Altogether things were rotten.
Coles, however, had certainly been exceptionally decent, and his charm of manner had weighed a good deal with the Head too. There was comfort to be gained from the certainty that Coles knew what 143was what. Coles was a very good fellow. He was very grateful to Coles.
“Leave it to me,” Coles had said, and he had left it to Coles willingly.
Standing12 in the centre of a small group Coles was striving one afternoon to justify13 this touching14 confidence. He had spoken at length. Ultimately he looked round the solemn countenances16 of those about him to judge the effect of his words. Except upon the faces of his two cronies, who, since they were not prominent footballers, were not of great account, he could not see one hopeful sign. For the rest there was a stiffly decorous silence. At last Saville, who, as one of the only two old colours in Seymour’s, had been leaning gracefully17 against a wall, raised his voice.
“The point at issue is this,” he announced. “You can’t get away from the fact that the Head has insulted our house by thrusting his son on us like this, and we’re very sore. So far we haven’t even had the face to turn out a house team at footer simply because we were afraid that Roe might want to play. Now some misguided idiot—apparently Seymour himself—has gone to Morley in secret and arranged a challenge which Morley’s have accepted, and after that it’s clearly up to us to play. But we don’t want Roe on the side, and we’re not going to have him.”
“Oh, come,” said Coles, plausibly18 enough. “Be broad-minded about it. You don’t suppose Roe’s very happy about all this, do you? It isn’t a very jolly position for a fellow. I’ve had a few chats with him, and I can tell you he’d far rather not be here. What’s the use of denying ourselves even house Rugger just to spite him out of a game? What’s wrong with playing for the house? Most of us are nearly eating our hearts out for a game.”
“You haven’t got much to grumble19 about,” said 144Saville pertly. “You had two games for Morley’s before you came here. And now that I come to think of it, why did you come here? Can you tell us that?”
“I’ve never been able to find out. But it’s my personal belief that it was just an idea of the Head’s to break up what he thought was Rouse’s clique21.”
“Why didn’t he move Nick, then?”
Coles was unable to reply. He made a little further play with his shoulders.
“I’ll tell you why it was,” said Saville. “It was because, having shoved his confounded son in here, he wanted to build up a strong house side for him to have at his back. And he pounced22 on you for a start because he thought you might be amenable23 to reason. A little later on he’ll move someone else in here, so that eventually Rouse will be left with a dud house team, and we in Seymour’s shall have the nucleus24 of a school Fifteen. He thinks we shall be as pleased as Punch about that and keep on clapping his son on the back every time we see him.”
Coles shook his head.
“I don’t think that for a minute.”
Coles turned and looked at him as if pointing him out with his beak-like nose.
“And,” added the interrupter, “so do a good many other people.”
“You’re all making a great mistake,” said Coles. “In years to come you’ll be sorry you mucked your Rugger like this. Personally I was always in favour of Rouse as skipper, and I think that to have brought his own son here was a beastly thing for the Head to have done, and so does Roe himself. But that’s no reason for cutting off your own nose to spite your face. It’s agreed that we don’t lose any dignity by 145indulging in house friendlies, and if we’re going to play a match let’s get out our best side. I believe Roe is a very hot forward, and even if we won’t let him be captain that’s no reason why the poor blighter shouldn’t have a game. He needn’t be skipper.”
“Ah!” said Saville, “that’s just it. He’ll want to be.”
Coles made a sly gesture with his hand.
“You leave it to me. I’ll have a word with him. He’ll quite see your point of view. We’ll fix that up all right.”
“We should like him to come on the field walking a modest distance behind everybody else,” said Betteridge. “That’s what we should like. You might tell him that, will you?”
“You leave that to me,” repeated Coles magnanimously. “He’ll quite see the sense of not forcing himself to the front. And I do think it’d be a pretty rotten exhibition of sportsmanship to tell him he can’t even play on the side at all.”
He paused and looked round them blandly26. Nobody responded to his glances; every head had turned instead towards the big clock over the school which was striking the hour, and next moment the group had swiftly dispersed27 and Coles was left alone looking after them. He was himself in no special hurry. As a matter of fact, he had an appointment with the house master.
At last he slowly pursed his lips and nodded his head.
They would let Roe play. Half the battle had been won.
