Chapter V. Tom Comes Home

,very,verygood—Idoloveyou,Tom.” Tomhadputthelinebackinhispocket,andwaslookingatthehooksonebyone,beforehespokeagain. “Andthefellowsfoughtme,becauseIwouldn’tgiveinaboutthetoffee.” “Oh,dear!Iwishtheywouldn’tfightatyourschool,Tom.Didn’tithurtyou?” “Hurtme?no,”saidTom,puttingupthehooksagain,takingoutalargepocket-knife,andslowlyopeningthelargestblade,whichhelookedatmeditativelyasherubbedhisfingeralongit.Thenheadded,— “IgaveSpouncerablackeye,Iknowthat’swhathegotbywantingtoleathermeIwasn’tgoingtogohalvesbecauseanybodyleatheredme.” “Oh,howbraveyouare,Tom!Ithinkyou’relikeSamson.Iftherecamealionroaringatme,Ithinkyou’dfighthim,wouldn’tyou,Tom?” “Howcanalioncomeroaringatyou,yousillything?There’snolions,onlyintheshows.” “Nobutifwewereinthelioncountries—ImeaninAfrica,whereit’sveryhotthelionseatpeoplethere.IcanshowityouinthebookwhereIreadit.” “Well,Ishouldgetagunandshoothim.” “Butifyouhadn’tgotagun,—wemighthavegoneout,youknow,notthinking,justaswegofishingandthenagreatlionmightruntowardsusroaring,andwecouldn’tgetawayfromhim.Whatshouldyoudo,Tom?” Tompaused,andatlastturnedawaycontemptuously,saying,“Butthelionisn’tcoming.What’stheuseoftalking?” “ButIliketofancyhowitwouldbe,”saidMaggie,followinghim.“Justthinkwhatyouwoulddo,Tom.” “Oh,don’tbother,Maggie!you’resuchasilly.Ishallgoandseemyrabbits.” Maggie’sheartbegantoflutterwithfear.Shedarednottellthesadtruthatonce,butshewalkedafterTomintremblingsilenceashewentout,thinkinghowshecouldtellhimthenewssoastosoftenatoncehissorrowandhisangerforMaggiedreadedTom’sangerofallthingsitwasquiteadifferentangerfromherown. “Tom,”shesaid,timidly,whentheywereoutofdoors,“howmuchmoneydidyougiveforyourrabbits?” “Twohalf-crownsandasixpence,”saidTom,promptly. “IthinkI’vegotagreatdealmorethanthatinmysteelpurseupstairs.I’llaskmothertogiveityou.” “Whatfor?”saidTom.“Idon’twantyourmoney,yousillything.I’vegotagreatdealmoremoneythanyou,becauseI’maboy.Ialwayshavehalf-sovereignsandsovereignsformyChristmasboxesbecauseIshallbeaman,andyouonlyhavefive-shillingpieces,becauseyou’reonlyagirl.” “Well,but,Tom—ifmotherwouldletmegiveyoutwohalf-crownsandasixpenceoutofmypursetoputintoyourpocketandspend,youknow,andbuysomemorerabbitswithit?” “Morerabbits?Idon’twantanymore.” “Oh,but,Tom,they’realldead.” TomstoppedimmediatelyinhiswalkandturnedroundtowardMaggie.“Youforgottofeed’em,then,andHarryforgot?”hesaid,hiscolourheighteningforamoment,butsoonsubsiding.“I’llpitchintoHarry.I’llhavehimturnedaway.AndIdon’tloveyou,Maggie.Yousha’n’tgofishingwithmeto-morrow.Itoldyoutogoandseetherabbitseveryday.”Hewalkedonagain. “Yes,butIforgot—andIcouldn’thelpit,indeed,Tom.I’msoverysorry,”saidMaggie,whilethetearsrushedfast. “You’reanaughtygirl,”saidTom,severely,“andI’msorryIboughtyouthefish-line.Idon’tloveyou.” “Oh,Tom,it’sverycruel,”sobbedMaggie.“I’dforgiveyou,ifyouforgotanything—Iwouldn’tmindwhatyoudid—I’dforgiveyouandloveyou.” “Yes,you’resillybutIneverdoforgetthings,Idon’t.” “Oh,pleaseforgiveme,Tommyheartwillbreak,”saidMaggie,shakingwithsobs,clingingtoTom’sarm,andlayingherwetcheekonhisshoulder. Tomshookheroff,andstoppedagain,sayinginaperemptorytone,“Now,Maggie,youjustlisten.Aren’tIagoodbrothertoyou?” “Ye-ye-es,”sobbedMaggie,herchinrisingandfallingconvulsedly. “Didn’tIthinkaboutyourfish-lineallthisquarter,andmeantobuyit,andsavedmymoneyo’purpose,andwouldn’tgohalvesinthetoffee,andSpouncerfoughtmebecauseIwouldn’t?” “Ye-ye-es—andI—lo-lo-loveyouso,Tom.” “Butyou’reanaughtygirl.Lastholidaysyoulickedthepaintoffmyl