Summary Chapter 7

Tom’s concentration always wanders when he tries to study. He and his friend Joe Harper torment the tick. They begin to fight over it until they both get whacked by the school master.

Tom meets Becky after school. He asks if she will become engaged to him. She agrees. They do the ritual that seals their engagement to each other. She gets upset, though, when she finds out he was once engaged to Amy Lawrence. Tom tries to console her, but she won’t be consoled. He walks away in frustration. She looks for him, but he is gone.