Anatomy book
The Anatomy book is a mysterious, locked volume belonging to the schoolmaster Mr. Dobbins, whose secret contents and the circumstances of its tearing become a pivotal object in the developing relationship between Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, revealing Tom's capacity for noble self-sacrifice.
Nature and Secrecy
The book was a constant source of fascination and speculation among the pupils. Mr. Dobbins, a middle-aged schoolmaster whose unsatisfied ambition was to be a doctor, kept this mysterious book under lock and key in his desk, taking it out to read only at times when no classes were reciting. Every urchin in the school was perishing to have a glimpse of it, but the chance never came. Every boy and girl had a theory about the nature of that book, but no two theories were alike, and there was no way of getting at the facts. The title-page read "Professor Somebody's ANATOMY," which carried no information to Becky's mind when she finally saw it.
The Tearing Incident
One day, as Becky was passing by the desk, which stood near the door, she noticed that the key was in the lock. Seizing the precious moment, she glanced around, found herself alone, and had the book in her hands in an instant. She began to turn the leaves and came at once upon a handsomely engraved and colored frontispiece — a human figure, stark naked. At that moment a shadow fell on the page and Tom Sawyer stepped in at the door and caught a glimpse of the picture. Becky snatched at the book to close it, and had the hard luck to tear the pictured page half down the middle. She thrust the volume into the desk, turned the key, and burst out crying with shame and vexation. She accused Tom of sneaking up on her, and in her distress predicted she would be whipped, something that had never happened to her in school before.
Tom's Self-Sacrifice
Later, when Mr. Dobbins straightened himself up, yawned, unlocked his desk, and reached for his book, the tension became unbearable. He fingered it absently, then took it out and settled himself in his chair to read. Tom shot a glance at Becky and saw a hunted and helpless rabbit look on her face, with a gun levelled at its head. Instantly he forgot his quarrel with her. The master opened the volume, faced the school, and after a silence that seemed to gather his wrath, he spoke: "Who tore this book?" He scanned the ranks of boys, then turned to the girls, calling name after name. When he reached "Rebecca Thatcher," Tom glanced at her face — it was white with terror. A thought shot like lightning through Tom's brain. He sprang to his feet and shouted, "I done it!" The school stared in perplexity at this incredible folly. Tom stepped forward to go to his punishment, and the surprise, the gratitude, the adoration that shone upon him out of poor Becky's eyes seemed pay enough for a hundred floggings. Inspired by the splendor of his own act, he took without an outcry the most merciless flaying that even Mr. Dobbins had ever administered, and also received with indifference the added cruelty of a command to remain two hours after school. That night, with shame and repentance, Becky told Tom all, not forgetting her own treachery, and her latest words lingered dreamily in his ear: "Tom, how could you be so noble!"
