Most of the documents have wound up with the announcement that there are only three or four days to the holidays, and with requests that John, or Thomas, or Sam may be told to get the pony4 fit for them to ride. In some instances the father, or, as the "young gentleman" prefers to call him, "the[Pg 140] governor," has been reminded of his promise to buy a new horse; and as he knows full well that unless he does so the word "peace," so far as he is concerned, may be scratched out of the dictionary, Jimmy Holden is called into council and the animal is procured5.
As the down-train runs into Lappington Station, four or five eager faces may be seen, one over the other, filling up the window of the railway carriage; and before the train has well stopped four or five equally eager bodies jump out; and the porters, without waiting for instructions, immediately proceed to empty the compartment6 of rugs, sticks, two-shilling novels, bags, and the numerous other items which invariably accompany a boy on his return from school.
"There's the governor, Charlie," says a bright-looking lad to his schoolfellow, whom he has brought home with him for the first fortnight of the holidays.
"How are you, Dick? and how is the pony?" exclaims another, addressing the [Pg 141]neat-looking servant, who is evidently as pleased to see his young master as that worthy7 is to have put by his books for a time.
"No signs of frost; we shall be out to-morrow at The Grange," shouts a third, as he disappears within the portals of the booking-office.
The hero of the hour, however, is Harold Lappington, Sir John's youngest brother, a tall good-looking young fellow, who in the field is known to combine the fearlessness of youth with the knowledge of old age. He has come that morning from Eton, where he has been keeping his hand in by hunting the college beagles. Old Tom and his brother have come to meet him, and many of the other boys envy him the honour of shaking hands with so great a man as the Huntsman.
"By Guy, Mayster Harold, but you are growed, looking well and all," says Tom; and then, turning to the Master: "Eh, Sir John, ay's gettin' a rare-topped 'un."
"By Jove, Tom, there's no need to ask[Pg 142] how you are, you're looking as fit as a fiddle8. Is that young gray horse fit for me to ride? The one you had at the kennels9, I mean," ejaculates Harold: and, receiving an answer in the affirmative, walks off with Sir John to where an obsequious10 porter is hoisting11 his traps into a dog-cart which is standing12 outside.
"Here, John," he says to his brother, as he jumps up, "I'm going to drive."
"Not if I know it," replies the Master. "I have not forgotten that last exploit of yours, when you upset me over a heap of stones."
But of course the boy has his way, and with a "Good-night, Tom," and a wave of the hand, they rattle13 round the corner, shaving the gate-post so close as to cause the Master to clench14 his teeth and hold on like grim death.
"Well," mutters Tom, when they, are out of sight, "there'll be some riding to-morrow, I know, and some tumbling too. I 'opes we gets away quick, for though I loves to see the[Pg 143] lads go, they do myther (bother) me terrible at the first;" and he turns up the road towards the kennels, exchanging Good-nights and bright hopes for the morrow with the young occupants of the various traps as they pass him on their way to their respective homes.
By ten o'clock the next morning the road to The Grange is lively with the usual symptoms of a meet. Grooms15 with led-horses are riding alongside the tax-cart of the butcher or baker16. Men and boys on foot keep up that peculiar17 kind of shuffle18, half run, half walk, which is seen nowhere save in the country. The keeper and the poacher jostle one another and combine to chaff19 the merry vendor20 of crockery and hardware who, perched on the top of his wares21 and drawn22 by his trotting23 "moke," has chosen the centre of the road, somewhat to the inconvenience of those in his rear.
He is well able to hold his own, and gives as much as he gets. Indeed, in the matter of[Pg 144] chaff, it takes the allied24 forces all their time to keep on even terms until they overtake the local policeman, when the channel of wit and repartee25 is diverted against "poor Robert," who of course being ignominiously26 defeated at once, takes refuge under official dignity, and thinks of the time when his turn will come.
The keepers have held aloof27 from the latter entertainment, for it would not be right to make a butt28 of the Law, they think; and so, joining him, all proceed towards The Grange as merry as crickets. Presently there is a shout from behind, and turning round they see old Tom and the pack, with many a bit of pink in his wake, and, what is more (in their own eyes, at all events), many an emancipated29 schoolboy.
"Lend us one of them dorgs to run under my carriage," says the itinerant30 hardware merchant as they pass him.
