He meant to punish her, and that business having been performed, he occupied himself with other matters, like a practical person.

But when he had been called in to tea, his father said, "Why, where's the little wench ?" and Mrs.Tulliver, almost at the same moment, said, "Where's your little sister ?"--both of them having supposed that Maggie and Tom had been together all the afternoon.
"I don't know," said Tom.

He didn't want to "tell" of Maggie, though he was angry with her; for Tom Tulliver was a lad of honor.
"What! hasn't she been playing with you all this while ?" said the father.

"She'd been thinking o' nothing but your coming home." "I haven't seen her this two hours," says Tom, commencing on the plumcake.
"Goodness heart; she's got drownded!" exclaimed Mrs.Tulliver, rising from her seat and running to the window.
"How could you let her do so ?" she added, as became a fearful woman, accusing she didn't know whom of she didn't know what.
"Nay, nay, she's none drownded," said Mr.Tulliver.

"You've been naughty to her, I doubt, Tom ?" "I'm sure I haven't, father," said Tom, indignantly.