“Eh?” he said.
He was a massive, large-boned, broad-faced man, two years John’s senior. Outwardly he was good-natured, sleepy, awkward, with a shock of jet black hair that was forever falling over his forehead and giving him the unkempt look of one just out of bed, an appearance aided by his manner of attire2. Good-natured he was, and sleepy; his capacity for slumber3 seemed almost abnormal; his awkwardness was more apparent than real, for he had been a star left tackle on the ’Varsity football team during his last two years in college. Persons who judged him by his looks were usually mistaken in their estimate of the quantity and quality of his brains. Despite his likeness4 to a good-humoured dullard, he possessed5 an assimilative ability that was phenomenal, and had secured his[19] degree in three years. He was now taking a post-graduate course. John declared it was because he was too lazy to pack his trunk and go home. It was generally understood that he was preparing himself to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was the president of a New York bank, and who, so rumour6 had it, was unable to count his millions without the aid of all his fingers and toes. David and John had been roommates from their freshman7 year, and in all that time had never had but one real quarrel; and even that, as John had pointed8 out aggrievedly after it was over, had been too one-sided to be interesting. For David had drowsed through most of it and had only consented to display real concern when John, goaded9 to madness by the other’s indifference10, had thrown a pair of military brushes at him. Thereupon David had arisen in his might and, depositing the struggling opponent on the bedroom floor, had drawn11 the mattress12 over him and gone to sleep on top.
David removed his clothing by easy stages while John told his troubles. His grin grew and broadened as the tale progressed. At the end he dropped the last of his attire, stretched his six feet of nakedness and disappeared into[20] the bathroom. John howled and beat upon the door.
“Come out, you hard-hearted brute13! Come out and I’ll—I’ll lick you!”
There was no sound from beyond the locked portal but the rushing of water from the taps.
“Coward!” taunted14 John.
“Worm!”
“White-livered coyote!”
The taps were turned off and there followed an awesome15 splash. Then it rained water for a moment beyond the door; afterward16 there was a steady churning sound as from the wheel of a Sound steamer. John tried cajolery.
“Davy! Dear Davy! Booful Davy!”
“Go ’way,” yelled the bather.
“Please don’t be angry, Davy! Tell me, Davy, what shall I do?”
“Go see him.”
“Oh ... would you?”
“Yep.”
“Will you come along?”
There was a snort of derision from the bathroom.
“You might, you know, Davy.”
“Never!”
[21]
“But your presence would be so—so soothing17 and soporific, Davy! Won’t you?”
“No.”
“All right then, don’t, you big selfish brute!” He moved away from the door and his eyes fell on David’s clothing scattered18 generously over the study. Picking up the coat he abstracted a bill-roll from a pocket and helped himself to a five-dollar note. Then he hid the coat under the couch and went back to the bathroom door.
“Little Phillip may act naughty, Davy, and so I’ve borrowed a fiver from you to buy him candy.”
“Better get him a bottle,” gurgled David.
“Farewell, Davy. I’ll see you later. I’ve got tickets for the Hollis. So don’t run away.”
On the street John found that the unseasonable heat had moderated somewhat. As he turned into Boylston Street a faint breeze, redolent of the marshes19, blew into his face and caused him to tilt20 his hat away from his sunburned forehead. In front of the post-office he was hailed by an acquaintance, one Broom, a member of the Eleven.
“I hear you’re going to help coach this fall, North?”
“First I’ve heard of it,” answered John. “Though[22] I found a note in my mail that rather bears out your statement, Pete. But I don’t know whether I’ll have time for it.”
“Rot, my boy, rot! It doesn’t require time; any old fool can coach a football team.”
“On the principle that it takes a fool to teach a fool, eh?”
“Sure. Where are you going? Come on ’round to the drug store and drink cooling draughts21.”
John groaned22 and shook his head.
“Can’t, Pete. I’m a foster-mother.”
“A what?”
“Foster-mother. Good-by!”
“You’re an idiot, you mean. Come around to the hovel soon.”
“All right.”
John brought forth23 the fateful letter and made sure of the address he was seeking. At least, he thought, it had the merit of accessibility, for it was just around the corner. It proved to be an old-fashioned residence, two stories and a half in height, with a porch running across the front. It was painted a peculiarly depressing shade of gray, but for all that, and despite the fact that the front door opened almost from the sidewalk, it was homelike[23] and even attractive; and was plainly a house with a history. Its dignity was somewhat marred24 by two placards in the front windows advertising25 “Student Rooms to Let” and “Table Board.” It faced a little square of comforting trees, grass and shrubbery, and from the porch a bit of the river could be seen. An express wagon26 piled high with trunks stood at the curb27. John ascended28 the steps and rang the bell. The front door was broad and substantial and was flanked by sidelights, while a dusty fanlight above hinted at the splendour of olden days.
