After this he screwed his courage so high as to go to the police-station where the charge against Nora’s mother must have been taken, and to ask for her address. But the cast-iron-faced inspector6 in charge took his name and address instead, as a beginning, and then would tell him nothing. And at last, maddened and reckless, he went to the publican, and demanded the information of him. Now if Johnny had had a little more worldly experience, a little more cunning, and a great deal more coolness, he would have done this at first, and, beginning by ordering a drink, he would have opened a casual conversation, led it to the matter of the window, and in the end would have gained his point quietly and easily. But as it was, he did none of these things. He ordered no drink, and he made a blunt request, taking little thought of its manner, none of the publican’s point of view, and perhaps forgetting that the man was in no way responsible for the rebuffs already endured. The publican, for his part, was already in a bad temper, because of the clumsy tapping of a barrel and ensuing “cheek” of the potman. So he answered Johnny’s demand by asking if he had come to pay for the window; p. 236and receiving the negative reply he had expected, he urgently recommended the intruder’s departure “outside”: in such terms as gave no choice but compliance7.
So that now, in extremity8, Johnny resolved on a last expedient9: one that had been vaguely10 in his mind for a day or two, though he had yet scarce had courage to consider it seriously. This was, to tell his mother the whole thing; and to induce her, if he might, to ask the address at the Institute—perhaps on some pretext11 of dressmaking business. He was not hopeful, for he well knew that any hint of traffic with the family of one such as Nora’s mother would be a horror to her. But he could see nothing else, and to sit still were intolerable. Moreover he guessed that his mother must suspect something from his preoccupation, and his neglect of his drawing. Though indeed poor Nan was most at pains, just then, to conceal12 troubles of her own.
Mr. Butson, in fact, began to chafe13 under the restraints of narrow circumstances. Not that he was poorer than had been his habit—indeed he was much better off—but that his needs had expanded with his prosperity and with his successes in society. And it was just now that his wife began to attempt retrenchment14. Probably she was encouraged by the outrageous15 revolt of her son, a revolt which had made advisable a certain degree of caution on the part of himself, the head of the household. She spoke16 of a rumour17 that the ship-yard p. 237opposite might close, as so many other Thames ship-yards had closed of late years. That, she said, would mean ruin for the shop, and she must try to save what little she might, meantime. An absurdity18, of course, in Mr. Butson’s view. He felt no interest in the rumours19 of old women about ship-yards, and petty measurement of the sordid20 chances of trade irritated him. If his wife found one source of profit running dry, she must look out and tap another, that was all. So long as he got what he wanted he troubled little about the manner of its getting. But now he ran near having less than he wanted, and his wife was growing even less accommodating. She went so far as to hint of withholding21 the paltry22 sum the lad earned; he should have it himself, she thought, to buy his clothes, and to save toward the end of his apprenticeship23. More than this, Mr. Butson much suspected that Johnny had actually had his own money for some while past, and that Mrs. Butson had descended24 to the mean subterfuge25 of representing as his earnings26 a sum which in reality she extracted each week from the till; an act of pure embezzlement27. And then there was the cottage in Epping Forest. She wouldn’t sell it now, though she wanted to sell when she first left it. What good was there in keeping it? True there was three-and-sixpence a week of rent, but that was nothing; it would go in a round of drinks, or in half a round, in any distinguished28 bar; and there were deductions29 even p. 238from the three-and-sixpence. Sold, the cottage might produce a respectable sum—perhaps a hundred pounds—at anyrate eighty. The figures stirred his blood. What a magnificent dash a man might cut with eighty pounds! And a fortune might be made out of it, too, if it were used wisely, and not buried away in a wretched three-and-sixpenny cottage. Properly invested on judicious30 flat-race Certainties, it would double itself about twice a week. So he made it very plain to Nan that the sale of the cottage for what it would fetch and the handing over of the proceeds was a plan he insisted on. But the stupid woman wouldn’t see it. It was plain that she was beginning to over-estimate her importance in the establishment, by reason that of late she had not been sufficiently31 sworn at, shoved, thumped33, and twisted and pinched on the arms. That was the worst of kindness to a woman—she took advantage.
So that he was obliged to begin to thump32 again. There was no need to do it so that Johnny might know, and so cause a low disturbance34. In fact, Johnny took little notice of things at home just now, no longer made inquiries35, nor lifted the poker36 with so impudent37 a stare; and he was scarce indoors at all. Wherefore Mr. Butson punched and ruffianed—being careful to leave no disreputable marks in visible spots, such as black eyes—and sometimes he kicked; and he demanded more money and more, but all the while insisted on the sale of the p. 239cottage. The monstrous38 laws of conveyance39 made it impossible for him to lay hands on the deeds and sell the place himself, or he would have done it, of course. And he made it advisable, too, for Bessy to avoid him—and that had a better effect than any direct attack on Nan. Till at last the woman was so far reduced that she was near a very dangerous rebellion indeed—nearer than Mr. Butson suspected. For she began to think of attempting a separation by magistrate’s order, shameful41 as it would be in the neighbourhood. Though she feared greatly.
So it was when Johnny turned toward home on an evening a little before nine o’clock, sick of blind searching, and ready to tell his mother the story of Nora Sansom, first to last. At Harbour Lane corner he saw Butson walking off, and wondered to see him about Blackwall so early in the evening.
