what does he tell her and what is her reaction?

Tom tells Aunt Polly he's finished the job, and she initially thinks he's fibbing. After checking it out, she showers him with compliments, gives him a donut, and tells him to be back within a week! She's a hoot!

He said: "Mayn't I go and play now, aunt?"

"What, a'ready? How much have you done?"

"It's all done, aunt."

"Tom, don't lie to me -- I can't bear it."

"I ain't, aunt; it is all done."

Aunt Polly placed small trust in such evidence. She went out to see for herself; and she would have been content to find twenty per cent. of Tom's statement true. When she found the entire fence whitewashed, and not only whitewashed but elaborately coated and recoated, and even a streak added to the ground, her astonishment was almost unspeakable. She said:

"Well, I never! There's no getting round it, you can work when you're a mind to, Tom." And then she diluted the compliment by adding, "But it's powerful seldom you're a mind to, I'm bound to say. Well, go 'long and play; but mind you get back some time in a week, or I'll tan you."

She was so overcome by the splendor of his achievement that she took him into the closet and selected a choice apple and delivered it to him, along with an improving lecture upon the added value and flavor a treat took to itself when it came without sin through virtuous effort. And while she closed with a happy Scriptural flourish, he "hooked" a doughnut.

Yeah i probabaly agree on that to; i think this book is the sort of book an adult should read as the language would be hard for a litle kid 2 understand as well as an adult :)hope this helps thanks

Tom basically baited Aunt Polly as one would a fishing pole. Not only did Aunt Polly go for the bait, he reeled her in, and hooked (caught a fish per say) a donut. So basically he reeled in the infamous ten pound bass fish. Aka: Aunt Polly and feasted on a donut as his reward.

"Well, I never! There's no getting round it, you can work when you're a mind to, Tom." And then she diluted the compliment by adding, "But it's powerful seldom you're a mind to, I'm bound to say. Well, go 'long and play; but mind you get back some time in a week, or I'll tan you."

She was so overcome by the splendor of his achievement that she took him into the closet and selected a choice apple and delivered it to him, along with an improving lecture upon the added value and flavor a treat took to itself when it came without sin through virtuous effort. And while she closed with a happy Scriptural flourish, he "hooked" a doughnut. Tom basically baited Aunt Polly as one would a fishing pole. Not only did Aunt Polly go for the bait, he reeled her in, and hooked (caught a fish per say) a donut. So basically he reeled in the infamous ten pound bass fish. Aka: Aunt Polly and feasted on a donut as his reward.