From an extract of Chapter 5. First paragraph begins with "Mrs. Tulliver stood with her arms open;". The extract ends with "what novelty is worth that sweet monotony where everything is known, and loved because it is known?"
Your original question depends on where in the novel you mean. Tom can get angry with his sister's carelessness but loves her just the same. When Tom gets home for the summer, he learns that his younger sister Maggie forgot to feed his rabbits and they have all died, so he is furious with her. Maggie is a very bright girl with good intentions and a strong desire to please her brother, so this devastates her. As will happen frequently throughout their lives, Tom coldly holds her carelessness against her for a little while before forgiving her.
GradeSaver
