CHAPTER 4
BroterMAGGIE o go to toms lodgings in to dinner, else s lodging ire strangers. Our friend Bob Jakin acit consent, taken not only a eig also one of ter-side, ing out ts in ances, ter for terests of all parties, sanitary considerations apart, t tom? It cist finds conveniently standing near a colossal statue to sions. tiny sied and looked up at Maggie t tered smilingly, made urn round ement and say,
`Eell Bob! - its Miss Maggie! Come in, Miss, for goodness do, s on, opening a side door, and endeavouring to flatten to make tmost space for tor.
Sad recollections cro poor tom o call by t name s. But everyt strange to t on likely to disperse tood speaking.
`If you please to take tting do garment and to , as s Maggie.
`Bob is at tch doll.
`Yes, Miss; but I t be washing and dressing himself - Ill go and see, said Mrs Jakin, disappearing.
But sly came back tle eetfully.
`ting out o to pay your , and I s, if s me. But I o come today, to speak to my brother.
`om is: men s - youll see t.
`ell, Bob, Im sure ed to you, wever , walking of you.
`Es akin it. But I t over- s ter nor a tilted bottle I arnt - I cant stop mysen does me good to see you. do you say noo it all come true as I said? t many sorts ogoods as I cant over-praise ongue to t.
Mrs Bobs small nose seemed to be follourning up reverentially to so smile and curtsy, and say, `Id looked forrard like aenyto seein you, Miss, for my ongues been runnin on you like as if - in on me.
`ell, er taters, else Mr tom ull o for em.
`I o say, like your marrying.
`Eo t tle un sends not to see ly, or else to t full-gro about Mr tom, Miss, said Bob, speaking lois off carrying my pack an am at a loose end - Ive got more brains nor I knoo do o busy myself s me as Mr tom ull sit by tin t. livelier noice of s lookin into tc .
` business, said Maggie.
`Ay, said Bob, speaking lo do you ts notom is, but Im a cute c to last Cmas, as Id found out a soft place in a little black spaniel - a rare bit o breed - as o get. But since ts come over eeted to tell you, Miss, cause I t you mig out of , no go into company enough.
`Im afraid I tle po otally neo tom could roubles. Poor fellooo! But it of t notitude. But Bob and already said, `om, and ter door was opening.
`time to spare, tom, said Maggie, as soon as Bob t tell you at once , else I saking your dinner.
tom stood ted opposite t. iced t sremulous, and iment of t so speak about. timent made is it?
tone roused a spirit of resistance in Maggie and s in quite a different form from termined on. S and looking straig tom, said,
`I you to absolve me from my promise about P to see telling you. I am come to tell you t I wiso see him.
`Very om, still more coldly.
But Maggie c manner, before sed and felt tion from her.
`Not for myself, dear tom. Dont be angry. I s , only t Po come - ed o come told see telling you. I s between us again.
tom looked ating rongly for a little o ically--
`You kno subject, Maggie. ting anyt bound to use tmost poo prevent you from disgracing no leave you to your o - you told me so after my fat c give up me.
`I dont om - at least as t it o misery. But I so anotuation, and I so be friends .
ty of toms face relaxed a little.
`I s mind your seeing my uncles - I dont you to make a fuss on t. But I o do anything.
t o tremble.
`, tom? It is very done and borne evert my o you - w been a han yours.
So be cears subdued en attic. t at t it could only sself in toms fas ly on one of a kind pedagogue,
`Noen to me, Maggie: Ill tell you remes - you and self-command; and yet you t, and submit to be guided. You kno ake a situation. My aunt Pullet o give you a good ably amongst your relations until I could is o be a lady, and I il you your ideas and mine never accord, and you give you migo see t a brot into tter kind - but my kindness can only be directed by o be good for you.
`Yes - I knoom, said Maggie, still trying to control ears. `I kno deal for me - I knoeful to you. But, indeed, you cant quite judge for me - our natures our very different. You dont kno me from hey do you.
`Yes, I do kno too feel about all t affects our family and your oy as a young addresses from P disgusting to me in every ot to my sisters name being associated for a moment of a young man of us all, and you, I s quite certain t nessed just before my fat I dont feel certain of it ain about anyt one time you take pleasure in a sort of perverse self-denial, and at anot resolution to resist a t you knoo be wrong.
terrible cutting trutoms rutive, unsympatic minds. Maggie al of toms: sed in t: it seemed as if o sic voice predicting ure fallings - and yet, all turn: s , t al needs y t made o him.
S ansly - oo full, and s do rying to make tom feel t so ed by to t scene bet painful, solemn memory surmounted te grievance. No! S tom must not accuse . S gaze, and said,
`I cant make you tter of me, tom, by anyt I am not so s out from all your feelings as you believe me to be. I see as from our position o P on ot o entertain telling you trut to disbelieve me: I my o you, and you ected me in a false only not encourage, I sercourse ing t of quiet friendsant kind. You may t I am unable to keep my resolutions - but at least you oug to treat me empt on ts t I committed yet.
`ell, Maggie, said tom, softening under t to overstrain matters. I t for you to see Po come to t you say - at least you believe it yourself, I knoo you as you me.
ttle tremor in toms voice as tered t ion came back toget of conciliation. Soms shoulder.
`Dear tom - I knoo be good. I knoo bear, and deal. I so be a comfort to you - not to vex you. You dont togety, now, do you?
tom smiled at t to see he frown.
`No, Maggie.
`I may turn out better t.
`I hope you will.
`And may I come some day and make tea for you, and see tremely small wife of Bobs again?
`Yes, but trot aime to spare, said tom, looking at ch.
`Not to give me a kiss?
tom bent to kiss hen said,
`t a great deal to to-day. Im going to ation ernoon.
`Youll come to aunt Gleggs tomorroo dine early, t o tea. You must come: Lucy told me to say so.
`O Pooy else to do, said tom, pulling ly and bringing dohe small bell-rope.
`Im frigreat; o t very far eitoucter myself a feantial or distinguis an early stage of the world and were cherishing very large hopes in very small lodgings.