Chapter I. Mr. Bradbury

 But for the coach and pair carrying Mr. Bradbury to Chelton, Tony Vining and I would not have been haled before the Squire¹, but would have got off scot-free as any time before.  Tony and I had made the round of our snares².  Tony had poked³ a young rabbit into his jacket-pocket; I was carrying a hare in my bag, and we were sneaking⁴ homewards through the dusk, when Tim Kerrick, ash-plant in hand, and brace⁵ of keepers at heel, stepped out of the coppice.

 

“What be you lads doin’ here?” Tim demanded, barring our way.  “You’re after no good, I’ll warrant.  What’s in your bag, John Howe?”

 

I did not stay to answer.  I swung round and was away.  Tony raced off with me; old Tim and his keepers followed.  We led them about the coppice, but they pressed us hard, Tim roaring, “Stop, ye young varmint!  Stop!  It’ll be all the worse for ye.  Stop, I say!”

 

Dreading⁶ Tim’s ash-plant, we ran on with p. 10all speed.  The hare in the bag hung heavily on me; when we were out in the furze, I let the bag slip from me, and ran more swiftly.  I had need, for Tony was now well ahead, and Tim and the keepers were hot at my heels; I could hear Tim’s snorting as much for anger as the rigour of the chase.  Furze tore my breeches and stockings; as we took the bank above the road, a bramble almost led to my undoing⁷; it caught the tail of my jacket, and for the moment held me.  Tim charged forward with a yell of triumph; it was premature⁸, for, kicking his toe against a root, he tumbled forward on his nose; on the evidence of his curses he pitched headlong into the bramble.  I tore myself away from the thorn, and dashed up the bank after Tony.

 

Down then we plunged⁹ into the road; the keepers, not staying to help Tim to his feet, pressed closely on us.  And as we shot down into the road, destiny in a coach and pair—to wit, Mr. Bradbury—encountered us.  For scarcely were we on the road, and racing¹⁰ on, than with a flash of yellow lamplight through the dusk, cracking of whip, and rattle¹¹ of wheels, the coach was driven round a bend in the way, blocking our path, and sending us up against the bank to save ourselves.  Tony cried out, p. 11for the horses almost trod him down; instantly the pair took fright, and swerved¹² to left.  A wheel descending¹³ into a deep rut, the coach toppled over; a horse fell, and the driver was lost in a swirl¹⁴ of dust, confusion of struggling, plunging¹⁵ horses and smashing vehicle.  On this disaster we might have sped away; no more than my curiosity, or maybe, desire to give a hand to the driver, held me there leaning against the bank and for the moment staring.  But then I darted¹⁶ back with Tony, and caught at the bridle¹⁷ of the plunging horse; by then the driver was the master of its fellow.  Scarcely had we prevailed, than old Tim, cursing still, was upon us, roaring to his keepers, “Hold the young varmints!  Don’t let ’em get away!”  Promptly the keepers had Tony and me as securely as we held the horse; Tim was standing¹⁸ glowering¹⁹ at us, ash-plant quivering in his right hand, when out of the wrecked²⁰ coach stepped Mr. Bradbury.

 

Now in the days to be from my first meeting with Mr. Bradbury the demeanour and the characteristics of the gentleman were to be stamped so vividly²¹ upon my mind that perhaps I write of him here with a detail beyond my perception in the dusk, for the light of the carriage lamps had been put out.  I picture p. 12him as a keen-faced gentleman,—then of sixty years of age,—as lean and stooping slightly; his black cloak lined with white silk blowing out from his shoulders; his long white hands striving now to secure it at his breast, and now to hold his hat upon his head.  He would be wearing his coat of fine black cloth, black, flapped waistcoat, black silken breeches and black silken stockings, shining silver-buckled shoes, linen²² of superfine quality and whiteness,—I recall the glint of white jewels on his fingers.  His hair was snow-white, and bound with a black ribbon; his spectacles were as two owl-like eyes.

 

“Ha-ha!” the gentleman exclaimed, observing Tony and me in the grip of the keepers.  “Whom have we here?  Gentlemen of the road?”—and chuckled²³ in a dry, crackling way.

 

“Poachers,—lads from the village, Mr. Bradbury, sir,” Tim growled²⁴, touching²⁵ his hat.  “These young dogs has been poachin’, and I be goin’ to dust their jackets, as they’ve needed dustin’ many a day.  ’Twas them as frightened the hosses, an’ nigh broke your honour’s neck and the lad’s there.  You’ve took no hurt, sir, I hopes and trusts.”

 

“None!  None!” Mr. Bradbury answered, indifferently.  “But my driver?”

 

“Well enough, sir, thank ’ee,” the fellow p. 13said, busying himself with the traces of the fallen horse.  “No thanks to these young rascals²⁶.”

 

“Ay!  Ay!  I’ll be walking on then to the hall,” said Mr. Bradbury, glancing at the ruined coach.  “And I’ll leave you free, Tim Kerrick, to dust the jackets and whatsoever²⁷ else of the attire²⁸ of these lads as may occur to you.”  He chuckled again, and pulled his flapping cloak about him.

