human
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.
gpt
Yes, very, very good--I do love you, Tom.
human
And the fellows fought me, because I wouldn't give in about the toffee.
gpt
Oh, dear! I wish they wouldn't fight at your school, Tom. Didn't it hurt you?
human
Hurt me? no, said Tom, putting up the hooks again, taking out a large pocketknife, and slowly opening the largest blade, which he looked at meditatively as he rubbed his finger along it. Then he added--
gpt
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.
human
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?
gpt
How can a lion come roaring at you, you silly thing? There's no lions, only in the shows.
human
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 to you in the book where I read it.
gpt
Well, I should get a gun and shoot him.
human
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 toward us roaring, and we couldn't get away from him. What should you do, Tom? Tom paused, and at last turned away contemptuously, saying,
gpt
But the lion isn't coming. What's the use of talking?
human
But I like to fancy how it would be, said Maggie, following him.
gpt
Just think what you would do, Tom.
human
Oh, don't bother, Maggie! you're such a silly--I shall go and see my rabbits.
gpt
Tom, she said timidly, when they were out of doors,
human
Two half crowns and a sixpence,
gpt
I think I've got a great deal more than that in my steel purse upstairs. I'll ask mother to give it to you.
human
What for? said Tom.
gpt
I don't want your money, you silly thing. I've got a great deal more money than you, because I'm a boy. I always have half sovereigns and sovereigns for my Christmas boxes, because I shall be a man, and you only have five-shilling pieces, because you're only a girl.
human
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?
gpt
More rabbits? I don't want any more.
human
Oh, but, Tom, they're all dead.
gpt
You forgot to feed 'em, then, and Harry forgot, he said, his color heightening for a moment, but soon subsiding.
human
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.
gpt
Yes, but I forgot--and I couldn't help it, indeed, Tom. I'm so very sorry,
human
You're a naughty girl, said Tom, severely;
gpt
Oh, Tom, it's very cruel, sobbed Maggie.
human
I'd forgive you, if you forgot anything--I wouldn't mind what you did--I'd forgive you and love you.
gpt
Yes, you're a silly--but I never do forget things--I don't.
human
Oh, please forgive me, Tom; my heart will break,
gpt
Now, Maggie, you just listen. Aren't I a good brother to you?
human
Ye-ye-es,
gpt
Didn't I think about your fish line all this quarter, and mean to buy it, and saved my money o' purpose, and wouldn't go halves in the toffee, and Spouncer fought me because I wouldn't?
human
Ye-ye-es--and I--lo-lo-love you so, Tom.
gpt
But you're a naughty girl. Last holidays you licked the paint off my lozenge box, and the holidays before that you let the boat drag my fish line down when I'd set you to watch it, and you pushed your head through my kite, all for nothing.
human
But I didn't mean, said Maggie;
gpt
I couldn't help it.
human
Yes, you could, said Tom,