I always believe in drawing first blood.
"Good-morning, Andrew," I called cheerfully. "Want to buy any books?" I halted Pegasus, and Andrew stood a little in front of the wheel—partly out of breath and mostly out of temper.
"What on earth is this nonsense, Helen?" he said angrily. "You've led me the deuce of a chase since yesterday. And who is this—this person you're driving with?"
"Andrew," I said, "you forget your manners. Let me introduce Mr. Mifflin. I have bought his caravan4 and am taking a holiday, selling books. Mr. Mifflin is on his way to Port Vigor5 where he takes the train to Brooklyn."
Andrew stared at the Professor without speaking. I could tell by the blaze in his light-blue eyes that he was thoroughly6 angry, and I feared things would be worse before they were better. Andrew is slow to wrath7, but a very hard person to deal with when roused. And I had some inkling by this time of the Professor's temperament8. Moreover, I am afraid that some of my remarks had rather prejudiced him against Andrew, as a brother at any rate and apart from his excellent prose.
Mifflin had the next word. He had taken off his funny little cap, and his bare skull9 shone like an egg. I noticed a little sort of fairy ring of tiny drops around his crown.
"My dear sir," said Mifflin, "the proceedings10 look somewhat unusual, but the facts are simple to narrate11. Your sister has bought this van and its contents, and I have been instructing her in my theories of the dissemination12 of good books. You as a literary man..."
Andrew paid absolutely no attention to the Professor, and I saw a slow flush tinge13 Mifflin's sallow cheek.
"Look here, Helen," said Andrew, "do you think I propose to have my sister careering around the State with a strolling vagabond? Upon my soul you ought to have better sense—and at your age and weight! I got home yesterday and found your ridiculous note. I went to Mrs. Collins, and she knew nothing. I went to Mason's, and found him wondering who had bilked his telephone. I suppose you did that. He had seen this freight car of yours and put me on the track. But my God! I never thought to see a woman of forty abducted14 by gypsies!"
Mifflin was about to speak but I waved him back.
"Now see here Andrew," I said, "you talk too quickly. A woman of forty (you exaggerate, by the way) who has compiled an anthology of 6,000 loaves of bread and dedicated15 it to you deserves some courtesy. When you want to run off on some vagabond tour or other you don't hesitate to do it. You expect me to stay home and do the Lady Eglantine in the poultry16 yard. By the ghost of Susan B. Anthony, I won't do it! This is the first real holiday I've had in fifteen years, and I'm going to suit myself."
Andrew's mouth opened, but I shook my fist so convincingly that he halted.
"I bought this Parnassus from Mr. Mifflin fair and square for four hundred dollars. That's the price of about thirteen hundred dozen eggs," I said. (I had worked this out in my head while Mifflin was talking about his book.)
"The money's mine, and I'm going to use it my own way. Now, Andrew McGill, if you want to buy any books, you can parley17 with me. Otherwise, I'm on my way. You can expect me back when you see me." I handed him one of Mifflin's little cards, which were in a pocket at the side of the van, and gathered up the reins18. I was really angry, for Andrew had been both unreasonable19 and insulting.
Andrew looked at the card, and tore it in halves. He looked at the side of Parnassus where the fresh red lettering was still damp.
"Well, upon my word," he said, "you must be crazy." He burst into a violent fit of sneezing—a last touch of hay fever, I suspect, as there was still goldenrod in the meadows. He coughed and sneezed furiously, which made him madder than ever. At last he turned to Mifflin who was sitting bald-headed with a flushed face and very bright eyes. Andrew took him all in, the shabby Norfolk jacket, the bulging20 memorandum21 book in his pocket, the stuffed portmanteau under his foot, even the copy of "Happiness and Hayseed" which had dropped to the floor and lay back up.
"Look here, you," said Andrew, "I don't know by what infernal arts you cajoled my sister away to go vagabonding in a huckster's wagon22, but I know this, that if you've cheated her out of her money I'll have the law on you."
I tried to insert a word of protest, but matters had gone too far. The Professor was as mad as Andrew now.
"By the bones of Piers23 Plowman," he said, "I had expected to meet a man of letters and the author of this book"—he held up "Happiness and Hayseed"—"but I see I was mistaken. I tell you, sir, a man who would insult his sister before a stranger, as you have done, is an oaf and a cad." He threw the book over the hedge, and before I could say a word he had vaulted24 over the off wheel and ran round behind the van.
"Look here sir," he said, with his little red beard bristling25, "your sister is over age and acting26 of her own free will. By the bones of the Baptist, I don't blame her for wanting a vacation if this is the way you treat her. She is nothing to me, sir, and I am nothing to her, but I propose to be a teacher to you. Put up your hands and I'll give you a lesson!"
This was too much for me. I believe I screamed aloud, and started to clamber from the van. But before I could do anything the two fanatics27 had begun to pummel each other. I saw Andrew swing savagely28 at Mifflin, and Mifflin hit him square on the chin. Andrew's hat fell on the road. Peg3 stood placidly29, and Bock made as if to grab Andrew's leg, but I hopped30 out and seized him.
It was certainly a weird31 sight. I suppose I should have wrung32 my hands and had hysterics, but as a matter of fact I was almost amused, it was so silly. Thank goodness the road was deserted33.
Andrew was a foot taller than the Professor, but awkward, loosely knit, and unmuscular, while the little Redbeard was wiry as a cat. Also Andrew was so furious that he was quite beside himself, and Mifflin was in the cold anger that always wins. Andrew landed a couple of flailing34 blows on the other man's chest and shoulders, but in thirty seconds he got another punch on the chin followed by one on the nose that tumbled him over backward.
