A shake of the head.
Gracie Miller?
The same sign.
Susan Harper, did you do this?
Another negative. The next girl was Becky Thatcher. Tom was trembling
from head to foot with excitement and a sense of the hopelessness of the
situation.
Rebecca Thatcher [Tom glanced at her face it was white with
terror] did you tear no, look me in the face [her hands rose in
appeal] did you tear this book?
A thought shot like lightning through Tom s brain. He sprang to his feet
and shouted I done it!
The school stared in perplexity at this incredible folly. Tom stood a
moment, to gather his dismembered faculties; and when he stepped forward
to go to his punishment the surprise, the gratitude, the adoration that
shone upon him out of poor Becky s eyes seemed pay enough for a hundred
floggings. Inspired by the splendor of his own act, he took without
an outcry the most merciless flaying that even Mr. Dobbins had ever
administered; and also received with indifference the added cruelty of a
command to remain two hours after school should be dismissed for he
knew who would wait for him outside till his captivity was done, and not
count the tedious time as loss, either.
Tom went to bed that night planning vengeance against Alfred Temple; for
with shame and repentance Becky had told him all, not forgetting her own
treachery; but even the longing for vengeance had to give way, soon, to
pleasanter musings, and he fell asleep at last with Becky s latest words
lingering dreamily in his ear
Tom, how _could_ you be so noble!
137