WONDERING TOM 121

splendid drying, too!). If I were you, I ’d make the
most of it”; and the mother went back into the bare
entry, still clapping the ruffle.

“T do wonder how I can make the most of it,” asked
Tom of himself, over and over again, as he sauntered off.

He did n’t dare to go toward the north gate of the city,
because he could n’t decide what he should say if he
should meet little Wisk; so he turned toward the south.

“Shall I go back, { wonder, or keep on?” thought Tom,
as he found himself going farther from the door-step and
nearer to the great city-wall, until at last the southern
gate was reached. Following the dusty highway leading
from the city, he came to pleasant fields. Then, after
wading awhile through the sunlit grain, he followed a
shady brook ‘and entered the wood.

“Tt ’s pleasant here,” he thought. “I wonder why
mother did 1’t get a cottage out here in the country in-
stead of livine in the noisy city.”

“Could u’t,” croaked a voice close by.

Tom started. There was nobody near but frogs and
crickets. Besides, as he had not spoken aloud, of course
it could not be in answer to him. Still, he wondered
what in the world the voice could be, and why it sounded
like “could n’t.”

“Tt certainly did sound so. Maybe she could 1’t, after
all,” thought Tom ; “but why could 1’t she, T wonder?”

“No-one-to-help,” said something, as it jumped with a
splash into the water.

“T do wonder what that was!” exclaimed Tom, aloud ;
“there ’s nobody here, that ’s certain. Oh, it must have