Aunt Polly kissed Tom Sawyer. Her kiss made Tom Sawyer feel very happy. He was not sad anymore. He walked to school and he saw Becky Thatcher on Meadow Lane.
Tom Sawyer felt good, so he ran to Becky Thatcher. He said, “I was very mean today, Becky Thatcher. I am so sorry. I will never do that again. Please be my friend.”
Becky Thatcher stopped and looked at Tom Sawyer. She looked very angry. She said, “I do not want to talk to you, Mr. Thomas Sawyer. I will never speak to you again.”
Becky Thatcher walked away. Tom Sawyer was very surprised. He did not know what to say. Then, Tom Sawyer became very angry. He went into the schoolyard.
Tom Sawyer wished Becky Thatcher was a boy. He wanted to hit her. He saw Becky Thatcher again and said something mean. Becky Thatcher said something mean back to Tom Sawyer.
Becky Thatcher was very angry. She wanted the teacher to punish Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer’s spelling-book (a book for learning how to write words) was dirty. Becky Thatcher knew that Alfred Temple did it, but she did not tell Tom Sawyer.
Mr. Dobbins was the schoolmaster. He was a middle-aged man. Mr. Dobbins wanted to be a doctor, but he was poor. So, he worked as a teacher in the village.
Mr. Dobbins had a secret book in his desk. He always kept the desk locked. Every student wanted to see the book. No one knew what was inside the book.
Becky Thatcher walked past the teacher’s desk. She saw the key in the lock. She looked around the room. Becky Thatcher was alone. She took the book out of the desk.
The book was called Anatomy (the study of the human body). Becky Thatcher opened the book. She saw a picture of a human body with no clothes.
Suddenly, a shadow fell on the page. Tom Sawyer was at the door. Becky Thatcher was scared. She tried to close the book quickly. She tore the page in the middle.
Becky Thatcher put the book back in the desk. She locked the desk and started to cry. She was very upset and ashamed.
Becky Thatcher said, “Tom Sawyer, you are mean! You watched me!” Tom Sawyer said, “I did not know you were looking at anything.”
Becky Thatcher said, “You will tell the teacher. I will get a whipping (a punishment where a teacher hits a student with a stick). I was never hit in school before!”
Becky Thatcher was very angry. She ran out of the school. Tom Sawyer stood still. He thought girls were very strange and weak.
Tom Sawyer thought, “A whipping (a punishment where a teacher hits a student with a stick) is nothing. But Becky Thatcher is a girl. The teacher will ask who tore the book. Becky Thatcher will look scared and the teacher will know.”
School began. Tom Sawyer looked at Becky Thatcher. Her face made Tom Sawyer feel sad. He did not want to feel sorry for her, but he did.
Then, the teacher found the ink on Tom Sawyer’s book. Tom Sawyer said he did not do it. But Mr. Dobbins did not believe Tom Sawyer. Mr. Dobbins gave Tom Sawyer a whipping (a punishment where a teacher hits a student with a stick).
Becky Thatcher watched the punishment. She did not tell the teacher about Alfred Temple. She was afraid Tom Sawyer would tell the teacher about the torn book.
An hour passed. The room was very quiet. Mr. Dobbins sat at his desk. He opened the desk and took out his secret book. Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher watched him.
Becky Thatcher looked like a scared animal. Tom Sawyer wanted to help her. He thought, “I must do something now!”
Tom Sawyer wanted to grab the book and run. But he was too slow. Mr. Dobbins opened the book. He saw the torn page.
Mr. Dobbins was very angry. He looked at all the students. Everyone was quiet and afraid. Mr. Dobbins said, “Who tore this book?”
No one spoke. Mr. Dobbins asked the boys one by one. Benjamin Rogers said, “No.” Joseph Harper said, “No.”
Then the teacher asked the girls. Amy Lawrence said, “No.” Gracie Miller said, “No.” Susan Harper said, “No.”
Finally, the teacher looked at Becky Thatcher. Her face was white with fear. Mr. Dobbins asked, “Rebecca Thatcher, did you tear this book?”
Tom Sawyer had an idea. He stood up quickly and shouted, “I did it!”
The students were very surprised. Tom Sawyer went to the front of the room. He looked at Becky Thatcher. Her eyes were full of love and thanks.
Mr. Dobbins gave Tom Sawyer a very hard whipping (a punishment where a teacher hits a student with a stick). He also told Tom Sawyer to stay after school for two hours. Tom Sawyer did not care.
Tom Sawyer knew Becky Thatcher would wait for him outside. That night, Tom Sawyer went to bed happy. Becky Thatcher told him the truth about the ink.
Becky Thatcher’s last words were in his head. She said, “Tom, how could you be so noble (very brave and good)!”