It was a day to be appreciated, and in token of the fact the whole of Morley’s were ranged along one touch-line and the greater part of Seymour’s along the other, whilst sprinkled here and there in the crowd were representatives of lesser28 houses expressing 146their opinion on this game in the detached manner of disinterested29 onlookers30. There were also a couple of spare balls being kicked about, and even those who had never the patience to watch houses other than their own playing had come running to the scene at the prospect31 of getting in a few kicks themselves. After all, in these days good Rugger was rare. Except where Morley’s were concerned, there had not been any great zest32 in the house friendlies played to date. It had been too evident that these games would not lead to anything.
But a trial of strength between Morley’s and Seymour’s, with the latter strengthened by the inclusion of Coles at the expense of the former, gave promise of being a little out of the ordinary. Besides Rouse was playing on one side, and it was understood that Roe might be discovered upon the other. There was a chance of the two meeting.
“Perhaps,” one young man said hopefully, “perhaps Rouse’ll scrag him.”
There came at last a significant stir along the crowded ropes. The reason was apparent. Morley’s were coming out.
From the stone steps beside the cloisters33 from which the chosen of Seymour’s would presently appear Coles had stood watching, and now he turned suddenly to those below and nodded to them.
“Morley’s have gone out,” said he. “Are we all here?” There was no immediate34 answer. He glanced at the young man beside him. “Come along, Roe. We’ll move off.”
The words were scarcely above a whisper, but Roe turned obediently and proceeded into the open beside him, seemingly proud and happily at his ease. Out on to the gravel35 path he went, and then quite suddenly he was struck by a curious silence behind him, and he turned and cautiously looked over his shoulder. Then he understood. The team were 147huddled in a group at the bottom of the steps, staring after him dully, very still and very haughty36, and not one fellow amongst them all had so much as moved his foot.
“I say ... stop ... I say ... they aren’t coming! They haven’t moved!” The peculiar38 stupidity of his position struck him then with force. “We’re all alone.”
Coles stopped and spun39 on his heel. Next moment he had darted40 back down the steps, but Roe stood like a derelict pig where he had been left, frozen with astonishment41, looking first towards the field where Morley’s were waiting and then towards the team who wouldn’t come. From every possible direction boys were staring at him rudely. He knew the horrifying42 shame of some scene-shifter slow in removing himself from the stage and discovered in a ridiculous attitude at the lifting of the curtain.
“What is it? Why don’t you come? Morley’s are waiting.” He made an impatient gesture. “What’s the trouble?”
Betteridge replied. He was standing with folded arms, Napoleonically, outside the changing-room, and he spoke15 emphatically:
“It’s only a matter of form. But isn’t it usual for the captain of the side to go out first?”
“Great Scott, what does it matter? Isn’t the game the thing that counts most? As a matter of fact, you may not know it, but the Head’s outside. He’s been standing over there in the corner for the last ten minutes and he’s waiting to see us come out. The reason Roe went out with me was because if he didn’t the Head would be as wild as anything. He’s only walking with me so as to satisfy the Head. 148He doesn’t care twopence whether he’s captain of the side or not.”
“And what’s the idea of you going in front?” asked Betteridge, and his tone was very cold. “Until to-day the supposition has been that Saville was captain of footer in Seymour’s.”
“I see what’s in the wind. A little petty jealousy46. As a matter of fact, I believe I’m the senior man in the First Fifteen here, and I saw no particular need to wait for anyone else to go first. All I wanted was to prevent giving the idea that Roe was shoving himself to the front.”
“The understanding was,” said Betteridge, “that Roe was going to walk behind. As for you being senior in the First Fifteen, there isn’t any First Fifteen! All we’re concerned with here is the house side, and Saville happens to be the elected captain.”
“It doesn’t matter a cuss to me,” snapped Coles, “who walks on first. It isn’t a confounded Court procession, is it? My idea is to get a game of Rugger, and you raving47 idiots are going the right way to get house Rugger stopped altogether by the Head. You can bet your life that if the Head sees Roe walking on all alone and behind everybody else, when he’s been appointed captain, he’ll have something rather interesting to say about it.” He made a sudden angry gesture. His hot temper was rising swiftly to the surface. “Personally, I’m going out to the field how I like and I’m not going to wait for anyone else to tell me when I’m to go, and if by the time I get to the half-way line you chaps are still crouching48 down here, I’ll tell Rouse the match is off.”
“I think he’ll understand that as soon as he sees you walking arm-in-arm with Roe,” said Saville, speaking for the first time. “And I rather imagine you’ll be chased off the field. It may turn out that these seats will be the best after all for watching that part of the show.”
“‘THE MATCH IS SCRATCHED, SIR,’ SAID HE.”
