Chapter VI. The Aunts and Uncles Are Coming

self,butwiththeDodsonscollectively.Thefeeblestmemberofafamily—theonewhohastheleastcharacter—isoftenthemerestepitomeofthefamilyhabitsandtraditionsandMrsTulliverwasathoroughDodson,thoughamildone,assmall-beer,solongasitisanything,isonlydescribableasveryweakale:andthoughshehadgroanedalittleinheryouthundertheyokeofhereldersisters,andstillshedoccasionaltearsattheirsisterlyreproaches,itwasnotinMrsTullivertobeaninnovatoronthefamilyideas.ShewasthankfultohavebeenaDodson,andtohaveonechildwhotookafterherownfamily,atleastinhisfeaturesandcomplexion,inlikingsaltandineatingbeans,whichaTulliverneverdid. InotherrespectsthetrueDodsonwaspartlylatentinTom,andhewasasfarfromappreciatinghis“kin”onthemother’ssideasMaggieherself,generallyabscondingforthedaywithalargesupplyofthemostportablefood,whenhereceivedtimelywarningthathisauntsanduncleswerecoming,—amoralsymptomfromwhichhisauntGleggdeducedthegloomiestviewsofhisfuture.ItwasratherhardonMaggiethatTomalwaysabscondedwithoutlettingherintothesecret,buttheweakersexareacknowledgedtobeseriousimpedimentaincasesofflight. OnWednesday,thedaybeforetheauntsanduncleswerecoming,thereweresuchvariousandsuggestivescents,asofplumcakesintheovenandjelliesinthehotstate,mingledwiththearomaofgravy,thatitwasimpossibletofeelaltogethergloomy:therewashopeintheair.TomandMaggiemadeseveralinroadsintothekitchen,and,likeothermarauders,wereinducedtokeepaloofforatimeonlybybeingallowedtocarryawayasufficientloadofbooty. “Tom,”saidMaggie,astheysatontheboughsoftheelder-tree,eatingtheirjam-puffs,“shallyourunawayto-morrow?” “No,”saidTom,slowly,whenhehadfinishedhispuff,andwaseyingthethird,whichwastobedividedbetweenthem,—“no,Isha’n’t.” “Why,Tom?BecauseLucy’scoming?” “No,”saidTom,openinghispocket-knifeandholdingitoverthepuff,withhisheadononesideinadubitativemanner.(Itwasadifficultproblemtodividethatveryirregularpolygonintotwoequalparts.)“WhatdoIcareaboutLucy?She’sonlyagirl,—shecan’tplayatbandy.” “Isitthetipsy-cake,then?”saidMaggie,exertingherhypotheticpowers,whilesheleanedforwardtowardTomwithhereyesfixedonthehoveringknife. “No,yousilly,that’llbegoodthedayafter.It’sthepudden.Iknowwhatthepudden’stobe,—apricotroll-up—Omybuttons!” Withthisinterjection,theknifedescendedonthepuff,anditwasintwo,buttheresultwasnotsatisfactorytoTom,forhestilleyedthehalvesdoubtfully.Atlasthesaid,— “Shutyoureyes,Maggie.” “Whatfor?” “Younevermindwhatfor.Shut’emwhenItellyou.” Maggieobeyed. “Now,which’llyouhave,Maggie,—righthandorleft?” “I’llhavethatwiththejamrunout,”saidMaggie,keepinghereyesshuttopleaseTom. “Why,youdon’tlikethat,yousilly.Youmayhaveitifitcomestoyoufair,butIsha’n’tgiveityouwithout.Rightorleft,—youchoose,now.Ha-a-a!”saidTom,inatoneofexasperation,asMaggiepeeped.“Youkeepyoureyesshut,now,elseyousha’n’thaveany.” Maggie’spowerofsacrificedidnotextendsofarindeed,IfearshecaredlessthatTomshouldenjoytheutmostpossibleamountofpuff,thanthatheshouldbepleasedwithherforgivinghimthebestbit.Sosheshuthereyesquiteclose,tillTomtoldherto“saywhich,”andthenshesaid,“Lefthand.” “You’vegotit,”saidTom,inratherabittertone. “What!thebitwiththejamrunout?” “Nohere,takeit,”saidTom,firmly,handing,decidedlythebestpiecetoMaggie. “Oh,please,Tom,haveitIdon’tmind—Iliketheotherpleasetakethis.” “No,Isha’n’t,”saidTom,almostcrossly,beginningonhisowninferiorpiece. Maggie,thinkingitwasnousetocontendfurther,begantoo,andateupherhalfpuffwithconsiderablerelishaswellasrapidity.ButTomhadfinishedfirst,andhadtolookonwhileMaggieateherlastmorselortwo,feelinginhimselfacapacityformore.Maggiedidn’tknowTomwaslookingathershewasseesawingontheelder-bough,losttoalmosteverythingbutavaguesenseofjamandidleness. “Oh,yougreedything!”saidTom,whenshehadswallowedthelastmorsel.Hewasconsciousofhavingactedveryfairly,andthoughtsheoughttohaveconsideredthis,andmadeuptohimforit.Hewouldhaverefusedabitofhersbeforehand,butoneisnaturallyatadifferentpointofviewbeforeandafterone’sownshareofpuffisswallowed. Maggieturnedquitepale.“Oh,Tom,whydidn’tyouaskme?” “Iwasn’tgoingtoaskyouforabit,yougreedy.Youmighthavethoughtofitwithout,whenyouknewIgaveyouthebestbit.” “ButIwan