Eliot, George, 1819-1880. Mill on the Floss -- Adaptations; Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
"I don't know," said Philip. "They're not like any other eyes. They
seem trying to speak--trying to speak kindly. I don't like other
people to look at me much, but I like you to look at me, Maggie."
"Why, I think you're fonder of me than Tom is," said Maggie. Then,
wondering how she could convince Philip that she could like him just as
well, although he was crooked, she said,--
"Should you like me to kiss you, as I do Tom? I will, if you like."
"Yes, very much. Nobody kisses me."
Maggie put her arm round his neck and kissed him.
"There now," she said; "I shall always remember you, and kiss you when
I see you again, if it's ever so long. But I'll go now, because I
think Mr. Askern's done with Tom's foot."
When their father came the second time, Maggie said to him, "O father,
Philip Wakem is so very good to Tom; he is such a clever boy, and I do
love him.--And you love him too, Tom, don't you? Say you love him,"
she added entreatingly.
Tom coloured a little as he looked at his father, and said, "I shan't
be friends with him when I leave school, father. But we've made it up
now, since my foot has been bad; and he's taught me to play at
draughts, and I can beat him."
"Well, well," said Mr. Tulliver, "if he's good to you, try and make him
amends and be good to him. He's a poor crooked creatur, and takes
after his dead mother. But don't you be getting too thick with him;
he's got his father's blood in him too."
* * * * *
By the time Tom had reached his last quarter at King's Lorton the years
had made striking changes in him. He was a tall youth now, and wore
his tail-coat and his stand-up collars. Maggie, too, was tall now,
with braided and coiled hair. She was almost as tall as Tom, though
she was only thirteen; and she really looked older than he did.
At last the day came when Tom was to say good-bye to his tutor, and
Maggie came over to King's Lorton to fetch him home. Mr. Stelling put
his hand on Tom's shoulder, and said, "God bless you, my boy; let me
know how you get on." Then he pressed Maggie's hand; but there were no
audible good-byes. Tom had so often thought how joyful he should be
the day he left school "for good." And now that the great event had
come, his school years seemed like a holiday that had come to an end.
THE END
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME.
GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES.
Contains ten Fairy Tales, with six Coloured and numerous other
Illustrations.
THE WATER-BABIES.
By CHARLES KINGSLEY. Four exquisite Coloured Pictures and many
Pen-and-ink Illustrations.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND.
By LEWIS CARROLL. Eight Coloured Plates by Harry Rountree. The
prettiest cheap edition of this delightful Children's Classic in
existence.
THE KING OF THE GOLDEN RIVER, and Other Stories.
By JOHN RUSKIN and Others. Eight Coloured Plates by John Hassall.
UNCLE REMUS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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