Chapter IV. Tom Is Expected

heydidn’tcomeintomyhead,youknow?Oh,hewillbesoangrywithme,Iknowhewill,andsosorryabouthisrabbits,andsoamIsorry.Oh,whatshallIdo?” “Don’tyoufret,Miss,”saidLuke,soothingly“they’renashthings,themlop-earedrabbitsthey’dhappenha’died,ifthey’dbeenfed.Thingsouto’naturniverthrive:GodA’mightydoesn’tlike’em.Hemadetherabbits’earstolieback,an’it’snothin’butcontrairinesstomake’emhingdownlikeamastiffdog’s.MasterTom’ullknowbetternorbuysuchthingsanothertime.Don’tyoufret,Miss.Willyoucomealonghomewi’me,andseemywife?I’ma-goin’thisminute.” TheinvitationofferedanagreeabledistractiontoMaggie’sgrief,andhertearsgraduallysubsidedasshetrottedalongbyLuke’ssidetohispleasantcottage,whichstoodwithitsappleandpeartrees,andwiththeaddeddignityofalean-topigsty,attheotherendoftheMillfields.MrsMoggs,Luke’swife,wasadecidedlyagreeableacquaintance.Sheexhibitedherhospitalityinbreadandtreacle,andpossessedvariousworksofart.Maggieactuallyforgotthatshehadanyspecialcauseofsadnessthismorning,asshestoodonachairtolookataremarkableseriesofpicturesrepresentingtheProdigalSoninthecostumeofSirCharlesGrandison,exceptthat,asmighthavebeenexpectedfromhisdefectivemoralcharacter,hehadnot,likethataccomplishedhero,thetasteandstrengthofmindtodispensewithawig.Buttheindefinableweightthedeadrabbitshadleftonhermindcausedhertofeelmorethanusualpityforthecareerofthisweakyoungman,particularlywhenshelookedatthepicturewhereheleanedagainstatreewithaflaccidappearance,hisknee-breechesunbuttonedandhiswigawry,whiletheswineapparentlyofsomeforeignbreed,seemedtoinsulthimbytheirgoodspiritsovertheirfeastofhusks. “I’mverygladhisfathertookhimbackagain,aren’tyou,Luke?”shesaid.“Forhewasverysorry,youknow,andwouldn’tdowrongagain.” “Eh,Miss,”saidLuke,“he’dbenogreatshakes,Idoubt,let’sfeytherdowhathewouldforhim.” ThatwasapainfulthoughttoMaggie,andshewishedmuchthatthesubsequenthistoryoftheyoungmanhadnotbeenleftablank.