Besides, Benjy must have noticed him talking with Tom, and would immediately jump to the conclusion that it was a conspiracy1 between them. The result would be disastrous2 for the success of any future missionary3 work.
When Benjy came face to face with Hugh, the latter spoke4 pleasantly. He noticed that the boy colored up, and, although he answered the friendly salutation, he immediately assumed a reckless, indifferent air, and went along whistling as though he had noticed their heads together, and would snap his fingers at them.
30
Hugh found himself wondering whether it could be conscious guilt5 that made Benjy fire up so, or simply boyish indignation over being suspected and watched in that way.
“It’s going to be some job managing that boy,” the scout6 master candidly7 admitted to himself; but, then, somehow, he always found additional interest in a task that tried his patience, and his powers of endurance, for there could be very little satisfaction in beating an antagonist8 who was handicapped.
Hugh was unusually quiet on that evening at the supper table, a fact his folks may have noticed. But then they were accustomed to seeing the boy look grave, for owing to the position he held in the scouts9, Hugh often had to wrestle10 with matters that did not give most of the other fellows a moment’s thought.
Later on, Hugh, having gotten his lessons, observed that he was going over to the home of Professor Marvin, where there was to be a little meeting of people interested in town improvement.
31
The smile that broke over the face of his mother at hearing him say this so modestly told of the pride she took in the fact that Hugh, as the assistant scout master, should be consulted at all when events of considerable magnitude connected with uplift movements were being discussed.
It certainly must make any mother’s heart beat with joy when realizing that her son, though only a boy in years, had become a factor in town, that he has to be consulted, and his aid asked whenever there is a movement on foot looking to bettering conditions of living in the community.
When Hugh reached the house where Professor Marvin lived, he found a little company assembled. Besides a number of the leading ladies identified with the league that had already done so much for the betterment of the town, there were three pastors11 present, the mayor of Oakvale, Doctor Kane, always to be relied on in things of this sort, and three influential12 citizens, who like many other people had begun to despair of any concerted movement directed to change the wretched conditions then prevailing13.
There had been rambling14 talk going on. Evidently they had been waiting for the arrival of Mayor Strunk, whom Hugh had seen pass in.
32
Mr. Marvin now opened the meeting, which he said would be an informal affair.
“We know that every person in Oakvale who has taken the trouble to pay any attention to the way things are going,” he began to say, “has been pained by the conditions prevailing. It is the consensus15 of opinion that something must be done, and that immediately, to better things. The only question that has kept this movement from crystallizing before has been the lack of cohesion16; no one seemed to be able to present a proper plan that would unite all the different organizations interested in the good name of our town. And that is the object of this meeting to-night. We must all get together, and put our shoulders to the wheel.”
Mayor Strunk, seeing that most eyes were immediately directed toward his quarter, got up to say his little piece. As usual, he was for procrastination17. He had attended several other meetings during the winter just passed and always advised going slowly, so as not to make any mistake. The ladies had now become indignant, and quite out of patience with him.
33
So when the suave18 politician commenced by saying that he realized as well as any one the need of something being done to improve living in Oakvale, and then went on to repeat the old advice not to be too hasty, because Rome was not built in a day, and all that sort of thing, there were quick glances passing around, and one lady had to be held down by main force, so eager was she to take the speaker to task, regardless of parliamentary rules.
Hardly had the mayor finished speaking, than she was on her feet, with flashing eyes. A ripple19 of applause greeted her taking the floor, because those present understood how fluently Mrs. Beverly could speak when her heart was full of a subject.
34
“Mayor Strunk advises delay, and delay,” she broke out with, indignantly. “I decline to agree with his policy. I have heard it advocated many times before, and nothing was ever done. The time to strike is when the iron is hot! Conditions are daily growing more unbearable20. To-day our fair town has fallen from the position we once so proudly boasted. There are hidden snares21 for the feet of our young men and boys, about which the police must know. They should be wiped out pitilessly. There are numberless nuisances that are painful to the eyes and noses of sensitive people; these should be rigorously pursued with fines and other penalties until they are abated22. If we have not laws on the books to cover all these offences let us see to it that they are immediately placed there. Then there is another crying evil that should be stopped without delay. I refer to several dangerous crossings where accidents have been known to happen, and at any day a terrible tragedy may stun23 the community. Listen while I tell you something that by the merest accident I witnessed myself, and only a few hours ago.”
