The Carnegy boys and Ned were in the same class at Sunday school, a class taught by Theo. The rest of the boys comprising it being dull and lumpish, it was only to be expected that a sharp-witted lad like Ned stood out brilliantly from his neighbours, attracting by his intelligence the attention of his teacher as well as her young brothers.
Ned Dempster was an orphan3 who had been brought up by his grandmother, Goody Dempster, the oldest inhabitant of the little fishing-village, an aged4 woman whose skin was baked brown by the sun and the salt sea-breezes until she had more the appearance of a New Zealander than an Englishwoman. Pitying the boy, as well as being considerably5 interested in his intelligent answers in class, Theo began to have him a good deal at the Bunk6. She found many little offices there for him, such as to look after and keep tidy 'The Theodora,' the family boat, and to help in the obstinately7 unproductive garden. In this way the acquaintance between the three boys became a week-day as well as a Sunday one. Alick and Ned, in particular, rapidly found themselves to be kindred spirits. In each was ingrained a powerful love of adventure. Alick, a great reader, who had devoured9 already his father's little library, which was made up for the most part of books on seafaring subjects, found in Ned Dempster a listener who hungered for as much of that exciting fare as Alick could manage to retail10 second-hand11.
For a long time the darling topic that absorbed their individual attention was pirates. The boys were never weary of rehearsing all the thrilling scenes of pirate-life which Alick had either read or heard of. In these lively pastimes Geoff willingly shared, lending a hand and a stentorian12 throat to the exciting work, though his tastes did not lie in that direction to the same extent as did those of his brother and Ned Dempster. Still, to be dressed in fierce red sashes, to wear elaborately corked13 moustaches, to be armed with clumsy, antique weapons which represented cutlasses, and to board, with ringing shouts, the beached-up fishing-boats in search of slaves, was a delightsome diversion. And perhaps to Geoff its greatest charm was that there was plenty of noise about it.
In course of time the joys of pirate-life palled14. Next, there set in an extended course of terrible shipwrecks15 to order; these catastrophes16 being altogether independent of the weather. Into this game, which was not so exclusively manly17, the many dolls belonging to Queenie were pressed. Time after time, these waxen ladies were bravely rescued and ceremoniously restored, dripping from the waves, to their anxious little owner, who, truth to tell, caught more colds than one in tending the shipwrecked doll-people.
But, in after days, Alick and Ned struck out quite a new line. Late and early they were found poring over atlases18; drawing charts upon everything and anything, promiscuously19, in the Northbourne landscape. Their daily conversation consisted of mysterious whispers about marching Polewards; about dangerous floes, and about camping out on the ice. At this juncture20 Geoff threw up his partnership21 in the games, which had become over-serious for his light-hearted, fun-loving nature. Not for him was there any attraction in the great mystery of the North Pole.
The imagination of Ned Dempster, on the other hand, took fire over the marvellous adventures, the awe-inspiring dangers and hardships of those explorers who, hitherto, have failed to attain22 the great object. This, in truth, was an aim to live for, to perish for, if need be; and as time went on, the boys became closer intimates than ever, particularly as nobody else took any interest in the one topic that had seized, with iron grip, their youthful imaginations. Perhaps the fact of the indifference23 of others bound the two closer together.
Alick grew worse and worse over the preparation of his lessons for the tutor. The routine and discipline of the schoolroom became too irksome to be borne. Consequently, punishments and detentions24 and complaints were the order of the day at the Bunk, to the despair of their tutor, Philip Price, a quiet, not over robust-looking young man, who had qualified25 for the Church, but as yet had failed in getting a living. Meantime he taught the young Carnegys every morning, and made up a slender income by giving afternoon lessons elsewhere.
The young man and his widowed mother, after their home was broken up by death, had sought a hiding-place far from the summer-friends, who fell away so quickly in the 'day of trouble.'
'I'll work for you, mother dear; never you fear about the future!' Philip had bravely declared. Poor lad, he had gallantly26 striven to do so, but sometimes he felt as though every man's hand was against him, so fruitless were his struggles. It is hard work to force one's way inside the world's pitilessly closed doors.
Certainly, Philip Price might have had his chances, as they are called, if he had not been so bent27 upon entering the clerical profession. His mother's relatives were City men of some repute, and a sure footing among them might have been gained by the young man, had he chosen to relinquish28 his dream. But Philip did not so choose. Even after he had fully29 qualified, and the living he had made so sure of stepping into passed into the hands of others, and it seemed as if the labourer were not 'worthy30 of his hire,' Philip did not regret his choice of a career.
'It will come right, mother, don't you doubt it,' he persisted. Meanwhile something else came. Failing health was the cross that Philip Price was required to shoulder. He grew painfully thin as time went on; his tall, elastic31 figure acquired a stoop; and there came, to stay, an anxious, upright line between his eyebrows32, that spoke33 of mental worry.
