It is true enough that the half year will have its play, too, its matches, with their rivalry2 and excitement. But at present it is the long routine of lessons which is most prominent in the minds of the lads who are sitting on the long benches of the King's School, Canterbury.
As a whole, however, these have not great reason for sadness. Not more than a third of them are boarders, and the rest, who have in truth, for the last week, begun to be tired of their holidays, will, when they once get out of school, and begin to choose sides for football, be really glad that the term has again commenced.
"So your brother is not coming back again, Archer3?" one of the boys said to a lad of some fifteen years old, a merry, curly-haired fellow, somewhat short for his age, but square-shouldered and sturdy.
"No. He is expecting in another six months to get his commission, and is going up to town to study with a coach. My father has lodged4 the money for him, and hopes to get him gazetted to his old regiment5, the 33d."
"What is he going to a coach for? There is no examination, is there? And if there was, I should think he could pass it. He has been in the sixth for the last year."
"Oh, he is all right enough," Archer said. "But my father is sending him to an army man to get up military drawing and fortification. Dad says it is of no use his going on grinding here at Greek and Latin, and that he had much better spend the time, till he gets his commission, in learning something that may be of use to him. I wish I had done with Latin and Greek too, I'm sure they'll never be of any use to me, and I hate them."
At this moment the conversation between the boys was abruptly6 broken off by Archer being called up by the class master.
"Archer," he said, looking up from the papers on the desk before him, "these verses are disgraceful. Of all in the holiday tasks sent in, yours appears to me to be the worst."
"I'm very sorry, sir," Jack7 Archer said, "I really tried hard to do them, but somehow or other the quantities never will come right."
"I don't know what you call trying hard, Archer, but it's utterly8 impossible, if you had taken the trouble to look the words out in the Gradus, that you could have made such mistakes as those here."
"I don't know, sir," Jack answered. "I can do exercises and translations and all that sort of thing well enough, but I always break down with verses, and I don't see what good they are, except for fellows who want to write Latin verses for tombstones."
"That has nothing to do with it," the master said; "and I am not going to discuss the utility of verses with you. I shall report you to Dr. Wallace, and if you will not work in your holidays, you will have to do so in your play-hours."
Jack retired9 to his seat, and for the next ten minutes indulged in a diatribe10 against classical learning in general, and hexameters and pentameters in particular.
Presently one of the sixth form came down to where Jack was sitting,—
"Archer, Dr. Wallace wants you."
"Oh, lord," Jack groaned11, "now I'm in for it! I haven't seen Marshall get out of his seat. I suppose he has written a report about those beastly verses."
The greeting of Dr. Wallace was, however, of a different nature from that which he had anticipated.
"Archer," he said, "I have just received a note from your father. You are to go home at once."
Jack Archer opened his eyes in astonishment12. It was but an hour and a half since he had started from Harbledown, a mile or so distant from the school. His father had said nothing at breakfast, and what on earth could he want him home again for?
With a mechanical "Yes, sir," he returned to his place, gathered up his books hastily together, fastening them with a strap13, and was soon on his way home at a rapid trot14. He overtook ere long the servant who had brought the note—an old soldier, who had been Major Archer's servant in the army.
"What is the matter, Jones? Is any one ill at home?"
"No, sir; no one is ill as I knows of. The major called me into his study, and told me to take a note to Dr. Wallace, and, of course, I asked the master no questions."
"No," Jack said, "I don't suppose you did, Jones. I don't suppose you'd ask any questions if you were told to take a letter straight to the man in the moon. I wonder what it can mean."
And continuing his run, he soon left the steady-going old soldier far behind. Up High Street, under the great gate, along through the wide, straggling street beyond, into the open country, and then across through the fields to Harbledown. Jack never paused till, hot and panting, he entered the gate.
His father and his elder brother, who had seen him coming across the fields, were standing15 in the porch.
Here his mother and two sisters were sitting.
"My dear boy," the former said, rising and throwing her arms round his neck, "this is sudden indeed."
"What is sudden, mother? What is sudden?" Jack asked. "What is it all about?" and noticing a tear on his mother's cheek, he went on, "It can't be those beastly verses, is it?" the subject most upon his mind being prominent. "But no, it couldn't be that. Even if Wallace took it into his head to make a row about them, there would not be time. But what is it, mother?"
"Sit down, Jack," his father said. "You know, my boy, you have always said that you would like to go to sea. I had no interest that way, but six months ago I wrote to my nephew Charles, who is, as you know, a first lieutenant20 in the navy, and asked him if he thought he could get you a midshipman's berth21. He wrote back to say that he was at present on half pay, and feared it would be a long time before he was afloat again, as there were but few ships in commission, and he had not much interest. But if he were appointed he might be able to get you a berth on board the ship. As that didn't seem very hopeful, I thought it better to say nothing to you about it. However, this morning, just after you had started for school, the postman brought a letter from him, saying that, owing to the threatening state of affairs in the East, a number of ships were being rapidly put in commission, and that he had been appointed to the 'Falcon23,' and had seen the captain, and as the latter, who happened to be an old friend of his, had no one in particular whom he wished to oblige, he had kindly24 asked the Admiralty for a midshipman's appointment for you. This he had, of course, obtained. The 'Falcon' is being fitted out with all haste, and you are to join at once. So I shall take you to Portsmouth to-morrow."
