Tom did play hookey, and he had a very good time. He got back home barely in season to helpJim, the small colored boy, saw next-day's wood and split the kindlings before supper-at least hewas there in time to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did three-fourths of the work. Tom'syounger brother (or rather half-brother) Sid was already through with his part of the work (pickingup chips), for he was a quiet boy, and had no adventurous, trouble-some ways.While Tom was eating his supper, and stealing sugar as opportunity offered, Aunt Polly asked himquestions that were full of guile, and very deep-for she wanted to trap him into damagingrevealments. Like many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she was endowedwith a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy, and she loved to contemplate her most transparentdevices as marvels of low cunning. Said she: "Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it?"Yes'm."Powerful warm, warn't it?"Yes'm."Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?