But just as the fun was about to begin, Makhan, Phatik's younger brother, sauntered up, and sat down on the log in front of them all without a word. The boys were puzzled for a moment. He was pushed, rather timidly, by one of the boys and told to get up but he remained quite unconcerned. He appeared like a young philosopher meditating3 on the futility4 of games. Phatik was furious. "Makhan," he cried, "if you don't get down this minute I'll thrash you!"
Makhan only moved to a more comfortable position.
Now, if Phatik was to keep his regal dignity before the public, it was clear he ought to carry out his threat. But his courage failed him at the crisis. His fertile brain, however, rapidly seized upon a new manoeuvre5 which would discomfit6 his brother and afford his followers7 an added amusement. He gave the word of command to roll the log and Makhan over together. Makhan heard the order, and made it a point of honour to stick on. But he overlooked the fact, like those who attempt earthly fame in other matters, that there was peril8 in it.
The boys began to heave at the log with all their might, calling out, "One, two, three, go," At the word "go" the log went; and with it went Makhan's philosophy, glory and all.
All the other boys shouted themselves hoarse9 with delight. But Phatik was a little frightened. He knew what was coming. And, sure enough, Makhan rose from Mother Earth blind as Fate and screaming like the Furies. He rushed at Phatik and scratched his face and beat him and kicked him, and then went crying home. The first act of the drama was over.
Phatik wiped his face, and sat down on the edge of a sunken barge10 on the river bank, and began to chew a piece of grass. A boat came up to the landing, and a middle-aged12 man, with grey hair and dark moustache, stepped on shore. He saw the boy sitting there doing nothing, and asked him where the Chakravortis lived. Phatik went on chewing the grass, and said: "Over there," but it was quite impossible to tell where he pointed13. The stranger asked him again. He swung his legs to and fro on the side of the barge, and said; "Go and find out," and continued to chew the grass as before.
But now a servant came down from the house, and told Phatik his mother wanted him. Phatik refused to move. But the servant was the master on this occasion. He took Phatik up roughly, and carried him, kicking and struggling in impotent rage.
When Phatik came into the house, his mother saw him. She called out angrily: "So you have been hitting Makhan again?"
Phatik answered indignantly: "No, I haven't; who told you that?"
His mother shouted: "Don't tell lies! You have."
Phatik said suddenly: "I tell you, I haven't. You ask Makhan!" But Makhan thought it best to stick to his previous statement. He said: "Yes, mother. Phatik did hit me."
Phatik's patience was already exhausted14. He could not hear this injustice15. He rushed at Makban, and hammered him with blows: "Take that" he cried, "and that, and that, for telling lies."
His mother took Makhan's side in a moment, and pulled Phatik away, beating him with her hands. When Phatik pushed her aside, she shouted out: "What I you little villain16! would you hit your own mother?"
It was just at this critical juncture17 that the grey-haired stranger arrived. He asked what was the matter. Phatik looked sheepish and ashamed.
But when his mother stepped back and looked at the stranger, her anger was changed to surprise. For she recognised her brother, and cried: "Why, Dada! Where have you come from?" As she said these words, she bowed to the ground and touched his feet. Her brother had gone away soon after she had married, and he had started business in Bombay. His sister had lost her husband while he was In Bombay. Bishamber had now come back to Calcutta, and had at once made enquiries about his sister. He had then hastened to see her as soon as he found out where she was.
The next few days were full of rejoicing. The brother asked after the education of the two boys. He was told by his sister that Phatik was a perpetual nuisance. He was lazy, disobedient, and wild. But Makhan was as good as gold, as quiet as a lamb, and very fond of reading, Bishamber kindly18 offered to take Phatik off his sister's hands, and educate him with his own children in Calcutta. The widowed mother readily agreed. When his uncle asked Phatik If he would like to go to Calcutta with him, his joy knew no bounds, and he said; "Oh, yes, uncle!" In a way that made it quite clear that he meant it.
It was an immense relief to the mother to get rid of Phatik. She had a prejudice against the boy, and no love was lost between the two brothers. She was in daily fear that he would either drown Makhan some day in the river, or break his head in a fight, or run him into some danger or other. At the same time she was somewhat distressed19 to see Phatik's extreme eagerness to get away.
Phatik, as soon as all was settled, kept asking his uncle every minute when they were to start. He was on pins and needles all day long with excitement, and lay awake most of the night. He bequeathed to Makhan, in perpetuity, his fishing-rod, his big kite and his marbles. Indeed, at this time of departure his generosity20 towards Makhan was unbounded.
When they reached Calcutta, Phatik made the acquaintance of his aunt for the first time. She was by no means pleased with this unnecessary addition to her family. She found her own three boys quite enough to manage without taking any one else. And to bring a village lad of fourteen into their midst was terribly upsetting. Bishamber should really have thought twice before committing such an indiscretion.
In this world of human affairs there is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen. He is neither ornamental21, nor useful. It is impossible to shower affection on him as on a little boy; and he is always getting in the way. If he talks with a childish lisp he is called a baby, and if he answers in a grown-up way he is called impertinent. In fact any talk at all from him is resented. Then he is at the unattractive, growing age. He grows out of his clothes with indecent haste; his voice grows hoarse and breaks and quavers; his face grows suddenly angular and unsightly. It is easy to excuse the shortcomings of early childhood, but it is hard to tolerate even unavoidable lapses22 in a boy of fourteen. The lad himself becomes painfully self-conscious. When he talks with elderly people he is either unduly23 forward, or else so unduly shy that he appears ashamed of his very existence.
Yet it is at this very age when in his heart of hearts a young lad most craves24 for recognition and love; and he becomes the devoted25 slave of any one who shows him consideration. But none dare openly love him, for that would be regarded as undue26 indulgence, and therefore bad for the boy. So, what with scolding and chiding27, he becomes very much like a stray dog that has lost his master.
