“Cousins, you started too soon. Wait until quarter turns. Your duty is to make the play safe. If there had been a fumble15 you’d never have got the ball. Try that again, please. And, Burtis, keep your head straight. If you turn it you may give away the play. Remember that, everyone. Don’t indicate by a look or movement where the ball is going or where the attack is to be made. Same play, Simms.”
At the edge of the shadow cast by the running track a half-dozen substitutes watched and awaited their turns. With them were Davis, making interminable notes in his book, and Andy Ryan, the little red-headed trainer, his sharp eyes following the players’ every movement. Finally it was over, and the fellows trooped down the stairs to the showers, the edict “Ten o’clock bed, fellows!” ringing in their ears.
Meanwhile Gerald was leading a dozen or so scantily16 attired17 youths over the cross-country course, plugging up the slippery hillsides and splashing through puddles18, with the rain soaking their running clothes and squish-squashing in[202] their spiked19 shoes, and all for the glory of Yardley. And, although no one knew it, far out on the golf links, a solitary20 figure in the rain-swept landscape, George Kirk was tramping doggedly21 along in the wake of a wee white ball. The golfing days were growing fewer and fewer and, although it would be a good six months before he could lead his warriors22 against Broadwood again, he must miss no chance to prepare for a victory. And this, too, was for the glory of Yardley.
By supper time the drizzle had turned to a driving rain that beat against the front windows of the halls and filled the walks with unexpected puddles into which you walked unseeingly. It was what The Duke, sprinting23 back from the library after supper—even The Duke had to look up a reference occasionally—termed to himself “a dark, dank, drooly nicht.” He reached the entrance to Clarke out of breath and somewhat damp, but his spirits were not affected24. It took more than that to affect them. Even the fact that authority in the person of one Edmund Gaddis, instructor25 in English, familiarly known as “Old Tige,” had decreed that The Duke should hand in a theme before Saturday noon, and that Saturday noon was less than seventeen hours away, cast no spell of gloom over his gayety. When, having reached the head of the first flight, he[203] descried26 Adler coming along the corridor, he immediately stationed himself against the newel post, clapped a hand to an imaginary sword hilt and scowled28 silently at the approaching figure. Adler, sighting his foe29 at the same moment, placed a quick hand on his own weapon and, hugging the further wall, advanced cautiously, with an insolent30 expression. No word was spoken. Eyeing each other intently, haughtily31, they met and passed. The weapons were not drawn. Adler, circling at a safe distance, reached the stairs and, with a last malevolent32 glare, which was met and returned, passed from sight. Whereupon The Duke dropped his hand from his sword hilt and proceeded upstairs, three steps at a time. Just why the two went through this procedure they did not know, but they always did, wherever and whenever they met. Doubtless it added spice to life.
Cotton was writing at the study table when The Duke flung open the door of Number 47. At sight of his roommate Cotton quickly turned the written sheet face downward and drew a blotter half over it, afterward7 pretending to trace figures on the blotter with his pen. The Duke observed him disgustedly.
“Oh, chuck the mystery, Cotton! I don’t want to see what you’re writing. Every time anyone[204] comes around you you hide something like a silly conspirator33. Why the dickens don’t you write something you aren’t ashamed of, eh?”
“I’m not ashamed of anything I write,” replied Cotton with intense dignity. “But I don’t want fellows to read my letters, do I?”
“You do not! Nor does anyone want to read your old letters. I’ll bet a dollar and seven cents no one could read ’em!”
The Duke had seized a towel and was vigorously mopping the rain from his face and hair. Cotton scowled.
“If I couldn’t write better than you I—I’d use a typewriter!”
“Is that impossible?” scoffed34 The Duke, tossing the towel aside and slicking his hair with a pair of military brushes. “Sweet youth, I wouldst tell thee something an thou willst hearken. My name is Lester S. Wellington, and the S stands for Spencerian. I, O Colossal35 Lump of Ignorance, invented the art of writing!”
Cotton said “Humph!” in an unflattering tone and gathered up his writing. The Duke, feeling better after his burst of confidence, pulled a slip of crumpled36 paper from a pocket and smoothed it out. It contained the notes written in the library. He had started for his room with his mind made up to sit down at once and compose[205] that English theme. But now he viewed the notes distastefully. The virtuous37 impulse was dying fast. Besides, how could a fellow do anything with Cotton there? An English theme—especially to The Duke—was something requiring ideal conditions of quiet and vast concentration. And it was absolutely impossible to concentrate when Cotton was scratching his pen or shuffling38 his feet at the other side of the table. Besides, there was still to-morrow morning. He would arise early and do the theme before chapel39. One’s faculties40 are always at their best in the early morning. The Duke slipped the notes between the pages of a blue book and smiled relievedly. He even viewed his roommate with a forgiving smile.