Nobody was in the shop, and Johnny went through so quietly that he surprised his mother and Bessy, in the shop-parlour, crying bitterly. Nan sat on a chair and Bessy bent42 over her, and no concealment43 was possible. Johnny was seized by a dire40 surmise44. “Mother! What’s this?” he said. “What’s he been doing?”
Nan bent lower, but answered nothing. Johnny looked toward Bessy, almost sternly. “He—he’s beaten mother again,” Bessy blurted45, between sobs46.
“Beaten mother! Again!” Johnny’s face was white, p. 240and his nostrils47 stood wide and round. “Beaten mother! Again!”
“He’s always doing it now,” Bessy sobbed48. “And wanting more money. I’d a good mind to tell you before, but—but—”
“Beaten mother!” The room swam before Johnny’s eyes. “Why—”
Nan rose to close the door. “No, Johnny,” she said meekly49. “I’m a bit upset, but don’t let it upset you. Don’t you—”
“What’s the matter with your leg? You’re limping!”
“He kicked her! I saw him kick at her ankle!” Bessy burst out, pouring forth50 the tale unrestrained. “I tried to stop him and—and—”
“And then he hit you?” asked Johnny, not so white in the cheeks now, but whiter than ever about the mouth.
“Yes; but it was mother most!” and Bessy wept afresh.
Perhaps his evenings of disappointment had chastened Johnny’s impatience51. He knew that the man was out of reach now, and he forced his fury down. In ten minutes he knew the whole thing, between Bessy’s outpourings and Nan’s tearful admissions.
“When is he coming back?”
They did not know—probably he would be late, p. 241as usual. “But don’t go doing anything hasty, Johnny,” Nan implored52; “I’m so afraid of you doing something rash! It’s not much, really—I’m a bit upset, but—”
“I’ll have to think about this,” Johnny said, with such calmness that Nan felt somewhat reassured53, though Bessy was inwardly afraid. “I’m going out for an hour.”
He strode away to the Institute, walking by instinct, and seeing nothing till he was under the lettered lamp. He went to the dressing-room and hurried into his flannels54. In the gymnasium the instructor55, a brawny56 sergeant57 of grenadiers, was watching some lads on the horizontal bar. Johnny approached him with a hesitating request for a “free spar.”
“Free spar, my lad?” said the sergeant. “What’s up? Gettin’ cheeky? Want to give me a hidin’?”
“No, sergeant,” Johnny answered. “Not such a fool as that. But I never had a free spar with a man much heavier than myself, and—and I just want to try, that’s all!”
There was a comprehending twinkle about the sergeant’s eyes. “Right,” he said; “you’re givin’ me near two stone—that’s if you’re a bit over eleven. Fetch the gloves.”
At another time Johnny would never have conceived the impudence58 of asking the sergeant—once champion of the army—for a free spar. Even a “light” spar with p. 242the sergeant was something of an undertaking59, wherein one was apt to have both hands full, and a bit over. But the lad had his reasons now.
He dashed at the professor with a straight lead, and soon the blows were going like hail on a window-pane. The sergeant stood like a rock, and Johnny’s every rush was beaten back as by hammer-blows on the head. But he came again fresh and eager, and buzzed his master merrily about the head, getting in a very respectable number of straight drives, such as would knock an ordinary man down, though the sergeant never winked60; and bringing off one on the “mark” that did knock out a grunt61, much as a punch in that region will knock one out of a squeaking62 doll.
“Steady,” the sergeant called after two long rounds had been sparred. “You’ll get stiff if you keep on at that rate, my lad, and that’s not what you want, I reckon!” This last with a grin. “You haven’t been boxin’ regular you know, just lately.”
“But you’re all right,” he added, as they walked aside. “Your work keeps you in good condition. Not quite so quick as you would ha’ been if you’d been sparrin’ every evening, o’course. But quick enough for your job, I expect.” And again Johnny saw the cunning twinkle.
It was about closing time, and when Johnny had p. 243changed his clothes, he found the sergeant leaving also. He thanked him and bade him good-night.
“Good-night, May,” the sergeant called, and turned into the street. But he swung back along the footpath63 after Johnny, and asked, “Is it to-morrow?”
“What, sergeant?”
“Oh, I ain’t a sergeant—I’m a stranger. There’s a sergeant goes to that moral establishment p’raps,” with a nod at the Institute, “but he behaves strictly64 proper. I’m just a chap out in the street that would like to see the fight, that’s all. When is it?”
“I don’t quite know that myself,” Johnny answered.
“Oh—like that, is it? Hum.” The sergeant was thoughtful for a moment—perhaps incredulous. Then he said, “Well, can’t be helped, I suppose. Anyway, keep your left goin’ strong, but don’t lead quite so reckless, with your head up an’ no guard. You’re good enough. An’ the bigger he is, the more to hit!”
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1
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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4
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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5
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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6
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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9
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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chafe
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| v.擦伤；冲洗；惹怒 | |
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retrenchment
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| n.节省，删除 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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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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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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apprenticeship
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| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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subterfuge
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| n.诡计；藉口 | |
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earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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embezzlement
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| n.盗用，贪污 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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deductions
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| 扣除( deduction的名词复数 )； 结论； 扣除的量； 推演 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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36
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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40
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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42
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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43
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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44
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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45
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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47
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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48
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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49
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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50
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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51
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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52
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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54
flannels
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| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
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55
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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56
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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58
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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59
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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60
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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61
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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62
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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63
footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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64
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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