Chapter X. Maggie Behaves Worse Than She Expected

ThestartlingobjectwhichthusmadeanepochforunclePulletwasnootherthanlittleLucy,withonesideofherperson,fromhersmallfoottoherbonnet-crown,wetanddiscolouredwithmud,holdingouttwotinyblackenedhands,andmakingaverypiteousface.ToaccountforthisunprecedentedapparitioninauntPullet’sparlour,wemustreturntothemomentwhenthethreechildrenwenttoplayoutofdoors,andthesmalldemonswhohadtakenpossessionofMaggie’ssoulatanearlyperiodofthedayhadreturnedinallthegreaterforceafteratemporaryabsence.Allthedisagreeablerecollectionsofthemorningwerethickuponher,whenTom,whosedispleasuretowardherhadbeenconsiderablyrefreshedbyherfoolishtrickofcausinghimtoupsethiscowslipwine,said,“Here,Lucy,youcomealongwithme,”andwalkedofftotheareawherethetoadswere,asiftherewerenoMaggieinexistence.Seeingthis,Maggielingeredatadistance,lookinglikeasmallMedusawithhersnakescropped.LucywasnaturallypleasedthatcousinTomwassogoodtoher,anditwasveryamusingtoseehimticklingafattoadwithapieceofstringwhenthetoadwassafedownthearea,withanirongratingoverhim.StillLucywishedMaggietoenjoythespectaclealso,especiallyasshewoulddoubtlessfindanameforthetoad,andsaywhathadbeenhispasthistoryforLucyhadadelightedsemi-beliefinMaggie’sstoriesaboutthelivethingstheycameuponbyaccident,—howMrsEarwighadawashathome,andoneofherchildrenhadfallenintothehotcopper,forwhichreasonshewasrunningsofasttofetchthedoctor.TomhadaprofoundcontemptforthisnonsenseofMaggie’s,smashingtheearwigatonceasasuperfluousyeteasymeansofprovingtheentireunrealityofsuchastorybutLucy,forthelifeofher,couldnothelpfancyingtherewassomethinginit,andatalleventsthoughtitwasveryprettymake-believe.Sonowthedesiretoknowthehistoryofaveryportlytoad,addedtoherhabitualaffectionateness,madeherrunbacktoMaggieandsay,“Oh,thereissuchabig,funnytoad,Maggie!Docomeandsee!” Maggiesaidnothing,butturnedawayfromherwithadeeperfrown.AslongasTomseemedtopreferLucytoher,Lucymadepartofhisunkindness.MaggiewouldhavethoughtalittlewhileagothatshecouldneverbecrosswithprettylittleLucy,anymorethanshecouldbecrueltoalittlewhitemousebutthen,TomhadalwaysbeenquiteindifferenttoLucybefore,andithadbeenlefttoMaggietopetandmakemuchofher.Asitwas,shewasactuallybeginningtothinkthatsheshouldliketomakeLucycrybyslappingorpinchin