Tom rather winces31 at the word "dorgs" being applied32 to his darlings, and is preparing[Pg 145] a stinging rejoinder; but before it is ready, Eton, Harrow, Rugby, and Winchester have (verbally) fallen on the rash jester and silenced him completely.
However, he manages to make his way to The Grange, and while there disposes of some of his crockery, and drinks Tom's health in some of Mr. Boulter's beer, calling him, by-the-way, "Lord Topboots."
Such greetings and chaff, too, among lads! Criticisms of their respective animals, mutual33 challenges, and hurried arrangements for all sorts of sport. The Secretary is not forgotten either, and various inquiries34 are made concerning "his last speech and what time he came home." At last the Master and his brother Harold drive up, and in a few moments are mounted and ready. One glass of sherry "Just to keep the Secretary in tune," as Harold says, and Tom, getting a nod, trots35 off to the wood about half a mile away.
"Charles," says he to the First Whip, "you get down to corner, and if so be as t' fox breaks,[Pg 146] dunna holloa; just crack yer whip when ay's well away. Maybe then I shall have a chance of getting hounds on to the line."
On the road to the wood there are two small fences, and though the gates are open wide, with the exception of Harold Lappington, every boy has his pony over, into, or through them. A fall or two brings down a torrent36 of jeers37 on the unfortunates, and one youngster in particular, who goes careering round the field, half on, half off his animal, is most productive of sport.
"Stick to him, Johnny," shout some; "he's off; no he isn't; well saved," as, more by good luck than good management, he regains38 his seat, and comes back looking rather crestfallen39. Some of the farmers think for a moment of their fences and what a lot of "making up" there will be on the morrow; but the joyous40 faces and boisterous41 spirits of the schoolboys are infectious, and they feel with old Simms, who said, when last year they broke three of his gates down and let[Pg 147] his sheep out all over the country: "We were all boys once, and not a bit better. Bless 'em, they don't mean any harm, and I love 'em."
The first draw is a blank, much to the disappointment of all, Boulter in particular, for he catches it most unmercifully from all his young friends.
A move is then made for a piece of rough stuff called Shepherd's Gorse. Sir John has a difficult task to keep his field in order here, for it is a crooked42 in-and-out-shaped place, and the ponies43 will creep forward into forbidden corners. As fast as he orders one back he finds another expectant and overanxious youth somewhere else.
However, they are not kept long in suspense44, for a quick find is followed by a ringing "Gone away," and his field gallop45 round to find Tom and the pack sailing along merrily, he having slipped off with the hounds well on to the line before he vouchsafed46 to proclaim his departure.
[Pg 148]
Hard work it is to catch them, for they are racing47 with a scent48 breast-high, but the schoolboys sit down and send their ponies along with a will, thinking no more of the big bank and ditch that confront them than they would if it was only a broken sheep-hurdle. Harold Lappington is first down to it, and his young gray pecks badly on the far side, for the animal is a bit fresh and over-jumps himself. Harold's fine seat, however, saves him from a fall, and turning round to where he sees young Charlie Whistler riding his pony, scarce thirteen hands three inches in height, at the biggest place he can find, he shouts: "Steady, Charlie; it's too big for you; take it in two, on and off."
"Go on," replies the monkey, "I'm all——" he would have said "right," but as he was turning head over heels like a rabbit before he could finish his sentence, he found further conversation somewhat difficult. Next in order came two hard-riding members with Sir John and Mrs. Talford, and then a[Pg 149] whole crowd of horses and ponies, a good many of which plumbed49 the depths of the ditch on the landing-side. It is wonderful what a good pony will do with a resolute50 youngster on his back. Where it can't jump it will creep or climb, and generally manages to pull through somehow or other; but this particular fence is a rasper to commence with, and in most cases the cause of grief is over-excitement.
"You're a nice sort of fellow, Tom, slipping off like that," says Harold, as he comes up with the old Huntsman, who is gnashing his teeth because they've checked, and "Them blessed lads will be all among t' hounds again."
"What did you do it for?" he continues.
"Ah Mayster Harold; must get a start, or we should never get through all them ponies," replies Tom. "Here they come, by gad51. That's it, praise the Lord," as the hounds hit it off just as the rest arrive.
"For'ard on," yell the lads, as pleased as Punch to have caught the hounds again.