Jack was too much delighted and surprised to be able to speak at first. But after a minute or two he recovered his breath, uttered a loud hurrah of delight, and then gave vent25 to his feelings by exuberantly26 kissing his mother and sisters.
"This is glorious," he said. "Only to think that I, who have just been blown up for my verses, am a midshipman in her Majesty's service. I can hardly believe that it is true. Oh, father, I have so wished to go to sea, but I have never said much about it because I thought you did not like it, and now to think of my getting it when I had quite given up all hope, and just at a time, too, when there seems to be a chance of a row. What is it all about, father? I have heard you say something about a dispute with Russia, but I never gave much attention to it."
"The cause of the dispute is trumpery27 enough, and in itself wholly insufficient28 to cause a war between two great nations. It began by a squabble about the holy places at Jerusalem, as to the rights of the Greek and Latin pilgrims respectively."
"But what have we got to do with either the Latin or the Greek pilgrims?" Jack asked. "I should have thought that we were quite bothered enough with Latin and Greek verses, without having anything to do with pilgrims. Besides, I didn't know there were any Latins now, and the Greeks ain't much."
Major Archer smiled.
"The Latin pilgrims are the members of the countries which profess29 the Roman Catholic religion, while the Greeks are those who profess the religion of the Greek Church. That is to say, in the present case, principally Russians. There have for years been squabbles, swelling30 sometimes into serious tumults31, between the pilgrims of these creeds32, the matter being generally complicated by the interference of the Turkish authorities with them. The Russian government has been endeavoring to obtain from Turkey the protectorate of all Christians33 in her dominions34, which France, as the leading Catholic country, naturally objects to. All this, however, is only a pretext36. The real fact is that Russia, who has for centuries been casting a longing37 eye upon Turkey, thinks that the time has arrived when she can carry out her ambitious designs. It has always been our policy, upon the other hand, to sustain Turkey. We have large interests in the Mediterranean38, and a considerable trade with the Levant, and were Russia to extend her dominion35 to Constantinople, our position would be seriously menaced. Moreover, and this perhaps is the principal point, it is absolutely necessary for us in the future to be dominant39 in the east of the Mediterranean. Egypt is rapidly becoming our highway to India, and many men think that in the future our trade with that great dependency will flow down the valley of the Euphrates. Consequently, it is necessary to prevent Russia, at any cost, obtaining a footing south of the Black Sea."
"And do you think, father, that there will really be a war?"
"I'm inclined to think that there will be, Jack, although this is not the popular opinion. We have so long, in England, been talking about the iniquity40 of war that I believe that the Emperor Nicholas has persuaded himself that we will not fight at any price. In this I am sure that he is wholly mistaken. So long as there was no probability of war, the people of England have quietly permitted the cheese-paring politicians who govern us to cut down the army and navy to a point when we can hardly be said to have an army at all. But I am convinced that the people of England are at heart as warlike as of old. Few nations have done more fighting than we, and, roughly speaking, the wars have always been popular. If the people at large once become convinced that the honor and interest of England are at stake, they will go to war, and the politicians in power will have to follow the popular current, or give way to men who will do so. At present, however, the general idea is that a demonstration41 upon the part of England and France, will be sufficient to prevent Russia from taking any further steps. I think myself that Russia has gone too far to draw back. Russia is a country where the czars are nominally42 all-powerful, but where, in point of fact, they are as much bound as other sovereigns to follow the wishes of the country. The conquest of Constantinople has long been the dream of every Russian, and now that the Czar has held out hopes that this dream is about to be realized, he will scarcely like to draw back."
"But surely, father," Harry Archer said, "Russia cannot think herself a match for England and France united."
"I don't know that, my boy. Russia has an enormous population, far larger than that of England and France united. Every man, from the highest to the lowest, is at the disposal of the Czar, and there is scarcely any limit to the force which he is capable of putting into the field. Russia has not fought since the days of Napoleon, and in those days the Russian troops showed themselves to be as good as any in Europe. At Borodino and Smolensko they were barely defeated after inflicting43 enormous losses on the emperor's army, and, as in the end, they annihilated44 the largest army even Napoleon had ever got together, they may well think that, fighting close to their own borders, while England and France have to take their troops across Europe, they will be more than a match for us. And now, Jack, we must go down to the town. There is much to do and to think about. The principal part of your outfit45 I shall, of course, get at Portsmouth, where the tailors are accustomed to work at high pressure. But your underclothes we can get here. Now, my dear, if you will go upstairs and look through Jack's things, and let me know exactly how he stands, I will go down with him to the town, and get anything he requires."
