They found that the police had been and gone, and were none the wiser for their visit. Mr. St. Clive had received them readily, and told them that he certainly had employed an old gardener, but that the man had left his employ only a short time before they came, and that he could give them no information about him.
It was highly distasteful to an honourable1 gentleman like Mr. St. Clive even to say anything which, while strictly2 true, had yet the qualities of a lie, but in this case he was forced to do so. He could not give the poor man up to justice—a man whom he honestly believed to have been wrongly convicted—especially after having received him and sheltered him so long.
But when Elgert and Dobson heard that the search was unsuccessful, oh, how angry they were! They[Pg 241] had come back with the constables3, and Mr. St. Clive turned to them and spoke4 very sternly.
"So it appears that I am indebted to you two young gentlemen for this visit," he said. "First of all you trespass5 upon my grounds; then you take upon yourselves to give this information to the police; and now you have come back uninvited. Kindly6 oblige me by taking yourselves off; and understand that if I find you on my grounds again, I shall not have the slightest hesitation7 in horsewhipping the pair of you!"
Oh, what a rage Elgert was in! To be spoken to like that! He, the Honourable Horace Elgert!
He went home and told his father, and Lord Elgert rode over in a terrible passion to demand an explanation from Mr. St. Clive.
But that gentleman took things very calmly, and his lordship got little satisfaction from him.
"It is my belief, sir, that my son is correct, and that you have been harbouring a fugitive8 from justice!" shouted his lordship. "It is like you to do that. You have taken that young rascal9, Rexworth, in spite of the knowledge that his father is a man who attempted to rob me."
"Pardon me, Lord Elgert," answered Mr. St. Clive, "I have tried to repay a debt of gratitude10 I owe to a brave boy, who rescued my child from death, at the peril11 of his own life, because you would not take the trouble to have your bull properly secured. As to the[Pg 242] knowledge that his father tried to rob you, I know nothing of the kind."
"I have told you so. You have my word for it," replied Lord Elgert; and Mr. St. Clive answered drily—
"That is a very different thing from knowing it."
"You insult me, sir! You deliberately12 insult me! But be careful, or you shall answer for it. Make no mistake, you shall answer for it!" And with that, his lordship rode off in a towering rage.
Mr. St. Clive did not trouble to tell Ralph all the unkind things which Lord Elgert had said, for there was nothing to be gained by causing the boy pain; and so, after giving them all hot cocoa, Warren and Charlton were sent off to their homes, and Ralph was glad to get to bed, for he was quite tired out.
And then, after one of those quiet Sundays which he had got to value so much, he set off for school on the Monday morning, calling for Charlton, and meeting with Warren on the way.
"Well, Rexworth, and how do you feel to-day?"
Now, if Warren or Charlton had asked that question, there would have been nothing strange in it; but it was neither of the boys. It was Mr. Delermain, when the class was assembled; and Ralph, although he felt surprised, answered that he felt very well.
"Ah!" said the master, and he smiled. "Well, I am glad of that, for to-day you have to uphold the honour of the Fourth. You will not take your place[Pg 243] for lessons as usual. The examination for the Newlet is to-day. You are to go to the Head's class-room immediately after prayers."
"Good luck to you, Rexworth," whispered Charlton, looking quite nervous; and Tom Warren patted him on the shoulder and added imploringly—
"Now, mind you keep cool, Ralph—keep quite cool. Don't get flustered13 if you cannot answer every question, and don't spend too much time over the easy ones. Answer them first, as briefly14 as you can, and then go for the others. Keep cool, old fellow, for the honour of the Fourth."
Certainly Ralph did feel just a trifle anxious and nervous; but he had worked hard, and felt pretty well grounded in his subjects, and he meant to do his best honestly.
So when prayers were over, he rose and went out of the class-room, while the boys, thinking that the occasion admitted of it, cried out aloud: "Good luck to you, Rexworth! Hope that you will succeed!"
"Jolly lot of fuss they make about that chap," sneered15 Dobson to the boy next him. "It is just a disgrace to let such a fellow as that sit for the Newlet."
"Especially when a bright, intellectual fellow like Dobson does not go in for it!" was the answer he received; and Dobson glowered16 and muttered something about his "cheek."
Somehow, Charlton could not get on as he ought[Pg 244] to have done that morning. He was so anxious about Ralph, and he was so full of his father, and wondering whether he was all safe. Mr. Delermain had to rebuke17 him once or twice—he did not understand things like Warren did—and poor Charlton lost his place and got a bad mark; and somehow he could not help it, the tears would come into his eyes. Dobson saw it, and grinned. He sniffed18, and drew his handkerchief out, pretending to wipe away tears and wring19 the water out on the floor. Mr. Delermain saw him, and Dobson got something to cry for. Six handers, and a bad mark. Dobson vowed20 to make Charlton suffer for it, as if it were his fault that he had been caned21.
