"Tut, tut, there!" he cried. "What are you running about this way for, tramping down everything? First thing you know I'll give you another whipping within an inch of your life!"
"Marster!" I cried, clinging to him, "the doctor is after me!"
"Well, he won't get you. Turn me loose. Hang about near me, but don't let your mistress see you. The doctor's going away to-morrow to be gone some time. Here he comes now. Go on to the house."
[Pg 43]
I passed the doctor, skirting far into a flower bed to give him plenty of room; he glowered3 at me and said nothing. But I knew that he would let slip no opportunity to harm me, and that night Bob and I barricaded4 our door. He had an old horse pistol that wouldn't shoot, and I had a broken saber, and we took turn about standing6 guard behind our breast-works. "You've been there long enough. Come on and lie down and let me stay there awhile?" he would say; and he never failed to add: "And you must pretend like you're asleep."
At morning I awoke in bed and found Bob asleep behind the barricade5. I aroused him, and he jumped up and declared that he had stood guard all night, and hadn't slept a wink7. I pretended to believe him, and he rewarded me with a crock marble and a biscuit covered with sugar.
Early that morning I had the satisfaction of seeing my enemy, the doctor, leave the plantation8, and then followed a day of happiness, playing up and down the creek9. At the house one other enemy was left, Old Miss, but I did not hate her, for her dislike of me could be none other than a divine right, something which I would not permit myself to question. She was cold and proud, and rarely did she give way to[Pg 44] the affection which she must have felt for her own children. It was said that she could trace her origin back to great warriors10, and this gave a reason for her pride and her coldness; but Old Master's forefathers11 also were great fighters and statesmen, and yet he was warm-hearted and sympathetic. Aunt Mag told me that Old Miss had refused to marry Henry Clay because he was poor, and had always regretted it, but I could not see why, for surely my master was as great as Clay.
The evening after the doctor left us, I was lying on the ground near the stone steps leading to the broad hall, when I heard Master and Old Miss talking. They were sitting on the portico12 and did not see me.
"I told him," said Master, "that he might draw on me for what money he actually needs, but that I would put up with no extravagance. Of course, he has a sort of a claim, but I don't intend that he shall embarrass me in any way."
She cleared her throat with a rasp that always made me shudder13. "He surely has a claim," she replied.
"Well, that's what I said, didn't I?"
"Yes, but you seem to think that it is not much of a claim."
"I don't seem to think anything of the sort. He[Pg 45] shall have everything that is due him. But, madam, the truth of it is, he is of no account."
"He is a gentleman."
"In what way?" I peeped up and saw him look hard at her. "In what way has he shown himself a gentleman?"
"He was born a gentleman," Old Miss replied.
"Born one, yes. His father and mother may have been good stock, but I tell you that he's a scrub. Still I will give him what's due him."
"Oh, I know that."
"Then there needn't be any further discussion about it."
"No," she said, "not so far as I am concerned." And after a pause she asked: "What's your object in sending Bob over to school at Layfield?"
"To learn something, of course."
"But why can't he go to school at home? Can't he learn something here?"
"We have had a teacher for him here and he has done no good."
"Yes, but can't you send him to school at the Academy in town?"
"I could do it, of course, but I would rather have him go away. It will make him more important in[Pg 46] his own estimation—will give him more confidence in himself."
"Is Dan going with him?"
"Oh, I knew what you were driving at. Yes," he almost shouted, "Dan is going with him."
"I don't see why. Why not send Sam with him?'"
"Madam, is it necessary to explain to you that Dan is the property—property—"
"I know all about that. But they are too much like companions, and will study together."
He looked hard at her. "Study together? And what of that?"
"I don't want a child of mine studying with a negro. He has no business to study. He knows enough already! Educate him and he will be of no account on the face of the earth. I never knew it to fail. Mason had an educated negro, and what became of him? He ran away and went north and told a pack of lies about the people in this State, about the cruelties he had suffered, and the abolition14 papers are still harping15 on it."
"Yes, that's all true enough," said Old Master, "but in Dan's case it will be different. He is not likely to pick up much learning, and besides he's grateful. He'll never run away."
[Pg 47]
"I have been thinking," she said, "that we might—"
"Might do what?" Master snapped before she had finished.
"Well, you know how much the doctor desires that boy. Why not let him—"
"Madam!" Master thundered, "don't you know that the boy belongs to Bob? How long will it take you to learn that? Must I keep forever dinging it into your ears?"
"Well, you needn't get mad about it."
"That's true, and I beg your pardon. But just let me manage it, if you please. I believe you said yesterday that our carriage is getting too old for you to ride about in?"
"Yesterday? I have talked about it for the past year!"
"Yes, so you have. Well, you may go to Louisville yourself and select one to suit you."
That night I told Bob that we were going off to school together, and we grabbed each other in our glee.
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
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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2
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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3
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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5
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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6
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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7
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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8
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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9
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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10
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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11
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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12
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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13
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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14
abolition
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| n.废除，取消 | |
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15
harping
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| n.反复述说 | |
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