'Philip dear,' his watchful34 mother, quick to note these signs, laid her hand on his shoulder to say, 'these pupils try you overmuch. I know they do!'
'Nonsense, dear old mater!' evaded35 Philip, imprisoning36 the wrinkled hand. He had come in looking unusually spent, and thrown himself on the hard, slippery sofa of the cheap lodging37 the Prices called, nowadays, their home.
The truth was the young tutor had begun to tire woefully of the daily grind he had taken up so blithely38. It was the incorrigible39 Carnegy boys who were his special worry. His other pupils, a meek40, small boy and his shy sister, though they would never set the Thames on fire by their wit, at the same time would never goad41 their teacher to desperation by mutinous42, unruly ways. But Philip Price never carried tales out of school. Not from himself did his mother learn how tried the tutor was, but, with a woman's instinct, she divined the cause.
'I wish, dear, you had never seen that family, the Carnegys,' she said plaintively43. It was a chance shot, of course, but Philip started up alert.
'I've been told a good deal about them, only to-day,' went on the widow, taking up some fleecy knitting. The mother and son were sitting in the twilight44, and knitting needed no spectacles. 'It seems they are an ill-governed pack, the young people, neglected by their father, and allowed to grow up anyhow, people say. Philip, I feel quite positive that they try you beyond your strength. Is it not so? Tell me, my dear.'
'Mother,'—Philip's thin face flushed as he spoke hurriedly,—'is it quite fair of you to quote "they say" about people whom you don't know? The Carnegys are not an "ill-governed pack," I assure you. The boys—my pupils—are, I grant you, unmanageable young rebels; but the others—Miss Carnegy and her little sister—they are——' Philip stopped abruptly45.
'Well, Phil?' His mother raised her head quickly to glance at the troubled face opposite.
'They are as sweet and gentle-natured as they are fair!' said Philip in a low voice.
'I should like very well to see and know these Misses Carnegy for myself,' presently observed Mrs. Price; and Philip noted46 the faint, jealous displeasure in her voice.
'Mother,' he laughed in a boyish way, 'one of those Misses Carnegy, as you call them, is so charming that you could not resist taking her in your arms and setting her on your lap!'
'Oh, they are only children, these girls?'
'One of them is,' rejoined Philip, after a hesitating pause. 'She is a child of five. But the other Miss Carnegy is grown up; she is the eldest47, and the mainstay of the family. There is no mother, you see.'
'Ah! Poor dear young things! Well, but, my boy, the thing troubling me most is that you should be condemned48 to such poor work as teaching, when, by rights, you ought to be filling a far different position. Oh, Philip, to think with your fine abilities you should be nothing better than a mere49 drudge50! I often wish, dear, that you had not been so obstinate8. You might have had a capital position by this time, with one or other of your uncles in the City.'
'Hush51, mother, please!' Philip raised his thin hand. 'You know that from my childhood I've desired to be a soldier of Christ. If there be no opening prepared for me as yet, it must be that I am not fit for the work. In God's own good time He will point the way. I am content to wait that time, mother; and,' added the young man softly under his breath, 'if it be that the opening never come in this life, well, we know that all things are possible to Him, without any feeble help from us weak mortals.'
'Dear boy,' sighed the widow, 'your patience shames my discontent. But, you see, it tries a mother's heart sorely to see her child stranded52 high and dry, while others, not half so fit, rush in and win the prizes of life.'
'Bide53 a wee, mater, bide a wee! Everything comes to the man who can wait, as the old proverb says. But I must confess I am at the end of my patience with those young scamps, the Carnegy boys.'
'Speak to their father, Philip. Rouse him up to rule in his own house,' said Mrs. Price energetically.
'I really think I must,' assented54 Philip; and he did.
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1
incorrigibly
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| adv.无法矫正地；屡教不改地；无可救药地；不能矫正地 | |
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rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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7
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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9
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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13
corked
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| adj.带木塞气味的，塞着瓶塞的v.用瓶塞塞住( cork的过去式 ) | |
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14
palled
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| v.（因过多或过久而）生厌，感到乏味，厌烦( pall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
shipwrecks
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| 海难，船只失事( shipwreck的名词复数 )； 沉船 | |
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catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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atlases
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| 地图集( atlas的名词复数 ) | |
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promiscuously
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| adv.杂乱地，混杂地 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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24
detentions
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| 拘留( detention的名词复数 )； 扣押； 监禁； 放学后留校 | |
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25
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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28
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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29
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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32
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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33
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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36
imprisoning
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| v.下狱，监禁( imprison的现在分词 ) | |
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37
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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38
blithely
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| adv.欢乐地，快活地，无挂虑地 | |
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39
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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40
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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41
goad
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| n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激 | |
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42
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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43
plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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44
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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45
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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46
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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47
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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48
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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49
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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50
drudge
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| n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳 | |
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51
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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52
stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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53
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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54
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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