Chapter 19

           Tomarrivedathomeinadrearymood,andthefirstthinghisauntsaidtohimshowedhimthathehadbroughthissorrowstoanunpromisingmarket: 

           "Tom,I’veanotiontoskinyoualive!" 

           "Auntie,whathaveIdone?" 

           "Well,you’vedoneenough. HereIgoovertoSerenyHarper,likeanoldsofty,expectingI’mgoingtomakeherbelieveallthatrubbageaboutthatdream,whenloandbeholdyoushe’dfoundoutfromJoethatyouwasoverhereandheardallthetalkwehadthatnight. Tom,Idon’tknowwhatistobecomeofaboythatwillactlikethat. ItmakesmefeelsobadtothinkyoucouldletmegotoSerenyHarperandmakesuchafoolofmyselfandneversayaword." 

           Thiswasanewaspectofthething. HissmartnessofthemorninghadseemedtoTomagoodjokebefore,andveryingenious. Itmerelylookedmeanandshabbynow. Hehunghisheadandcouldnotthinkofanythingtosayforamoment. Thenhesaid: 

           "Auntie,IwishIhadn’tdoneit—butIdidn’tthink." 

           "Oh,child,youneverthink. Youneverthinkofanythingbutyourownselfishness. YoucouldthinktocomeallthewayoverherefromJackson’sIslandinthenighttolaughatourtroubles,andyoucouldthinktofoolmewithalieaboutadream; butyoucouldn’teverthinktopityusandsaveusfromsorrow." 

           "Auntie,Iknownowitwasmean,butIdidn’tmeantobemean. Ididn’t,honest. Andbesides,Ididn’tcomeoverheretolaughatyouthatnight." 

           "Whatdidyoucomefor,then?"