“I wonder,” mused29 John, “just which Revolutionary general made his headquarters here. I don’t see any tablet; very careless of the Historical Society.”
The maid who answered his ring thought that Mr. Ryerson was in because she had sent an expressman up with a trunk a few minutes before. The room, she directed, was the second-story-front on the left. John thanked her and started up the narrow staircase with its queer slim mahogany hand-rail. Half-way up he became aware of quick, heavy tramping from the direction of the room he was seeking. He paused and listened. Bang—bang![24] Tramp—tramp! Thud—thud! Wonderingly he went on, turned and approached the door. From beyond came the unmistakable scuffling and tramping of bodies, the panting of persons apparently30 engaged in severe physical exertion31, and through it all the plaintive32 whining33 of a dog. Suddenly a chair crashed to the floor. The noise ceased.
“Had enough?” asked a high, boyish voice.
“No! You?” answered a deeper one.
“Come on then!”
The noise began again, while the dog, apparently in a bedroom or closet beyond, set up a dismal34 howl. John knocked loudly.
“Keep out!” called a shrill35 voice somewhat breathlessly.
“Is Mr. Ryerson in?”
“No.” Then, in lower tones: “Ah, would you! Take that!”
“He is in,” reflected John, “and he’s having a boxing bout36 with some one and doesn’t want to be disturbed. But, the Lord knows, if I don’t see him this time I’ll never have the courage to try again. And so——” He tried the door. It was unlocked and he pushed it open and entered. Then he stood stock still and stared in surprise.
[25]
In the middle of the room, a large, oblong apartment traversed overhead by beams painted the same hue37 as the outside of the house, and lighted by three large windows in deep embrasures, stood two persons. Each had discarded coat and vest, but was, nevertheless, bathed in perspiration38. One whose Irish features and soiled appearance proclaimed him the expressman, presented a sadly disfigured countenance39. He was breathing with difficulty and from his nose crimson40 drops spattered onto the bosom41 of his dirty checked shirt. One eye was puffed42 and a short gash43 over the cheek bone bled freely. These disfigurations, with an ugly scowl44, rendered him extremely unattractive. John’s gaze swept past him to the person beyond.
A tall, rather slim youth of nineteen confronted him. His eyes, which at the moment were wide open with surprise and annoyance45, and his hair, worn somewhat long about the ears and at the back of the neck, were darkly brown. His face was oval, lean, with cheek bones well in sight; the complexion46 was rather sallow, but now the cheeks were disked with red. The nose was straight, the mouth full-lipped, the general expression of the face fearless, ardent47 and a trifle arrogant48. The carriage was[26] erect49 and easy and the width of hip50 and thigh51 told of long acquaintance with the saddle. So far he appeared to have escaped punishment.
“That,” quoth John to himself, “is little Phil.”
“Well, sir?” The slim youth dropped his hands from their belligerent52 attitude and faced John, issuing the challenge with ill-concealed annoyance.
“You’re Mr. Phillip Ryerson, I fancy?” said John.
“Yes, sir; what then?”
“Why, I must apologize for interrupting you. My name——”
“I reckon you’re a proctor,” interrupted the other brusquely. “I’m very busy just at present, and so, if there’s anything more I can do for you, please tell me. If not——” He glanced toward the door. The expressman shuffled53 uneasily and looked tentatively at his coat and vest. John sank onto a trunk and allowed an appreciative54 smile to creep into his face. Really, little Phillip wasn’t so bad! “I’m glad he doesn’t mistake me for the Dean,” he thought, “or he would be throwing me out the window!
“Why, there is something more you can do for me,” he said aloud, “but it can wait. Pray don’t[27] let my presence interfere55 with the meeting; I have always taken great interest in the manly56 art. Perhaps I can hold the watch for you?”
The slim youth’s eyes sparkled dangerously and the crimson disks spread.
“Perhaps you would care to take the place of this—ah—gentleman, sir?” he asked with elaborate courtesy. John applauded silently. But,
“No,” he said, with a regretful shake of his head, “unfortunately I can’t accept your kind invitation. Some other time, perhaps.”
“But if I insist that you either do so or leave my room?” continued the other, his anger getting the better of his polite tones. John shrugged57 his shoulders. The expressman was getting into his coat, growling58 loudly.
“I shall get out,” John replied frankly59, smiling into the boy’s angry face. “But before that,” he went on, “let us have a few minutes of conversation. Afterward, if you still persist, I will leave without being dropped from the window.” The other, suddenly realizing that John was at least fifty pounds heavier and very much stronger, scented60 sarcasm61 and grew more incensed62.
“I can’t imagine what you may have to say, sir,[28] but I—” he pronounced it Ah—“assure you that I have no desire to hear a word of it. You will oblige me by quitting my room.”
“Say,” interrupted the expressman, “do I get paid for that trunk or don’t I?”
“Yes, you do,” answered his late adversary63. “You get fifty cents for bringing it out from Boston, but you don’t get anything for toting it upstairs.”