Andrew sat in the road fishing for a handkerchief, and Mifflin stood glaring at him, but looking very ill at ease. Neither of them said a word. Bock broke away from me and capered35 and danced about Mifflin's feet as if it were all a game. It was an extraordinary scene.
Andrew got up, mopping his bleeding nose.
"Upon my soul," he said, "I almost respect you for that punch. But by Jove I'll have the law on you for kidnapping my sister. You're a fine kind of a pirate."
Mifflin said nothing.
"Don't be a fool, Andrew" I said. "Can't you see that I want a little adventure of my own? Go home and bake six thousand loaves of bread, and by the time they're done I'll be back again. I think two men of your age ought to be ashamed of yourselves. I'm going off to sell books." And with that I climbed up to the seat and clucked to Pegasus. Andrew and Mifflin and Bock remained standing36 in the road.
I was mad all the way through. I was mad at both men for behaving like schoolboys. I was mad at Andrew for being so unreasonable, yet in a way I admired him for it; I was mad at Mifflin for giving Andrew a bloody37 nose, and yet I appreciated the spirit in which it was done. I was mad at myself for causing all the trouble, and I was mad at Parnassus. If there had been a convenient cliff handy I would have pushed the old thing over it. But now I was in for it, and just had to go on. Slowly I rolled up a long grade, and then saw Port Vigor lying ahead and the broad blue stretches of the Sound.
Parnassus rumbled38 on with its pleasant creak, and the mellow39 sun and sweep of the air soon soothed40 me. I began to taste salt in the wind, and above the meadows two or three seagulls were circling. Like all women, my angry mood melted into a reaction of exaggerated tenderness and I began to praise both Andrew and Mifflin in my heart. How fine to have a brother so solicitous41 of his sister's welfare and reputation! And yet, how splendid the little, scrawny Professor had been! How quick to resent an insult and how bold to avenge42 it! His absurd little tweed cap was lying on the seat, and I picked it up almost sentimentally43. The lining44 was frayed45 and torn. From my suit case in the van I got out a small sewing kit46, and hanging the reins on a hook I began to stitch up the rents as Peg jogged along. I thought with amusement of the quaint47 life Mr. Mifflin had led in his "caravan of culture." I imagined him addressing the audience of Whitman disciples48 in Camden, and wondered how the fuss ended. I imagined him in his beloved Brooklyn, strolling in Prospect49 Park and preaching to chance comers his gospel of good books. How different was his militant50 love of literature from Andrew's quiet satisfaction. And yet how much they really had in common! It tickled51 me to think of Mifflin reading aloud from "Happiness and Hayseed," and praising it so highly, just before fighting with the author and giving him a bloody nose. I remembered that I should have spoken to Andrew about feeding the hens, and reminded him of his winter undergarments. What helpless creatures men are, after all!
I finished mending the cap in high good humour.
I had hardly laid it down when I heard a quick step in the road behind me, and looking back, there was Mifflin, striding along with his bald pate52 covered with little beads53 of moisture. Bock trotted54 sedately55 at his heels. I halted Peg.
"Well," I said, "what's happened to Andrew?"
The Professor still looked a bit shamefaced. "The Sage is a tenacious56 person," he said. "We argued for a bit without much satisfaction. As a matter of fact we nearly came to blows again, only he got another waft57 of goldenrod, which started him sneezing, and then his nose began bleeding once more. He is convinced that I'm a ruffian, and said so in excellent prose. Honestly, I admire him a great deal. I believe he intends to have the law on me. I gave him my Brooklyn address in case he wants to follow the matter up. I think I rather pleased him by asking him to autograph 'Happiness and Hayseed' for me. I found it lying in the ditch."
"Well," I said, "you two are certainly a great pair of lunatics. You both ought to go on the stage. You'd be as good as Weber and Fields. Did he give you the autograph?"
He pulled the book out of his pocket. Scrawled58 in it in pencil were the words "I have shed blood for Mr. Mifflin. Andrew McGill."
"I shall read the book again with renewed interest," said Mifflin. "May I get in?"
"By all means," I said. "There's Port Vigor in front of us."
He put on his cap, noticed that it seemed to feel different, pulled it off again, and then looked at me in a quaint embarrassment59.
"You are very good, Miss McGill," he said.
"Where did Andrew go?" I asked.
"He set off for Shelby on foot," Mifflin answered. "He has a grand stride for walking. He suddenly remembered that he had left some potatoes boiling on the fire yesterday afternoon, and said he must get back to attend to them. He said he hoped you would send him a postal60 card now and then. Do you know, he reminds me of Thoreau more than ever."
"He reminds me of a burnt cooking pot," I said. "I suppose all my kitchenware will be in a horrible state when I get home."
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1
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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7
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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8
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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9
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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dissemination
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| 传播,宣传,传染(病毒) | |
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13
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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14
abducted
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| 劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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20
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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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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piers
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| n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩 | |
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vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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fanatics
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| 狂热者，入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
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28
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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31
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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32
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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33
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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34
flailing
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| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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35
capered
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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38
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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39
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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40
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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41
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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42
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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43
sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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45
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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48
disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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49
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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50
militant
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| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
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51
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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52
pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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53
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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54
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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55
sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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56
tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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57
waft
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| v.飘浮，飘荡；n.一股；一阵微风；飘荡 | |
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58
scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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postal
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| adj.邮政的，邮局的 | |
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