Chapter 19
The blessed lie and Tom's noble flogging
English edition
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1 At noon Tom trudges home down the dusty street toward Aunt Polly's whitewashed fence
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2 Across the worn pine table, Tom tells his aunt why he kissed her, and his face is open and sincere.
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3 Aunt Polly cries as she reads Tom's piece of sycamore bark at the open closet
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4 Becky is alone at the master's desk with his secret Anatomy book.
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5 Becky snaps the master's Anatomy shut, and the coloured plate rips down the middle
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6 The master opens his book as Becky sits frozen, fingers pressed to her lips
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7 The drowsy afternoon hum has died into a dead hush.
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8 Becky lifts a chalk-white face to the master and raises her trembling hands
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9 In the silent schoolroom Tom leaps to his feet and takes the blame for the torn book to save Becky.
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10 Tom walks up to take the flogging meant for Becky, and she watches him from the girls' bench.
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11 In bed, Tom hears Becky's grateful words again and falls asleep with a happy smile
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