"Hallo, Elgert!" cried Dobson, as he saw his friend. "I say, I want to ask you a question. Who was the first gardener?"—and he winked23 towards Charlton, who was standing24 near.
"Adam," was Elgert's reply; and Dobson nodded.
"Quite right; and who was the very last one that we know anything about, eh?"
"A fellow named Charlton, some relation to one of your Form, I think. Quite a public personage, and eagerly sought after by the police."
Poor Charlton! His face went white, and his eyes sparkled with anger. Dobson saw it, and laughed mockingly. Charlton was a weakly boy, and the bully25 was by no means afraid of him.
[Pg 245]
"Funny how some people have queer tastes," he went on. "I should have thought that breaking stones was no harder work than digging. By the way, it is breaking stones that they put convicts to, is it not?"
"You say that to insult me?"
Charlton spoke in low tones, and his face was very white; and Dobson laughed again.
"Oh, I say, you chaps, is not this a rich joke? Here is Charlton asking if we mean to insult him! My dear fellow, your presence is such an insult——"
Dobson stopped and ducked, for the maddened boy had struck so fierce a blow that had the bully received it, it would surely have knocked him down.
"Go on, Dobson! Give him a hiding!" cried Elgert. But then Tom Warren pushed forward and cried out—
"drop that! Charlton, don't be stupid; and you, Dobson, if you want to fight, fight me."
"I say, you fellows," said Elgert, "how much longer are we going to be dictated26 to by Tom Warren? Charlton struck the first blow. It is his fight, and he ought to go through with it. It is a condescension27 on Dobson's part to fight with such a fellow." And some of the boys murmured approval.
"Hold hard a minute," said Warren. "Since Elgert puts it that way, we will see if the boot is not on the other foot. Let me see, Dobson asked who was the last gardener, didn't he?"
[Pg 246]
"That is it, Warren!" cried some of the others. "And Charlton got mad."
"Very well; now I will tell you why. It seems that Elgert and Dobson, wanting a little employment, and liking28 to play the part of spies and informers——" Elgert started. He had no idea that Warren knew about that, and it was the very last thing he wished the school to hear of. He attempted to turn away, but Warren noticed it, and went on.
"You had better stop, Elgert, unless you are too ashamed to let gentlemen see your face." And Elgert stopped, white to the lips with passion.
"That is better," said the monitor. "Well, you chaps, I was saying that our gentlemanly friends, Messrs. Elgert and Dobson, finding it to their taste to play the part of spies, must needs dog the steps of a lady, and that lady Mrs. Charlton, under the impression that she would guide them to the spot where her husband was hidden.
"Now, having played this delightful29 part, these refined young gentlemen came upon an old gardener in Mr. St. Clive's grounds, and jumped to the conclusion that it was the lady's husband in disguise.
"Then they came away and quietly enough, for they had no wish to disturb the parties concerned. But once away, they set off as hard as they could go, running all the way, to the police-station, to tell the constables that the man they wanted was hiding at[Pg 247] Mr. St. Clive's. I would mention the fact that there is a reward offered for the apprehension30 of this man; perhaps that had something to do with their action. And this pair of spies and informers have the impudence31 to speak of it being a condescension for one of them to fight a boy in no way his equal."
"I say, Warren, it can't be true!" cried one boy in disgust. "No fellow at our school would be such an awful cad!"
"Look at Elgert's face. Does that look like innocence32?" answered Warren. "You can ask Mr. St. Clive, if you like; but you ought not to want to after that!" And he pointed33 to Horace Elgert.
Ay, there was no mistake; he looked guilty, and he knew it was no good trying to deny the charge. He strove to look careless and dignified34, and he turned away on his heel; but then a storm of hisses35 broke out. Hisses! They were hissing36 him! And he had once been their leader! And above the clamour came the shrill37 voices of the juniors—
He felt as if he must press his fingers in his ears and run, but he managed to maintain his slow walk, and got into the class-room, Dobson at his heels; and the latter asked in consternation—
"How ever did they find out?"
"I don't know—I don't care!" was the fierce answer. "But I will pay them all out! And to think of Rexworth going in for the Newlet!"
[Pg 248]
"Won't he crow if he manages to get through!" remarked Dobson; and Elgert jumped up.
"He must not get through, Dobson; somehow we must stop him."
"That is all very well. But how can we do it?" queried39 Dobson, with a shake of his head. And Elgert replied—
"Wait until morning school is over, and I will tell you."
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收听单词发音
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1
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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3
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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5
trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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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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7
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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8
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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9
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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10
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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12
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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13
flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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14
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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15
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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18
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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caned
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| vt.用苔杖打（cane的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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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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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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26
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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27
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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28
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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30
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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31
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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32
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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33
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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34
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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35
hisses
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| 嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 ) | |
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36
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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37
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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39
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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