CHAPTER XXXVII 

THE END OF A BOYHOOD 

Convinced of his own worthlessness, Tommy was sufficiently humble now, but Aaron Latta, nevertheless, marched to the square on the following market day and came back with the boy's sentence, Elspeth being happily absent. 

"I say nothing about the disgrace you have brought on this house," the warper began without emotion, "for it has been a shamed house since afore you were born, and it's a small offence to skail on a clarty floor. But now I've done more for you than I promised Jean Myles to do, and you had your pick atween college and the herding, and the herding you've chosen twice. I call you no names, you ken best what you're fitted for, but I've seen the farmer of the Dubb of Prosen the day, and he was short-handed through the loss of Tod Lindertis, so you're fee'd to him. Dinna think you get Tod's place, it'll be years afore you rise to that, but it's right and proper that as he steps up, you should step down." 

"The Dubb of Prosen!" cried Tommy in dismay. "It's fifteen miles frae here." 

"It's a' that." 

"But--but--but Elspeth and me never thought of my being so far away that she couldna see me. We thought of a farmer near Thrums." 

"The farther you're frae her the better," said Aaron, uneasily, yet honestly believing what he said. 

"It'll kill her," Tommy cried fiercely. With only his own suffering to consider he would probably have nursed it into a play through which he stalked as the noble child of misfortune, but in his anxiety for Elspeth he could still forget himself. "Fine you ken she canna do without me," he screamed. 

What are the answers to this following set of questions:

1. Who is playing a parent like role for Tommy?
2. What is the name of the warper?
3. Who does Tommy seem fond of?
4. Does it seem that Tommy has been behaving well in the time shortly before this all takes place?
5. Will Tommy be likely to move soon?
6. Where to?
7. What will he do when there?
8. Does he want to move there?
9. Where would he rather go?
10. Why does he prefer the one place over the other?
11. Did Tommy have a choice of continuing his education more?
12. Did he decide to continue his schooling?

Numbered answers:
1. the warper
2. Aaron Latta,
3. Elspeth
4. no
5. yes
6. The Dubb of Prosen
7. help a farmer
8. no
9. Thurms
10. it's closer
11. yes
12. no