فیلیپ ویکم

CHAPTER FOUR

Philip Wakem

In 1830, Tom Tulliver was thirteen years old. He had been living at Mr Stelling’s school for two years. Every day, he had to study for many hours.

Tom was not clever. The work was difficult for him. Philip Wakem was very clever. The work was not difficult for him.

Maggie often wrote letters to Tom. Maggie was eleven years old. She was clever. In her letters, she told Tom all the news. She told him about Dorlcote Mill and about the town of St Ogg’s. And Tom often wrote letters to Maggie. One day, he wrote:

Dear Maggie

I want to see you. Come and visit me. Mr Stelling is a kind man. You can stay for a few days. Please come soon.

Your loving brother Tom

Maggie wrote to Tom. She was going to visit him soon. Tom was very happy.

Two days before Maggie’s visit, Tom found an old sword in Mr Stelling’s house. The sword was heavy and sharp. Tom was very pleased. ‘I will show this sword to Maggie. It will frighten her’ he thought.

It was afternoon. Maggie was staying at Mr Stelling’s school. The boys were in the library. They were reading their books.

Maggie sat by the fire. She looked at Philip Wakem. ‘He is a kind boy,’ she thought. ‘But he is sad.’

And Philip looked at Maggie. ‘She has beautiful dark eyes,’ he thought. ‘She is a kind and gentle girl.’

At last, Tom closed his book.

‘Come upstairs with me, Maggie,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a secret!’

Tom and Maggie went upstairs to an empty room.

‘Turn round and shut your eyes’ Tom said.

Maggie shut her eyes for a few moments. Then she open them. Tom was holding a sword.

‘Look Maggie’ he said ‘I am a soldier. One, two, tree.’

‘Oh Tom,’ Maggie said ‘I am frightend. Be careful’

Sudenly Tom moved the sword quickly, but he was not careful. He cut his foot with the sword.

‘Oh’ he shouted. Then he fell onto the floor.

‘Tom is dead’ Maggie shouted ‘Tom is dead.’

Tom was not dead. But his foot was badly hurt. Tom had to stay in bed. Maggie took care of him. She stayed at the school for a week.

One afternoon, Tom was asleep. Maggie and Philip were sitting in the library.

‘Maggie, I do not have a sister,’ Philip said quietly. ‘Will you be my sister? I love you, Maggie.’

‘I love my brother,’ Maggie replied. ‘But I love you too, Philip. I am going away to school soon. I will not see you again.’

‘I will never forget you, Maggie,’ Philip said. ‘I will never forget your beautiful dark eyes.’

‘Thank you,’ said Maggie. And she kissed Philip quickly.