferenceofopinionthatwhenhermotherwasintheactofbrushingoutthereluctantblackcropMaggiesuddenlyrushedfromunderherhandsanddippedherheadinabasinofwaterstandingnear,inthevindictivedeterminationthatthereshouldbenomorechanceofcurlsthatday. “Maggie,Maggie!”exclaimedMrsTulliver,sittingstoutandhelplesswiththebrushesonherlap,“whatistobecomeofyouifyou’resonaughty?I’lltellyourauntGleggandyourauntPulletwhentheycomenextweek,andthey’llneverloveyouanymore.Ohdear,ohdear!lookatyourcleanpinafore,wetfromtoptobottom.Folks’ullthinkit’sajudgmentonmeasI’vegotsuchachild,—they’llthinkI’vedonesummatwicked.” Beforethisremonstrancewasfinished,Maggiewasalreadyoutofhearing,makingherwaytowardthegreatatticthatranundertheoldhigh-pitchedroof,shakingthewaterfromherblacklocksassheran,likeaSkyeterrierescapedfromhisbath.ThisatticwasMaggie’sfavouriteretreatonawetday,whentheweatherwasnottoocoldhereshefrettedoutallherillhumours,andtalkedaloudtotheworm-eatenfloorsandtheworm-eatenshelves,andthedarkraftersfestoonedwithcobwebsandhereshekeptaFetishwhichshepunishedforallhermisfortunes.Thiswasthetrunkofalargewoodendoll,whichoncestaredwiththeroundestofeyesabovethereddestofcheeksbutwasnowentirelydefacedbyalongcareerofvicarioussuffering.ThreenailsdrivenintotheheadcommemoratedasmanycrisesinMaggie’snineyearsofearthlystrugglethatluxuryofvengeancehavingbeensuggestedtoherbythepictureofJaeldestroyingSiseraintheoldBible.Thelastnailhadbeendriveninwithafiercerstrokethanusual,fortheFetishonthatoccasionrepresentedauntGlegg.ButimmediatelyafterwardMaggiehadreflectedthatifshedrovemanynailsinshewouldnotbesowellabletofancythattheheadwashurtwhensheknoc