Becky Thatcher

At school, Tom fell suddenly and completely in love. The girl's name was Becky Thatcher — the daughter of the town judge. She was new in St. Petersburg, with blue eyes and fair hair, and Tom decided at once that she was the most wonderful person he had ever seen.

He showed off in class and in the yard until he caught her attention. Eventually they talked, and Tom told her she was his girlfriend and that they were "engaged."

"You have to promise never to love anyone else," he said seriously. "And you have to tell me so — like this: 'I love you, and I will never love anybody but you, and I want us to be married.'"

Becky repeated the words shyly. Then she asked: "Have you ever been engaged before, Tom?"

Tom said yes — to a girl named Amy Lawrence — before he could stop himself. Becky's eyes filled with tears. She turned away and refused to speak to him.

Tom tried every trick to win her back. Nothing worked. He went home feeling that life was nothing but misery.