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Worse than that. You are suspended again. Worse than that. Trix has run away with somebody, cried Polly, with a gasp. Worse still. Oh, Tom, you havent horsewhipped or shot anyone? Came pretty near blowing my own brains out, but you see I didnt. I cant guess; tell me, quick. Well, Im expelled. Tom paused on the rug as he gave the answer, and looked at Polly to see how she took it. To his surprise she seemed almost relieved, and after a minutes silence, said, soberly, Thats bad, very bad; but it might have been worse. It is worse, and Tom walked away again with a despairing sort of groan. Dont knock the chairs about, but come and sit down, and tell me quietly. Cant do it. Well go on, then. Are you truly expelled? Cant it be made up? What did you do? Its a true bill this time. I just had a row with the Chapel watchman, and knocked him down. If it was a first offence, I might have got off; but you see Ive had no end of narrow escapes, and this was my last chance; Ive lost it, and now therell be the dickens to pay. I knew it was all up with me, so I didnt wait to be turned out, but just took myself off. What will your father say? It will come hard on the governor, but the worst of it is there Tom stopped, and stood a minute in the middle of the room with his head down, as if he didnt find it easy to tell even kind little Polly. Then out came the truth all in a breath, just as he used to bolt out his boyish misdemeanours, and then back up against the wall ready to take the consequences. I owe an awful lot of money that the governor dont know about. Oh Tom, how could you? Ive been an extravagant rascal, I know it, and Im thundering sorry, but that dont help a fellow. Ive got to tell the dear old buffer, and theres where it cuts. At another time Polly would have laughed at the contrast between Toms face and his language, but there was a sincere remorse, which made even the dreadful word buffer rather touching than otherwise. He will be very angry, I dare say; but hell help you, wont he? He always does, Fan says. Thats the worst of it, you see. Hes paid up so often, that the last time he said his patience couldnt stand it nor his pocket either, and if I got into any more scrapes of that sort, I must get out as I could. I |
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