“All right, give me the fifty. Gee64, I’ve wasted a quarter of an hour here now; I could have made another fifty in that time.”
“You acknowledge, then, do you, that you had no right to ask an extra fee for bringing it upstairs?”
“Aw, what yer givin’ us? I ain’t askin’ for it, am I?” He turned to John and with difficulty winked65 his eye slyly. “I guess I got a quarter’s worth, eh?”
“You look as though you had,” replied John gravely.
“You can go now,” said the host.
“Aw, is that so?” growled66 the expressman.
“And here’s your money.” He handed the other a crisp dollar bill.
“What’s to keep me from pocketin’ the whole thing?” asked the expressman.
[29]
“Nothing; that’s what you’re to do. I’m giving you fifty cents for the trunk and fifty cents for a tip.” The expressman opened his eyes until they threatened to fall from his head.
“Well, I’ll be darned!” he gasped67. “Say, why couldn’t you give me the quarter I asked for in the first place?”
“Because I didn’t please to,” was the calm response. “Your demand was unjust.”
“Oh, you’re a wonder!” sighed the other hopelessly. “But, say, any time you want to go on with this, just let me know. You got the best of it to-day, but then you haven’t been wrestling with trunks since seven o’clock. Next time it might be different, eh?”
There was no answer and the expressman pocketed his money, winked good-naturedly at John and went out.
“Good-by, sonny,” he called from the hall. John smiled and Phillip Ryerson, scowling68 haughtily69 at him from the centre of the room, saw it and clenched70 his hands.
“Now, sir, if you’ll be so kind as to follow!” he said in a high, arrogant voice. John’s temper suddenly gave way and he arose from the trunk.[30] He moved slowly across the apartment until he was facing his host.
“Look here, you are Ryerson, aren’t you—Phillip Ryerson, of Something-or-other Court House, What-you-call-it County, State of Virginia?”
“Yes.” Phillip’s curiosity for a moment got the best of his wrath71. “How do you know so much about me?” he asked suspiciously.
“Oh, what does it matter?” answered John wearily. “But since you are Ryerson, allow me to tell you that you’re a very fresh little boy and ought to have a thundering good spanking72. Good-afternoon.”
Phillip watched him in silence until he had reached the door; he was very angry, deeply insulted, but he was also rather uneasy. His visitor, now that he observed him more closely, did not look quite like an impertinent proctor. He wondered if he had not been a bit ill-mannered and hasty. After all, if he wanted people to keep out of his room he should have locked the door. He took a step forward, his lips shaping a hurried apology. But the visitor passed into the hall, and after a moment of hesitation73 Phillip shrugged his shoulders.
“Let him go, hang him!” he muttered.
[31]
John found David at the dinner table. The former’s face still expressed a measure of exasperation74 as he sank into a chair at his friend’s side. David grinned.
“How did you find the boy, Johnnie?” he asked.
John flirted75 his napkin open and eyed his thick soup with disfavour before he answered.
“Well, Davy,” he said finally, “I think he’ll do. I found him beating an expressman to jelly because the latter wanted to overcharge him. He seems a peculiarly gentle, amiable76 youth, and I think he will get on very nicely without our tender care, Davy.”
“Our care!”
“I should have said mine. And I believe I neglected to add that later on he ordered me out of his room and that I went.”
David chuckled77 loudly.
“The sweet child!” he exclaimed. “Johnnie, I can see that you are destined78 to spend a busy, useful and not uninteresting year.”
“Not I,” answered John. “I shan’t go near the little fool again. And Corliss can look somewhere else for a nurse for the precious kid.”
But David shook his head solemnly.
“That won’t do, Johnnie. You can’t shift responsibilities like that; you’ve got a duty to perform, my boy, and I shall see that you attend to it. You must make allowances for the poor child’s fiery79 Southern nature, and——”
“Fiery Southern fiddlesticks! Eat your dinner, man; we’re going in to the theatre.”
And they went. And David slept peacefully through three acts of a Pinero comedy and enjoyed it hugely.
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收听单词发音
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1
jovially
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| adv.愉快地，高兴地 | |
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2
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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3
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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4
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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5
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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6
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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7
freshman
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| n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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9
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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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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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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13
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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14
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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15
awesome
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| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
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16
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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18
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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19
marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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20
tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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21
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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22
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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23
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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24
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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25
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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26
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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28
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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30
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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31
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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32
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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33
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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34
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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35
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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37
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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38
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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39
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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41
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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42
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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43
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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44
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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45
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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46
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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47
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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49
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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50
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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51
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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52
belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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53
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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54
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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55
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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56
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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57
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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59
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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60
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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61
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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62
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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63
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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64
gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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65
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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66
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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67
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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68
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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69
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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70
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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72
spanking
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| adj.强烈的，疾行的；n.打屁股 | |
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73
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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74
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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75
flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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77
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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