It was a quarter of nine, when a boy of sixteen, rather showily dressed, ascended6 the academy hill and entered the front door, which was already open. He swung a small light cane7 in his hand—rather an unusual article for a schoolboy to carry—and it was clear, from his general appearance and bearing, that he had a high opinion of himself.
“I am early,” he said to himself. “I shall{4} have a chance to look over my Latin before Dr. Euclid comes.”
It may be supposed from this speech that Herbert Ross was an earnest student, but this would be altogether a mistake. The fact is, he had been playing with some companions till a late hour the previous evening, and this had prevented his paying the necessary attention to his lessons in Virgil.
As Dr. Euclid was strict in his requirements, and very slow to accept excuses, Herbert, to avoid trouble, wished to have, at any rate, a superficial acquaintance with the lesson.
As he entered the schoolroom he was met by a cloud of dust. A boy of about his own age was sweeping8 the floor. He had nearly completed his task, and was just about to sweep the pile of accumulated dust into the entry when Herbert Ross presented himself. The boy who was wielding9 the broom, the young janitor10 of the academy, being our hero, we may as well stop here and describe him.
His name was Andrew Gordon, commonly changed by his friends to Andy. He was a stout11, well-made boy, with a face not exactly handsome, but bold, frank and good-humored; but about the mouth there were lines indicating firmness and resolution. He was evidently a boy who had a respect for himself.{5}
It may be said, further, that Andy received his tuition free and a dollar a week for his services in taking care of the schoolhouse. He was the son of a widow, who was in receipt of a pension of twenty dollars a month from the government, as the widow of an officer who had surrendered his life during the Civil War on the field of Gettysburg. This, with what Andy could earn, was nearly all she and he had to live upon.
It may easily be supposed, therefore, that the dollar a week which Andy received from Dr. Euclid, or, rather, from the trustees of the academy, was an appreciable12 help in their frugal13 household.
Herbert Ross was the only son of the village lawyer, a man of private fortune, who lived in a style quite beyond the average mode of living among his neighbors. Herbert was impressed, as many boys are under such circumstances, with an idea of his consequence, and this made itself felt in his intercourse14 with his school fellows.
In particular he looked down upon Andy Gordon, the first in rank in his class, because he was poor and filled the position of school janitor, which he regarded as menial.
Andy knew very well how his proud classmate regarded him, but it did not materially{6} diminish his happiness or cause him to lose even a minute’s sleep.
“What are you kicking up such a dust for, Andrew Gordon?” asked Herbert, considerably15 ruffled16 in temper, for some of the dust had settled upon his clothing.
“I am sweeping the schoolroom, Herbert,” said Andy, “as you see.”
“I didn’t see you coming in,” said Andy, good-naturedly, “or I would have stopped a minute. The fact is, I am rather late this morning, or my job would be over.”
“I’ll give you a lesson to teach you to be more careful next time,” said Herbert, who was getting more and more ill-natured, and, as is usual with young bullies18, got more impudent19 on account of Andy’s good nature.
As he spoke20, he drew back his foot and kicked at the pile of dust which Andy had carefully swept to the doorway21, spreading it over a considerable portion of the floor.
Good-humored as he was, Andy’s eye grew stern, and his voice was quick and imperative22, as he demanded:
“What did you do that for, Herbert Ross?”
“I told you already,” said Herbert. “I am{7} a gentleman, and I don’t mean to let a servant cover me with dust.”
“I am the janitor of this academy,” said Andy, “and if that is being a servant, then I am one. But there is one thing I tell you, Herbert. I won’t allow any boy, gentleman or not, to interfere23 with my work.”
As he spoke he tendered the broom to Herbert.
“What do you mean?” demanded the young aristocrat26, his dark face growing darker still with anger.
This was rather ungrammatical, but it is a common mistake, and Herbert was too angry to think of grammar.
“I am talking to a boy who has done a mean action,” retorted Andy. “Take that broom and sweep up the dust you have scattered.”{8}
Herbert by this time was at white heat. He seized the broom which was extended toward him, but instead of using it as he was requested, he brought it down upon Andy’s shoulders.
It was not the handle, but the broom end which touched the young janitor, and he was not hurt; but it is needless to say that he considered himself insulted. Under such circumstances, though far from quarrelsome, it was his habit to act promptly30, and he did so now.
First he wrested31 the broom from Herbert; then he seized that young gentleman around the waist, and, despite his struggles, deposited him forcibly on the floor, which was thick with dust.
“Two can play at your game, Herbert,” he said.
“What do you mean? you low hound!” screamed Herbert, as he rose from the floor.
“I think you can tell, without any explanation,” said Andy, calmly.
Herbert looked as if he would like to annihilate32 the young janitor, but there was something in the strong grasp which he had just felt which convinced him that Andy was stronger than himself, and he hesitated.
“Do you know that my father is one of the trustees of the academy?” he shouted, shaking{9} his fist. “I’ll get you discharged from your place.”
“You can do what you like,” answered Andy, “but you’d better get out of the way, for I’m going to sweep. I’ll let you off from sweeping up, as you have had a lesson already.”
“You’ll let me off!” exclaimed Herbert, passionately33. “You—a servant—give me a lesson! You don’t know your place, you young beggar!”
“No more talk like that, Herbert Ross, for I won’t stand it!” said Andy, firmly.
“I’ll call you what I please!” retorted Herbert.
“If you call me another name, I’ll lay you down in the dirt again!” said Andy.
Just then, at the open door, appeared the tall, dignified34 figure of Dr. Euclid, who was in time to hear the last words spoken.
“What’s the matter, boys?” he asked, looking keenly from Andy to Herbert.
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1
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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6
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
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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8
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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9
wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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janitor
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| n.看门人，管门人 | |
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appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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14
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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15
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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16
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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17
testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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20
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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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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29
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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31
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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32
annihilate
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| v.使无效；毁灭；取消 | |
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33
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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34
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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