149“What the deuce do you mean?” cried Coles, in a sudden scream of wrath. “Do you mean to say I’m trying to curry49 favour with the Head?”
“I mean to say,” said Saville, “that it was your idea that Roe should be allowed to play, and we agreed on the distinct understanding that he wasn’t going to be captain. Now it’s your idea that he should walk in front, and I wonder you don’t want to go and sprinkle roses in front of him as he goes.”
“It’s for the sake of the game, you utter ass50! What do I care who goes in front! I want my Rugger.”
“Then you can jolly well have it,” snapped Betteridge. “And you can play it in your own backyard.”
Coles turned towards him, and for one moment he looked as if he could have jumped down and attacked him with his fists. But there came instead a new diversion. Across the steps there swept the shadow of the Head. Then he stood magisterially51 before them, and finally he singled out Coles.
“What is the delay?” said he. “What are you waiting for?”
Before Coles could answer Saville had stepped forward.
“The match is scratched, sir,” said he. “I am just going out to apologise to Rouse for keeping them waiting so long.”
He ran up the steps and went out into the open. The Head turned and stared after him indignantly. His own intended words had been taken out of his mouth. He had meant only to ascertain52 without doubt that this scene was on account of his son before himself stepping in and forbidding play. He 150had been forestalled53. Saville was trotting54 towards the touch-line. The ranks of expectant onlookers opened and let him through. The Head saw Rouse come to meet him, saw him lift his hand and rest it upon Saville’s shoulder, watched them as they spoke. Then Rouse had turned to those nearest to him and explained. The air became very still. Saville had been so clearly the forerunner55 of sensation. Heads were turned towards the unhappy Roe still standing in splendid isolation56 on the gravel path, then back to Saville. Finally all eyes settled upon Rouse. He was collecting his team regretfully and there was something in his manner that showed how sorry he was that this had happened. Then Morley’s were walking off the field.
All this the Head watched with set eyes, and at last he turned again to that sullen57 group at the bottom of the steps, regarded them for a moment, then snapped out his dictum:
“Find Mr Nicholson for me, one of you. Tell him that I wish to speak to him in my study at once.”
And all the while Coles stood beside the Headmaster, staring dully into the distance. For this was the first round and he had lost.
It was Betteridge who found Toby and told him, and with just a nod of the head Harley’s games master went sorrowfully along the pathway toward the Head’s room and disappeared through the old oak door, whilst the crowd who had been expecting a dashing game of Rugby football turned almost disconsolately58 to watch him go. The next five minutes were full of the calm that precedes the outburst of a storm. No one so much as kicked a football into the air. They could only wait now for the worst, knowing that somehow or other the Head was going to hit back.
Those dull five minutes were barely passed before 151Toby came into sight again, walking just as solemnly as before. Saville was moving his way and Toby stopped him. His voice was very tense.
“The Head has just told me that after to-day he forbids house friendlies, or any football of any kind, until the captain he selected is recognised by the school. The fellows have chosen a hunger strike and so he intends that it shall be a proper one. He’s hit back with your own weapon.” He paused and looked at Saville earnestly. “It’s going to be a lean year in earnest now. And I only wish I could see where it’s going to end.”
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1
roe
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| n.鱼卵；獐鹿 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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4
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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7
abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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8
fixtures
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| （房屋等的）固定装置( fixture的名词复数 )； 如（浴盆、抽水马桶）； 固定在某位置的人或物； （定期定点举行的）体育活动 | |
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9
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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adamant
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| adj.坚硬的，固执的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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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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13
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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14
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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15
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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16
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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17
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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18
plausibly
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| 似真地 | |
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grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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20
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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clique
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| n.朋党派系，小集团 | |
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22
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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23
amenable
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| adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的 | |
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24
nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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27
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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28
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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30
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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32
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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33
cloisters
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| n.（学院、修道院、教堂等建筑的）走廊( cloister的名词复数 )；回廊；修道院的生活；隐居v.隐退，使与世隔绝( cloister的第三人称单数 ) | |
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34
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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35
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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36
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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37
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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40
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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41
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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42
horrifying
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| a.令人震惊的，使人毛骨悚然的 | |
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43
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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44
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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45
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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46
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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47
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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48
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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49
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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50
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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51
magisterially
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| adv.威严地 | |
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52
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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53
forestalled
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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55
forerunner
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| n.前身，先驱（者），预兆，祖先 | |
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56
isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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57
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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58
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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