When Tom gets home Aunt Polly is wildly angry. She has talked to Mrs. Harper and discovered that his "dream" was a lie. Joe has told her the whole story of Tom sneaking into the village. She is very embarrassed at looking foolish in front of Joe's mother. Tom realizes that his joke has had mean results. "'Auntie, I wish I hadn't done it--but I didn't think.'" Chapter 19, pg.
118 He tells her that he wanted to easy her worry. He was going to leave the piece of bark with his message, but simply didn't want to spoil the funeral plans. Instead, he took the bark back and kissed her and left. Aunt Polly asks why Tom kissed her, and Tom explains that he loves her and felt bad watching her moan in her sleep. Aunt Polly realizes Tom is telling the truth and kisses him again and sends him back off to school. Once he is gone, she checks his jacket pocket for the piece of bark. Reading the note, she starts to cry, realizing that Tom really does care for her. "'I could forgive the boy, now, if he'd committed a million sins!'" Chapter 19, pg. 120
