but you and you ain t to ever marry anybody but me, either.
Certainly. Of course. That s _part_ of it. And always coming to school
or when we re going home, you re to walk with me, when there ain t
anybody looking and you choose me and I choose you at parties, because
that s the way you do when you re engaged.
It s so nice. I never heard of it before.
Oh, it s ever so gay! Why, me and Amy Lawrence
The big eyes told Tom his blunder and he stopped, confused.
Oh, Tom! Then I ain t the first you ve ever been engaged to!
The child began to cry. Tom said:
Oh, don t cry, Becky, I don t care for her any more.
Yes, you do, Tom you know you do.
Tom tried to put his arm about her neck, but she pushed him away and
turned her face to the wall, and went on crying. Tom tried again, with
soothing words in his mouth, and was repulsed again. Then his pride was
up, and he strode away and went outside. He stood about, restless and
uneasy, for a while, glancing at the door, every now and then, hoping
she would repent and come to find him. But she did not. Then he began
to feel badly and fear that he was in the wrong. It was a hard struggle
with him to make new advances, now, but he nerved himself to it and
entered. She was still standing back there in the corner, sobbing, with
her face to the wall. Tom s heart smote him. He went to her and stood a
moment, not knowing exactly how to proceed. Then he said hesitatingly:
Becky, I I don t care for anybody but you.
No reply but sobs.
Becky pleadingly. Becky, won t you say something?
More sobs.
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