'Very good!' dryly said Mr. Price, after waiting in vain. 'Then, until you see fit to do so, I must dispense5 with your attendance here, Alick, otherwise our positions as master and pupil would be reversed. Good-morning to you!' Philip had risen, and was holding the door open. A great struggle had been going on in the young man's mind. It would be easier, he knew, far easier, for him to gloss6 over Alick's obstinate7 refusal to repent8, and just to let things go on in the old way. The temptation to do so was great, particularly to one whose days were shadowed by much physical suffering, which made it the harder for him to rise up and energetically quell9 such a rebellious10 rising as he had had lately to cope with. But Philip owned a lion's heart as well as clear, well-defined notions of right and wrong. Also he had learned not to lean on his own strength. There was, he knew by experience, a higher help always ready for those who seek it, and Philip had long made it a habit to do that in all things, small or great. He was, therefore, enabled to deal with the young rebel in a dignified11 and temperate12 yet firm manner.
Muttering savagely13 Alick withdrew with slouching gait. He knew well that he was no match in regard to words with his tutor, who had preserved his temper admirably. Master Alick consequently felt it to be the best policy to hold his tongue.
'Has you got a holiday, Alick? Or has you got the toothache?' asked Queenie innocently, surprised when Alick sauntered into her playroom, an hour after, feeling rather like a fish out of water without his inseparable companion Geoff, and without his usual employment. Ned Dempster was also out of the way, he being absent with the fishing-boats; for the bay was alive with the shoals of mackerel, over which intense excitement simmered throughout Northbourne.
'Yes, I has got a holiday, miss!' was Alick's grim rejoinder. 'A pretty long one too, I expect.' Then he added in a curt14, sharp tone, as though to stop further questions, 'Now, look here, Queenie! Have you got any of your family that wants mending, eh? Any sick and wounded? Any broken legs or heads lying about? Because if you have, I can undertake to put them right this morning. I've got nothing else on hand.'
'Oh, can you, will you?' delightedly said Queenie. Then, suddenly recollecting15 herself, she quickly added, 'But, Alick—oh, I couldn't get out all my sick dollies this minute, 'cos, you see, it is nearly 'leven o'clock, and Theo will be waiting for me in the tea-house, to begin my lessons.'
'Lessons! Never you mind rubbishy old lesson-books, Queenie! I don't mean to, never again!'
'Has you learnt up everything then, Alick?' asked the child, gazing respectfully at her brother, with all the wondering admiration17 one often sees in little girls for big brothers.
'What has that got to do with it?' roughly answered the boy. He was in that volcanic18 condition of mind that every word spoken was as a match, and set up a blaze of ill-temper. 'Give me over that one-legged doll, and I'll "fix" her up, as the Yankees say. Hand her ladyship over.' Alick Carnegy had one tender spot in his heart. Most of us have. And that in Alick was occupied by Queenie. He was passionately20 fond of the innocent-faced, round-eyed little sister, and he was always ready to mend her sick and damaged properties.
'That's poor Miss Muffet. She felled out of my arms on the beach, and Splutters and Shutters21 worried her, Alick, before I could pull her away. Ah, it was dreadful!' chattered22 Queenie.
'You shouldn't pull things away from dogs. Never, never do such a thing. Do you understand, Queenie? They might snap, you know, and then where would you be?'
Down on the floor Alick sat himself, and fell to work to repair as best he could the interesting cripple. But Queenie, eager enough though she was to watch the surgical23 operation, had a conscience hidden away in her small person, as her restlessness showed.
'I mustn't stay, Alick. I mus' go! Theo will be waiting, for the hall clock has struck. I counted 'leven strokes just now!'
Away to her lessons bustled24 the little maid, and Alick, unhappy, sullen25 and forlorn, was left to himself in the play-room. The boy was distinctly most miserable26. Indeed, he could not be otherwise; it is unnatural27 for the young to be in a state of rebellion against those set in authority over them. They suffer hotly for it, with the measureless capacity for suffering belonging to the young.
In spite of his wretchedness, Alick was, however, fully16 determined28 to go bird-hunting on the morrow in Brattlesby Woods with Jerry Blunt. Equally determined was the boy also that he would never beg his tutor's pardon—if he could possibly help it, that was. Alick knew that if his continued insubordination came to his father's ears the certain result would be a thrashing, similar to one of which he still had a most vivid recollection. It occurred on the only occasion that the captain had been roused to administer punishment to both Geoff and Alick. That was when the brothers had strangled several of Widow Dempster's hens by lassoing them, on the pretext29 that the unfortunate fowls30 were prairie-horses, the boys being prairie-hunters. This was a heinous31 misdemeanour in the upright old sailor's eyes. Alick winced32 still at the remembrance of the captain's wrath33, and also of the captain's whip, which he by no means spared on his boys' backs.