Then, in graphic24 language, she went on to describe the affair at the crossing.
“Those little children were anxious to get home. They waited all of five minutes, and there was not the first chance given them to cross over, so stupid and selfish have the drivers and chauffeurs25 in Oakvale become, because the law is not strictly26 enforced. Then that one little chit, Anita Burns, bravely started across, eager to get to where an anxious mother waited for her. I saw a team of horses towering over her, and my heart literally27 stood in my mouth with fear.”
35
She had everybody intensely interested by this time. Hugh drew back a little for he feared she might mention him by name, and he shrank from publicity28.
“Just in the nick of time I saw a boy dart29 forward,” continued the lady passionately30. “He was lost to my sight for a brief period, and then when I thought I should faint with fear and suspense31, I saw him appear on the opposite walk, carrying the child, uninjured, in his arms. He set her down on her feet, waved his hand to her, and then walked off with several of his scout chums, just as unconcerned, apparently32, as though it might be nothing unusual; nor was it, my friends, for by this time we have all become accustomed to hear about—Hugh Hardin doing valiant33 things like that.”
She paused, because there was a wild outburst of cheers.
Hugh was as red as fire.
36
“If I had known that you saw that little happening, Mrs. Beverly, and meant to speak of it here, I might not have come over, though I certainly did want to hear what was said and done,” Hugh managed to stammer34, at which there was another round of cheers accompanied by hand clapping.
“That is the best part of it all, Hugh,” said the lady. “The fellow who can do a clever thing like that and still shrink from publicity, doubly wins our admiration35. But, my friends, I only mentioned the incident to show you how at any day there may take place a terrible tragedy at one of these unprotected crossings, where our innocent children have to pass over, going to and coming home from school. Now what shall we do about it? Must we wait until a fatality36 comes about before we combine all forces for good to crush these menaces to our peace and happiness? I say to you the hour has struck, and the women of this town are at last determined37 to sweep every obstacle out of their way in order to attain38 their end.”
Mayor Strunk threw up his hands.
37
“I surrender, ladies!” he hastened to exclaim, with the air of a man who knew how to get in out of the wet when it began raining. “Just as you say, the time for delay has passed, and from this night forward you can count on me as being with you, heart and soul. That little girl, Anita Burns, is my own grandchild, some of you may remember, and if anything had happened to her could I ever forgive myself? I guess it needed something like this to take the scales from my eyes.”
Everybody looked happy when they heard the mayor say this. Really, it had been his system of procrastination that had kept matters from reaching a climax39 long before. No one professed40 to understand just why he should have acted as he did, since his position as mayor carried no salary with it.
Professor Marvin later on called upon Hugh, as representing the scouts of Oakvale, to outline the idea he had in mind of having the boys made assistant police, with authority to wear badges, and power to order arrests in cases of emergency.
The mayor was somewhat dubious41 about the propriety42 of so radical43 a proceeding44.
38
“It would be almost revolutionary,” he observed, “but then we happen to know how well Hugh can be trusted to keep his troop under strict control, and they have before this amply proven worthy45 of the citizens’ full trust. I shall call a meeting of the town council for to-morrow night, and as many of you as can, be present; I’d be glad of your backing when this scheme is thrashed out there.”
So at last the uplift movement had come to Oakvale, thanks in part to Hugh Hardin and his fellow scouts.
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1
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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2
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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3
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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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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5
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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6
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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7
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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8
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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9
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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10
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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pastors
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| n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 ) | |
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12
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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13
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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14
rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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15
consensus
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| n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识 | |
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16
cohesion
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| n.团结，凝结力 | |
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procrastination
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| n.拖延，耽搁 | |
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18
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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19
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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20
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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21
snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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22
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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23
stun
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| vt.打昏，使昏迷，使震惊，使惊叹 | |
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24
graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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25
chauffeurs
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| n.受雇于人的汽车司机( chauffeur的名词复数 ) | |
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26
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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27
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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28
publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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29
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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30
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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31
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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32
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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33
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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34
stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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35
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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36
fatality
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| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
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37
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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38
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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39
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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40
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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41
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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42
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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43
radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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44
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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45
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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