For a boy of fourteen his own home is the only Paradise. To live in a strange house with strange people is little short of torture, while the height of bliss28 is to receive the kind looks of women, and never to be slighted by them.
It was anguish29 to Phatik to be the unwelcome guest in his aunt's house, despised by this elderly woman, and slighted, on every occasion. If she ever asked him to do anything for her, he would be so overjoyed that he would overdo30 it; and then she would tell him not to be so stupid, but to get on with his lessons.
The cramped31 atmosphere of neglect in his aunt's house oppressed Phatik so much that he felt that he could hardly breathe. He wanted to go out into the open country and fill his lungs and breathe freely. But there was no open country to go to. Surrounded on all sides by Calcutta houses and walls, he would dream night after night of his village home, and long to be back there. He remembered the glorious meadow where he used to fly his kite all day long; the broad river-banks where he would wander about the livelong day singing and shouting for joy; the narrow brook32 where he could go and dive and swim at any time he liked. He thought of his band of boy companions over whom he was despot; and, above all, the memory of that tyrant33 mother of his, who had such a prejudice against him, occupied him day and night. A kind of physical love like that of animals; a longing34 to be in the presence of the one who is loved; an inexpressible wistfulness during absence; a silent cry of the inmost heart for the mother, like the lowing of a calf35 in the twilight;-this love, which was almost an animal instinct, agitated36 the shy, nervous, lean, uncouth37 and ugly boy. No one could understand it, but it preyed38 upon his mind continually.
There was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik. He gaped39 and remained silent when the teacher asked him a question, and like an overladen ass11 patiently suffered all the blows that came down on his back. When other boys were out at play, he stood wistfully by the window and gazed at the roofs of the distant houses. And if by chance he espied40 children playing on the open terrace of any roof, his heart would ache with longing.
One day he summoned up all his courage, and asked his uncle: "Uncle, when can I go home?"
His uncle answered; "Wait till the holidays come." But the holidays would not come till November, and there was a long time still to wait.
One day Phatik lost his lesson-book. Even with the help of books he had found it very difficult indeed to prepare his lesson. Now it was impossible. Day after day the teacher would cane41 him unmercifully. His condition became so abjectly42 miserable43 that even his cousins were ashamed to own him. They began to jeer44 and insult him more than the other boys. He went to his aunt at last, and told her that he had lost his book.
His aunt pursed her lips in contempt, and said: "You great clumsy, country lout45. How can I afford, with all my family, to buy you new books five times a month?"
That night, on his way back from school, Phatik had a bad headache with a fit of shivering. He felt he was going to have an attack of malarial46 fever. His one great fear was that he would be a nuisance to his aunt.
The next morning Phatik was nowhere to be seen. All searches in the neighbourhood proved futile47. The rain had been pouring in torrents48 all night, and those who went out in search of the boy got drenched49 through to the skin. At last Bisbamber asked help from the police.
At the end of the day a police van stopped at the door before the house. It was still raining and the streets were all flooded. Two constables50 brought out Phatik in their arms and placed him before Bishamber. He was wet through from head to foot, muddy all over, his face and eyes flushed red with fever, and his limbs all trembling. Bishamber carried him in his arms, and took him into the inner apartments. When his wife saw him, she exclaimed; "What a heap of trouble this boy has given us. Hadn't you better send him home?"
Phatik heard her words, and sobbed51 out loud: "Uncle, I was just going home; but they dragged me back again."
The fever rose very high, and all that night the boy was delirious52. Bishamber brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes flushed with fever, and looked up to the ceiling, and said vacantly: "Uncle, have the holidays come yet? May I go home?"
Bishamber wiped the tears from his own eyes, and took Phatik's lean and burning hands in his own, and sat by him through the night. The boy began again to mutter. At last his voice became excited: "Mother," he cried, "don't beat me like that! Mother! I am telling the truth!"
The next day Phatik became conscious for a short time. He turned his eyes about the room, as if expecting some one to come. At last, with an air of disappointment, his head sank back on the pillow. He turned his face to the wall with a deep sigh.
Bishamber knew his thoughts, and, bending down his head, whispered: "Phatik, I have sent for your mother." The day went by. The doctor said in a troubled voice that the boy's condition was very critical.
Phatik began to cry out; "By the mark!—three fathoms53. By the mark—four fathoms. By the mark-." He had heard the sailor on the river-steamer calling out the mark on the plumb-line. Now he was himself plumbing54 an unfathomable sea.
Later in the day Phatik's mother burst into the room like a whirlwind, and began to toss from side to side and moan and cry in a loud voice.
Bishamber tried to calm her agitation55, but she flung herself on the bed, and cried: "Phatik, my darling, my darling."
Phatik stopped his restless movements for a moment. His hands ceased beating up and down. He said: "Eh?"
The mother cried again: "Phatik, my darling, my darling."
Phatik very slowly turned his head and, without seeing anybody, said: "Mother, the holidays have come."
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1
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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futility
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| n.无用 | |
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manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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discomfit
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| v.使困惑，使尴尬 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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15
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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16
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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17
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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18
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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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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21
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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22
lapses
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| n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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craves
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| 渴望，热望( crave的第三人称单数 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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chiding
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的现在分词 ) | |
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28
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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30
overdo
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| vt.把...做得过头，演得过火 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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34
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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38
preyed
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| v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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39
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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40
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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42
abjectly
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| 凄惨地； 绝望地； 糟透地； 悲惨地 | |
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43
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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44
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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45
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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46
malarial
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| 患疟疾的，毒气的 | |
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47
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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48
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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49
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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50
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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51
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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52
delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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53
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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54
plumbing
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| n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究 | |
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55
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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