Book 1: Chapter 5 Summary

Tom is described in this chapter as twelve or thirteen years old and in appearance as opposite of Maggie as possible-"a lad with light-brown hair, cheeks of cream and roses, full lips, indeterminate nose and eyebrows." However, the narrator also indicates that underneath that pleasing surface is an inflexible and unmodifiable nature.

Tom has brought his sister a new fishing line - he has foregone sweets to be able to buy it for her. He promises to take her fishing, which makes her even happier. She tells him how much she loves him. He now wants to go and see his rabbits, but Maggie tells him they are all dead. He is very angry and says she can't go fishing with him after all, and crushes her. She runs to the attic, and Mr. Tulliver scolds Tom for not being...