Monday morning found Tom Sawyer miserable. Monday morning always found him so, because it began another week's slow suffering in school.

Tom lay thinking. Presently it occurred to him that he wished he was ill; then he could stay home from school. Here was a little possibility. He examined his system. No ailment was found and he investigated again. This time he thought he could find colicky symptoms, and he began to encourage them with considerable hope. But they soon grew feeble and gradually died away. He examined himself further. Suddenly he discovered something. One of his upper teeth was loose. This was lucky; he was about to begin to groan when it occurred to him that if he complained of it his aunt would pull it out, and that would hurt. So he thought he would hold the tooth in reserve for the present, and examined further. For some little time he could find nothing, and then he remembered hearing the doctor tell about a certain thing that laid up a patient for two or three weeks and threatened to make him lose a finger. So the boy eagerly drew his sore toe from under the sheet and hold it up for inspection. But now he did not know the necessary symptoms. He began to groan with considerable spirit.

But Sid slept on, unconscious.

Tom groaned louder and thought that he began to feel pain in the toe.
No result from Sid.
Tom continued to groan. He took a rest then groaned louder again.
Sid snored on.

Tom said: "Sid, Sid!" and shook him. This worked well, and Tom began to groan again. Sid yawned, stretched, then brought himself up on his elbow and began to look at Tom. Tom went on groaning. Sid said: "Tom! Say, Tom! What is the matter, Tom?" And he shook him, and looked in his face anxiously.
Tom moaned out:

"Oh, don't Sid. Don't shake me".
"Why, what's the matter, Tom? I must call auntie"
"No, never mind. It'll be over soon, maybe. Don't call anybody".
"But I must! Don't groan so, Tom, it's awful. How long have you been this way?"
"Hours. Ouch! Oh, don't shake me so, Sid. You'll kill me!"
"Tom, why didn't you wake me sooner? Oh, Tom, what is the matter?"
"I forgive you everything, Sid. (Groan.) Everything you've done to me. When I'm gone..."