“What do I care about the mass-meeting?” inquired Cotton with a scowl27. “A lot of idiots howling and some more idiots making speeches! What does it amount to?”
“Why, you unpatriotic sinner!” exclaimed The Duke. “I honestly believe you’d rather see us beaten than not!”
[206]
“We’re going to be beaten, whether I want it or don’t. Besides, there’ll be plenty of fellows there to make a noise without me.”
The Duke viewed him with deep disgust for a moment. Finally, “Cotton, at times I experience a most frantic44 temptation to kick you out of the window. Isn’t that strange? Can you explain it?”
“You’d better try it,” replied the other belligerently45.
“No, I shall try to resist,” answered The Duke, shaking his head gently. “You just say that so I’ll spoil a perfectly46 good window and get in trouble. I don’t think that is very nice of you, Cotton. In fact, I think it shows a mean spirit. No, when I do kick you, O Delectable47 One, it will be through the door, with the door open.”
“You—you——” began Cotton angrily.
“Don’t ask me!” interrupted The Duke, holding up a hand. “I’d like to oblige you, Cotton, but I will not kick you out the window. You must try to be reasonable about it. Put yourself in my place, Cotton. As much as I love you, O Joy of My Heart, I will not sacrifice a good window merely to satisfy your selfish whim48. No, no, Cotton, it must be the door! You must be satisfied with the door. Not another word, I beg of you! I am adamant49!”
[207]
And The Duke, smiling sweetly but reprovingly, passed out, leaving Cotton sputtering50 with indignation and rage. By the time The Duke’s footsteps had died away in the corridor, however, his roommate’s wrath51 had wasted to grumblings.
“Silly fool,” muttered Cotton. “Stuck-up idiot! Thinks he’s so beastly clever, does he? Huh!” He caught sight of the paper The Duke had slipped into the book, and he reached across the table and drew it out. “Notes, eh?” he murmured. “For his theme, I guess. Well, he can go and get some more, he’s so smart!” And very deliberately52, grinning the while, Cotton tore the sheet into tiny pieces and, opening the window, let them flutter out. Then, chuckling53, he returned to the table, uncovered his letter, dipped his pen and began to write again:
“And as near as I can find out they won’t learn the new signals until about Tuesday. I guess I can find out what they are. I’ll try anyway. If I do I’ll let you know right away. It looks like they’d get licked to-morrow, and I hope they do. Two or three of the fellows are overtrained, they say, but I don’t know if it’s really true. Look for a letter Wednesday or Thursday. Best regards.”
He didn’t sign his name. Folding the letter he slipped it into an envelope and addressed it to[208] “William Gibson, Esq., Broadwood Academy, Greenburg, Ct.” Then, putting it into his pocket, he slipped quietly down the stairs and across, through the rain, to the letterbox in front of Oxford. Although there was no one in sight Cotton took no risks of being seen, and the way in which he extracted the letter from his pocket and slid it through the slot was a marvel54 of dexterity55. Then, as a sudden burst of cheering reached him from upstairs, he passed into the hall and sought the meeting, just as, in spite of his declaration to the contrary, he had intended to do all along.
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1
drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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2
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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3
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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sprains
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| 扭伤( sprain的名词复数 ) | |
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5
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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6
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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7
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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8
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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9
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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10
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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squads
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| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
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12
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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13
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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14
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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15
fumble
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| vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等，摸索 | |
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16
scantily
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| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
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17
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
puddles
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| n.水坑， （尤指道路上的）雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 ) | |
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19
spiked
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| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
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20
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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21
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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22
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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23
sprinting
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| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的现在分词 ) | |
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24
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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25
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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26
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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27
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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28
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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30
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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31
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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32
malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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33
conspirator
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| n.阴谋者，谋叛者 | |
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34
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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36
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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37
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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38
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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39
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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40
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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41
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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42
growled
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| 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 | |
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43
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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44
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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45
belligerently
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46
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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47
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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48
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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49
adamant
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| adj.坚硬的，固执的 | |
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50
sputtering
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| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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51
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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52
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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53
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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54
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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55
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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