FullReads

“No, Tom,” said Maggie, laying hold of the arm that was held stiffly in the pocket. “I’m not cross, Tom; it was only because I can’t bear guessing. Please be good to me.”

Tom’s arm slowly relaxed, and he said, “Well, then, it’s a new fish-line–‘two new uns–one for you, Maggie, all to yourself. I wouldn’t go halves in the toffee and gingerbread on purpose to save the money; and Gibson and Spouncer fought with me because I wouldn’t. And here’s hooks; see here! I say, won’t we go and fish to-morrow down by Round Pond? And you shall catch your own fish, and put the worms on, and everything. Won’t it be fun!”

Maggie’s answer was to throw her arms round Tom’s neck and hug him, and hold her cheek against his without speaking, while he slowly unwound some of the line, saying, after a pause,–

“Wasn’t I a good brother, now, to buy you a line all to yourself? You know, I needn’t have bought it if I hadn’t liked!”

“Yes, very, very good. I do love you, Tom.”

Tom had put the line back in his pocket, and was looking at the hooks one by one, before he spoke again.

“And the fellows fought me because I wouldn’t give in about the toffee.”

“Oh dear! I wish they wouldn’t fight at your school, Tom. Didn’t it hurt you?”

“Hurt me? No,” said Tom, putting up the hooks again. Then he took out a large pocket-knife, and slowly opened the largest blade and rubbed his finger along it. At last he said,–

“I gave Spouncer a black eye, I know–that’s what he got by wanting to leather me; I wasn’t going to go halves because anybody leathered me.”

“Oh, how brave you are, Tom! I think you’re like Samson. If there came a lion roaring at me, I think you’d fight him; wouldn’t you, Tom?”

“How can a lion come roaring at you, you silly thing? There’s no lions–only in the shows.”

“No; but if we were in the lion countries–I mean, in Africa, where it’s very hot–the lions eat people there. I can show it you in the book where I read it.”

“Well, I should get a gun and shoot him.”

“But if you hadn’t got a gun. We might have gone out, you know, not thinking, just as we go fishing; and then a great lion might run towards us roaring, and we couldn’t get away from him. What should you do, Tom?”

Tom paused, and at last turned away, saying, “But the lion isn’t coming. What’s the use of talking?”

“But I like to fancy how it would be,” said Maggie, following him. “Just think what you would do, Tom.”

“Oh, don’t bother, Maggie! you’re such a silly. I shall go and see my rabbits.”

Upon this Maggie’s heart began to flutter with fear, for she had bad news for Tom. She dared not tell the sad truth at once, but she walked after Tom in trembling silence as he went out.

“Tom,” she said timidly, when they were out of doors, “how much money did you give for your rabbits?”

“Two half-crowns and a sixpence,” said Tom promptly.

“I think I’ve got a great deal more than that in my steel purse upstairs. I’ll ask mother to give it you.”

“What for?” said Tom. “I don’t want your money, you silly thing. I’ve got a great deal more money than you, because I’m a boy.”

“Well, but, Tom, if mother would let me give you two half-crowns and a sixpence out of my purse to put into your pocket and spend, you know, and buy some more rabbits with it.”

“More rabbits? I don’t want any more.”

“Oh, but, Tom, they’re all dead!”

Tom stopped, and turned round towards Maggie. “You forgot to feed ’em, then, and Harry forgot?” he said, his colour rising for a moment. “I’ll pitch into Harry–I’ll have him turned away. And I don’t love you, Maggie. You shan’t go fishing with me to-morrow. I told you to go and see the rabbits every day.” He walked on again.