'I certainly hope that father won't get to know about this row!' he muttered uneasily, as he finished screwing on Miss Muffet's leg, and set her up as proud as the best. Then looking round for more surgical needs to operate upon, and finding a hapless horse minus a tail, Alick ingeniously supplied the unbecoming deficiency with bristles34 out of the hearth-brush. He was a remarkably35 handy boy; his fingers were skilful36, and he possessed37 a certain amount of invention. As he prowled about the shelves, setting a good many of Queenie's infirm toys on their feet, and making all things taut38, the morning wore on apace. He was glad enough of any occupation to pass the time, which seemed strangely lagging, as he glanced impatiently at his silver watch.
'I suppose Price and old Geoff are as thick as thieves, palavering away over that awful Latin,' he soliloquised between the tunes39 he was whistling. 'Price will be buttering up Geoff at my expense, no doubt. Well, I don't care; why should I? I've made up my mind not to give in, and nobody—not Price, at least—shall make me. Hilloa!' Lifting up his eyes to the light, to see if he had glued on the wooden canary's head quite straight on its neck, Alick caught sight, through the window, of a couple of fishing-smacks making steadily40 for the bay.
'That one to the left is Fletcher's boat, or I'm blind, and Ned's on board, I know. I'd better just run down to the beach, and have a private word in his ears, as soon as he lands, about to-morrow. What a day we shall have in Brattlesby Woods! Oh my, shan't we just!'
In a short time Alick, his morning's misery41 all forgotten, was down on the shore, vigourously helping42 to haul in the heavy nets, and sharing in the tumultuous excitement never failing to greet any and every boat that put in to Northbourne beach.
'Can you come along with me, Ned?' he took the opportunity of whispering in Ned's ear. 'I've got something to tell you about to-morrow. You know what I mean.'
Yes, Ned could give Muster43 Alick five minutes before he sped home to Goody's for a warm meal, and likewise a bit of sleep; for the boy was stiff, as well as starving, after his long, chill night on the water.
'I only wanted to say,' Alick hastily announced, 'that I'm game to go with Jerry Blunt to-morrow morning, if you will let me know the hour you mean to set off.'
'We thought of going pretty early,' said Ned slowly, after a pause of hesitation44. 'We wants to make a good long day of it. But—but, Muster Alick, have ye told them up at the Bunk that ye're set on going with us? I thought as ye said the tootor wouldn't 'low ye, and that Miss Theedory backed him up. Didn't ye?' Ned eyed his companion with a certain amount of stern suspicion as he put the questions.
One of Theo's class-boys himself, he had a genuine reverence45 for his gentle teacher. There was nothing, the poor fisher-lad was wont46 to tell himself, that he would not have dared or done for the sweet young lady's sake. Her very gentleness and soft speech seemed to attract and also subdue47 his rough nature, by force of contrast possibly.
'What on earth is that to you?' loftily demanded Alick, resenting both the questions and the mention of his sister's name, as brothers will.
'Why, 'tis this to me!' rejoined Ned grimly, and standing48 square. 'I ain't a-goin' to have Miss Theedory lookin' at me through an' through, an' a-sayin', "Ned," she'll say, "why ever did'ee lead away my brother to do wrong?" I couldn't stand that, muster!'
'What a born idiot you are, to talk in that way!' said Alick grandly. 'It's quite enough for you that I tell you I'm coming to-morrow; that's all you've got to do with it. Oh, I say, Ned!'—he descended49 from his pinnacle50 of dignity all in a hurry—'it has been such a lark51! I told you what a row we have had with old Price, and that I bowled him over. But Geoff has actually given in. Theo—I mean my sister—talked him into an apology—begging pardon, you know. But I stuck out, and held my own. So old Price bowed me off the premises52. You should have really seen him do it!' ended Alick, with a laugh that had no merriment whatever in it. Ned nodded. He readily comprehended that 'Muster Alick' had held his own.
'And did he, did Muster Geoff reely ask parding?' he inquired wonderingly, presently.
'Yes, he did!' Alick spoke19 shortly, for he resented strongly his brother's disaffection from a bad cause. 'But what's more to the purpose, I didn't knock under. So I'm coming with you; for old Price won't, he says firmly, give me another lesson until I apologise too. You may guess, old chap, that I'll have a fine long holiday at that rate, if—if the governor don't get to hear about it, of course!' ended Alick rather lamely53.
'Oh!' Ned gasped54 understandingly. He could readily enough picture the result of the captain's taking up the matter. Fireworks would be nothing to the general flare-up, in that case, the fisher-lad privately55 told himself.
Alick next proceeded to plan out the morrow's campaign, and by the time the Dempsters' cottage was reached, it was agreed that Alick should make his escape as early as possible from the Bunk, in order that he might start with Jerry Blunt and Ned before anybody was astir to prevent him. Then, with mutual56 promises of secrecy57, the two parted.
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1
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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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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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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6
gloss
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| n.光泽，光滑；虚饰；注释；vt.加光泽于；掩饰 | |
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7
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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8
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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11
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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14
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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15
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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16
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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17
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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18
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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19
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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20
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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21
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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22
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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23
surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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24
bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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29
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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30
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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31
heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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32
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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34
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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39
tunes
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| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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40
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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41
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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42
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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43
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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44
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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45
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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46
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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47
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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48
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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49
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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50
pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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51
lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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52
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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53
lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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54
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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55
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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56
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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57
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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