Most people 's did . Tommy had the reputation of being a very bad , mischievous boy ; he was certainly very poor and ragged , and Miss Octavia disapproved of poverty and rags on principle . Nobody , she argued , not even a boy of twelve , need be poor and ragged if he is willing to work . `` Here , you , get away out of this , '' she said sharply . `` I 'm not going to have you hanging over my palings . '' `` I ai n't hurting your old palings , '' retorted Tommy sullenly . `` I was jist a-looking at the flowers . '' `` Yes , and picking out the next one to throw a stone at , '' said Miss Octavia sarcastically . `` It was you who threw that stone and broke my big scarlet geranium clear off the other day . '' `` It was n't -- I never chucked a stone at your flowers , '' said Tommy . `` Do n't tell me any falsehoods , Tommy Puffer . It was you . Did n't I catch you firing stones at my cat a dozen times ? '' `` I might have fired 'em at an old cat , but I would n't tech a flower , '' avowed Tommy boldly -- brazenly , Miss Octavia thought . `` You clear out of this or I 'll make you , '' she said warningly . Tommy had had his ears boxed by Miss Octavia more than once . He had no desire to have the performance repeated , so he stuck his tongue out at Miss Octavia and then marched up the street with his hands in his pockets , whistling jauntily . `` He 's the most impudent brat I ever saw in my life , '' muttered Miss Octavia wrathfully . There was a standing feud between her and all the Arundel small boys , but Tommy was her special object of dislike . Tommy 's heart was full of wrath and bitterness as he marched away .
He hated Miss Octavia ; he wished something would happen to every one XXXXX her flowers ; he knew it was Ned Williams who had thrown that stone , and he hoped Ned would throw some more and smash all the flowers .
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