I knew it was all up with me, so I did n't wait to be
turned out, but just took myself off."
"What will your father say?"
"It will come hard on the governor, but the worst of it is " there
Tom stopped, and stood a minute in the middle of the room with
his head down, as if he did n't find it easy to tell even kind little
Polly. Then out came the truth all in a breath, just as he used to
bolt out his boyish misdemeanors, and then back up against the
wall ready to take the consequences.
"I owe an awful lot of money that the governor don't know about."
"Oh, Tom, how could you?"
"I 've been an extravagant rascal, I know it, and I 'm thundering
sorry, but that don't help a fellow, I 've got to tell the dear old
buffer, and there 's where it cuts."
At another time Polly would have laughed at the contrast between
Tom's face and his language, but there was a sincere remorse,
which made even the dreadful word "buffer" rather touching than
otherwise.
"He will be very angry, I dare say; but he 'll help you, won't he? He
always does, Fan says.
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