[Pg 150]
"Harold, it's my idea the fox will make over the Swill52," says Sir John to his brother, as they gallop along the grass. "There are two or three deuced stiff ploughs before we get there, and as you can't jump it we had better take the road and round by the bridge."
"Not I; I'm going with the hounds," replies Harold. "If they go over I can but go in and out."
"Don't you be a fool," retorts the Master. "By Jove, I'm right! it is for the Swill," as the hounds swung to the left towards the line of pollards that denote the course of that "meandering53 streamlet."
"Hold hard, young gentlemen, hold hard," roars Tom, as they hang for a moment on the plough, and five or six reeking54 ponies get unpleasantly near his darlings. "You canna jump Swill; you must go round by t' bridge."
But they pay no heed55 to either him or paternal56 warning, and pound away over the plough towards the willows57.
[Pg 151]
"Here, I'm dashed if some on 'em won't get drownded, for they'll have it, as sure as my name's Wilding," he continues.
The two Simms and a few adventurous58 spirits follow in the wake of the lads, while the rest of the field follow the Master to the bridge. As the hounds plunge59 in Tom gallops60 off for the same goal, saying: "This way, young gents, this way." He might as well have spared his breath, for Eton is not going to be beaten by Harrow, nor Winchester by Rugby, nor Clifton by any of them, and the rivals feel the honour of their schools to be at stake. Harold again heads the charge, and the young 'un makes a gallant61 effort, just getting his fore-legs on the opposite bank. Quick as thought the boy is over his head on terra firma, while the gray falls back into the brook62. "Bravo," shout the rest of the field, "bravo!" and, as his horse scrambles63 out, Harold's heart swells65 with pride, and he says to his brother: "The dear old school bested them all."
[Pg 152]
Harrow, Rugby, Winchester, and Clifton, all go at it in a lump, and all four are splashing about together, when little Phillips, a lad of twelve, who has just completed his first half, at Marlborough, comes down, and handling his rat of a pony down the bank, the pair swim across, and out the other side they scramble64, the urchin66 shouting at the top of his voice: "Hooray, Eton first, Marlborough second."
All, happily, manage, contrary to Tom's expectations, to escape being "drownded;" and, wet as they are, ride harder than ever to make up their "leeway."
About a mile farther on the fox is viewed heading straight for Braby Main Earths, where he goes to ground with the pack close at his brush. Then paternal authority asserts itself, and the dripping schoolboys are promptly67 ordered home. They plead hard to stay, but paterfamilias is firm, and the lads turn to go with a last wistful look at Tom and the hounds.
[Pg 153]
It is late in the afternoon, and they have had a right down good gallop, thinks Sir John; so turning to the field he says: "Gentlemen, I shall send the hounds home. We will call this the schoolboys' day, and I am sure after the way they have ridden it would be a shame to go on without them."
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1
allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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liquidate
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| v.偿付，清算，扫除；整理，破产 | |
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3
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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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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fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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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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13
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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14
clench
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| vt.捏紧（拳头等），咬紧（牙齿等），紧紧握住 | |
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15
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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16
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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17
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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18
shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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19
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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20
vendor
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| n.卖主；小贩 | |
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wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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23
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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24
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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29
emancipated
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| adj.被解放的，不受约束的v.解放某人（尤指摆脱政治、法律或社会的束缚）( emancipate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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winces
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| 避开，畏缩( wince的名词复数 ) | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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34
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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trots
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| 小跑，急走( trot的名词复数 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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38
regains
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| 复得( regain的第三人称单数 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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39
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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40
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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41
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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42
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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43
ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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44
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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45
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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46
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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48
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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49
plumbed
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| v.经历( plumb的过去式和过去分词 )；探究；用铅垂线校正；用铅锤测量 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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51
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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52
swill
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| v.冲洗；痛饮；n.泔脚饲料；猪食；（谈话或写作中的）无意义的话 | |
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53
meandering
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| 蜿蜒的河流，漫步，聊天 | |
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54
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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55
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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56
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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57
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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59
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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60
gallops
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| （马等）奔驰，骑马奔驰( gallop的名词复数 ) | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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62
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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63
scrambles
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| n.抢夺( scramble的名词复数 )v.快速爬行( scramble的第三人称单数 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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64
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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65
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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66
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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67
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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