"And will you be able to spare me for a quarter-of-an-hour, father? I should like to be outside the school when they come out at one o'clock, to say good-bye to them. Won't they be surprised, and jolly envious46? Oh no, I should think not! They would give their ears, some of them, I know, to be in my place. I should like to say good-bye, too, to old Marshall. His face will be a picture when he finds that he is not going to drop on me for those verses, after all."
It was a day of bustle47 and business, and Jack, until the very moment when he was embracing his weeping mother and sisters, while his father stood at the door, in front of which was the pony-chaise, which was waiting to take him down to the station, could hardly realize that it was all true, that his school-days were over, and that he was really a midshipman in her Majesty's service.
Harry had already gone to the station on foot, as the back seat in the pony-chaise was occupied by Jack's luggage, and the last words that he said, as he shook hands with his brother, were,—
"I shouldn't be surprised, old boy, if we were to meet in the East before long. If anything comes of it, they will have to increase the strength of the army as well as of the navy, and it will be bad luck indeed if the 33d is left behind."
On arriving at Portsmouth, Major Archer took up his quarters at the famous George Inn, and, leaving their luggage there, was soon on his way down to the Hard. Half a century had gone by since Portsmouth had exhibited such a scene of life and bustle. Large numbers of extra hands had been taken on at the dockyards, and the fitters and riggers labored48 night and day, hastening on the vessels49 just put into commission. The bakeries were at work turning out biscuits as fast as they could be made, and the stores were crammed51 to repletion52 with commissariat and other stores. In addition to the ships of war, several large merchant steamers, taken up as transports, lay alongside the wharves53, and an unusual force of military were concentrated in the town, ready for departure. By the Hard were a number of boats from the various men-of-war lying in the harbor or off Spithead, whose officers were ashore54 upon various duties. Huge dockyard barges55, piled with casks and stores, were being towed alongside the ships of war, and the bustle and life of the scene were delightful56 indeed to Jack, accustomed only to the quiet sleepiness of a cathedral town like Canterbury. Inquiring which was the "Falcon," a paddle steamer moored57 in the stream was pointed22 out to them by a boatman.
"Oh dear," Jack said, "she looks small in comparison with those big men-of-war."
"She is none the worse, Jack, for that," his father said. "If there should be fighting, it will scarcely be at sea. The Russian fleet will not venture to engage the fleets of England and France united, and you are likely to see much more active work in a vessel50 like the 'Falcon' than in one of those floating castles. Hullo, Charles, is that you?" he broke off, lying his hand upon the shoulder of a naval58 officer, who was pushing his way though the crowd of boatmen and sailors to a man-of-war gig, which, with many others, was lying by the Hard.
"Hullo, uncle, is that you?" he replied. "I am glad to see you. I was expecting you here in a day or so. I thought you would run down with the youngster. Well, Jack, how are you? Why, it must be eight years since I saw you. You were quite a little chap then. Well, are you thinking of thrashing the Russians?"
"The boy is half out of his mind with pleasure, Charles," Major Archer said, "and he and all of us are greatly obliged to you for your kindness in getting him his berth. I think you will find him active and intelligent, though I fear he has not shone greatly at school, especially," he said smiling, "in his Latin verses."
"He will make none the worse sailor for that," Charles Hethcote said with a laugh. "But I must be going on board. I have a message from the admiral to the captain and every moment is precious, for things are terribly behindhand. The dockyard people are wellnigh out of their wits with the pressure put upon them, and we are ordered to be ready to sail in a week. How it's all to be done, goodness only knows. You need not come on board, Jack. I will tell the captain that you have arrived, and he would not thank me for bringing any live lumber59 on board just at present. You had better get him his outfit, uncle, at once, and then he can report himself in full trim to-morrow."
Giving the major the address of the tailor who could be trusted to supply Jack's uniform without loss of time, and accepting an invitation to dine at the "George" that evening, if he could possibly get away from the ship, Lieutenant Hethcote stepped into the gig, and made his way to the "Falcon."
Major Archer and Jack first paid a visit to the tailor, where all the articles necessary for the outfit were ordered and promised for next day. They then visited the dockyard, and Jack was immensely impressed at the magnitude of the preparations which were being made for the war. Then they strolled down the ramparts, and stood for some time watching the batches60 of recruits being drilled, and then, as the short winter day was drawing to a close, they returned to the "George."
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1
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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10
diatribe
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| n.抨击，抨击性演说 | |
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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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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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14
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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15
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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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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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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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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exuberantly
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| adv.兴高采烈地，活跃地，愉快地 | |
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trumpery
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| n.无价值的杂物；adj.（物品）中看不中用的 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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tumults
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| 吵闹( tumult的名词复数 )； 喧哗； 激动的吵闹声； 心烦意乱 | |
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creeds
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| （尤指宗教）信条，教条( creed的名词复数 ) | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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43
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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45
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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49
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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50
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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51
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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52
repletion
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| n.充满，吃饱 | |
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wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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55
barges
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| 驳船( barge的名词复数 ) | |
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56
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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57
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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58
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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59
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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60
batches
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| 一批( batch的名词复数 )； 一炉； （食物、药物等的）一批生产的量； 成批作业 | |
参考例句： |
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