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when he understood that if he came to his aunt with that argument, she would pull it out, and that would hurt. So he thought he would keep the tooth in reserve for the present, and looked further. He remembered that the doctor was telling about something that kept a patient in bed for two or three weeks and there was a danger that he could lose a finger. So the boy gladly put out his toe from under the sheet. It seemed good to use a chance, so he started groaning with great enthusiasm. But Sid slept on, not knowing anything.
2. Tom groaned louder, and imagined that he began to feel pain in the toe. No result from Sid.
Tom shook him. This move worked well, and Tom began to groan again. Sid yawned, stretched and began to look at Tom. Tom went on groaning. Sid said: "Tom! Say, Tom!" (No response.) "Here, Tom! What's the matter, Tom?" Tom groaned out: "Oh, don't, Sid. Don't push me." "Why, what's the matter, Tom? I must call auntie." "No — never mind. It'll be over soon, maybe. Don't call anybody." "I must! Don't groan so, Tom, it's awful. How long have you been this way?" "Hours. Ouch! Oh, don't touch me, Sid, you'll kill me." "Tom, why didn't you wake me sooner? Oh, Tom!"
3. "I forgive you everything, Sid. (Groan.) Everything you've ever done to me. When I'm gone —"
"Oh, Tom, you aren't dying, are you? Don't, Tom — oh, don't. Maybe..."
"I forgive everybody, Sid. (Groan.) Tell them so, Sid. And Sid, you give my cat with one eye to that new girl that's come to town, and tell her —"
But Sid was gone. Tom was suffering in reality now, so nicely was his imagination working, and so his groans became quite natural.
Sid ran downstairs and said:
"Oh, Aunt Polly, come! Tom's dying!"
"Dying! Rubbish! I don't believe it!"
But she ran upstairs, nevertheless, with Sid and Mary behind her. And
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