 

“The road’s rough and broken with the rains, Mr. Bradbury,” said Tim.  “As like as not you’ll be tumblin’ into the ditch, or missin’ your way.  I’ll send one of my lads with you.  Hey, you Dick, have you your lantern there?”

 

“Yes, I’ve it here, Mister Kerrick,” the keeper answered.

 

“Light it, lad, light it, and go along with Mr. Bradbury!  Joe and me can finish our business with these varmint.”

 

The keeper, relinquishing²⁹ me to Tim’s custody³⁰, lit his lantern, and stood forward to attend Mr. Bradbury, who, leaning on his cane³¹, was scrutinising Tony and me.

 

“Show the light on this lad here,” said Mr. Bradbury, suddenly, pointing to me.  As the light flashed on me, Mr. Bradbury peered at me through his spectacles; his face expressed nothing of his thought; shamefaced I stood p. 14before him.  “What’s your name, boy?” Mr. Bradbury demanded, sharply.

 

“John Howe, sir,” I answered.

 

“Howe!—H’m—Kerrick!”

 

“Sir?” said Tim, touching his hat.

 

“Bring this lad to the Hall.”

 

“After I’ve basted³² him, sir?”

 

“Let the penalty be suspended.  Later, maybe.  Jacket or breeches then, as you will,” said Mr. Bradbury, chuckling³³.  “Who’s the other lad?”

 

“Parson’s son, sir,—young Vining.”

 

“Bring them both before Mr. Chelton at the Hall,” Mr. Bradbury ordered.  “It’s only just that they should suffer equally, as Mr. Chelton thinks fit; one’s as culpable³⁴ as the other.  Bring them both after me, Kerrick!  Now, my man, go ahead with the lantern.”

 

Wrapped in his cloak, hat pressed down over his brows, Mr. Bradbury went up the road, leaving Tim to curse, since justice and an overdue³⁵ vengeance³⁶ on our skins had been taken arbitrarily from his hands.

1 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

2 snares   

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 )

参考例句：

• He shoots rabbits and he sets snares for them. 他射杀兔子，也安放陷阱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am myself fallen unawares into the snares of death. 我自己不知不觉跌进了死神的陷阱。 来自辞典例句

3 poked   

v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交

参考例句：

• She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
• His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 sneaking   

a.秘密的，不公开的

参考例句：

• She had always had a sneaking affection for him. 以前她一直暗暗倾心于他。
• She ducked the interviewers by sneaking out the back door. 她从后门偷偷溜走，躲开采访者。

5 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。

6 dreading   

v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. 她正在为不得不向父亲提出钱的事犯愁。
• This was the moment he had been dreading. 这是他一直最担心的时刻。

7 undoing   

n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭

参考例句：

• That one mistake was his undoing. 他一失足即成千古恨。
• This hard attitude may have led to his undoing. 可能就是这种强硬的态度导致了他的垮台。

8 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

9 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

10 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

11 rattle   

v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓

参考例句：

• The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓，笑着叫着。
• She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。

12 swerved   

v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist. 她猛地急转弯，以躲开一个骑自行车的人。
• The driver has swerved on a sudden to avoid a file of geese. 为了躲避一队鹅，司机突然来个急转弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 descending   

n. 下行 adj. 下降的

参考例句：

• The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
• The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

14 swirl   

v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形

参考例句：

• The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。
• You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿，看着雪花飘飘。

15 plunging   

adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

18 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

19 glowering   

v.怒视( glower的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The boy would not go, but stood at the door glowering at his father. 那男孩不肯走，他站在门口对他父亲怒目而视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then he withdrew to a corner and sat glowering at his wife. 然后他溜到一个角落外，坐在那怒视着他的妻子。 来自辞典例句

20 wrecked   

adj.失事的，遇难的

参考例句：

• the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸
• the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞

21 vividly   

adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地

参考例句：

• The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
• The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。

22 linen   

n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的

参考例句：

• The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
• Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。

23 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

24 growled   

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

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

26 rascals   

流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人

参考例句：

• "Oh, but I like rascals. "唔，不过我喜欢流氓。
• "They're all second-raters, black sheep, rascals. "他们都是二流人物，是流氓，是恶棍。

27 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

28 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

29 relinquishing   

交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃

参考例句：

• The international relinquishing of sovereignty would have to spring from the people. 在国际间放弃主权一举要由人民提出要求。
• We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. 我们很明白，没有人会为了废除权力而夺取权力。 来自英汉文学

30 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

31 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

32 basted   

v.打( baste的过去式和过去分词 )；粗缝；痛斥；（烤肉等时）往上抹[浇]油

参考例句：

• The turkey is basted to keep it from drying out. 烤火鸡时润以油脂以免烤干。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Meat is basted to keep it from drying out and to improve its flavour. 烤肉时润以脂油使不致烤焦并可增加香味。 来自《简明英汉词典》

33 chuckling   

轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时，我能听见他的轻声发笑。
• He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

34 culpable   

adj.有罪的，该受谴责的

参考例句：

• The judge found the man culpable.法官认为那个人有罪。
• Their decision to do nothing makes them culpable.他们不采取任何行动的决定使他们难辞其咎。

35 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。

36 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。