ادوارد تولیور میمیره

CHAPTER SEVEN

Edward Tulliver Dies

Three weeks passed. Tom did not speak to Maggie. One afternoon, he came back to the house at two o’clock. He spoke to his father.

‘I have good news, Father,’ Tom said. ‘Uncle Deane lent me some money. I have traded with the money. I have bought goods and sold them well. I have three hundred and twenty pounds. We can pay Lawyer Wakem.’

‘Bessy,’ said Mr Tulliver, ‘we have a good son.’

The next afternoon, Mr Tulliver went to St Ogg’s with Tom. They rode their horses to Lawyer Wakem’s office. The lawyer was not there but they left three hundred pounds for him. Then Tom went to the office of Guest and Company. Mr Tulliver rode back to the mill.

A man on a horse was waiting outside the mill. It was Lawyer Wakem.

‘I want to speak to you, Tulliver,’ said Wakem.

‘I will speak first,’ Mr Tulliver shouted. ‘I have left three hundred pounds at your office. I have paid you all your money. I will not work for you now!’

‘Good! I don’t want you,’ Wakem replied. ‘You are a very stupid man, Tulliver!’

‘And you are a very bad man’ Tulliver shouted.

‘I am going’ Wakem said. ‘Move your horse!’

Mr Tulliver lifted his riding whip. He rode towards the lawyer. Wakem’s horse was frightened. It turned suddenly and Wakem fell to the ground. Mr Tulliver got off his horse. He started to beat the lawyer with his riding whip.

‘Help! Help’ Wakem shouted.

Maggie and Mrs Tulliver ran out of the house. Maggie screamed.

‘Stop, Father, stop’ she shouted. She held her father’s arms. ‘Please stop, Father,’ she said. ‘Mother, help Mr Wakem!’

Wakem stood up. He got onto his horse.

‘I will not forget this, Tulliver’ he said. And he rode slowly away.

‘Father, come into the house,’ said Maggie.

Mr Tulliver did not move. ‘I am ill,’ he said. ‘Help me. There is a pain in my head.’

Maggie and her mother took Mr Tulliver into the house.

‘Go and get Tom,’ Mr Tulliver said.

Maggie ran to St Ogg’s. She went to Guest and Company’s office. ‘Come quickly, Tom,’ she said.

Mr Tulliver lay in bed. He could not move. He was very ill. Tom, Maggie and Mrs Tulliver sat by the bed.

‘What shall I do, Father’ asked Tom.

‘Save your money. Buy the mill from Wakem,’ Mr Tulliver said.

‘Yes, Father,’ said Tom.

‘Take care of your mother. And take care of your sister,’ Mr Tulliver said.

‘Yes, Father, I will,’ said Tom.

‘Kiss me, Maggie,’ said Mr Tulliver. ‘Kiss me, Bessy. Goodbye, my son.’ And he died.

Tom and Maggie looked at each other.

‘We must always love each other, Tom,’ Maggie said.

Tom held his sister’s hand.

‘Yes, Maggie,’ he said.