As this phrase, which is well understood in English schools, may not be so clear to my readers, I will explain that Jim was to be refused notice by his schoolfellows, unless he should become aggressive, when he was to be noticed in a manner far from agreeable.
Jim could not help observing the cold looks of the boys, who but lately were glad enough to receive notice from him, and he became very angry. As to being ashamed of the exposure, he was not sensitive, nor did he often have any feeling of that kind. Naturally vindictive5, he felt especially angry with the two boys, Ben Platt and Wilkins, whose testimony6 had proved so uncomfortable for him.
“I’ll thrash those boys if I never thrash another,” he said to himself. “So they have turned against me, have they? They’re only fit to black my boots anyway. I’ll give ‘em a lesson.”
Platt and Wilkins were expecting an attack. They knew that Jim would seize the opportunity of attacking them singly, and in the absence of Hector, of whom he was afraid, and with good reason. They concerted measures, accordingly, for defeating the common enemy.
Jim was stalking about the next day, looking sullen7 and feeling ugly. He could not help observing that whenever he approached a group of boys they immediately scattered8 and walked away in various directions. This naturally chafed9 him, for, having no intellectual resources, he found solitude10 oppressive. Besides, he had been accustomed to the role of boss, and where is a boss without followers11?
Tired of the schoolroom precincts, Jim went to walk. In a rustic12 lane, much to his delight, he saw approaching him one of the boys who had so seriously offended him.
It was Ben Platt.
Ben was sauntering along in idle mood when he came face to face with the dethroned boss.
“So it’s you, Platt, is it?” said Jim, grimly.
“I believe it is,” answered Ben, coolly.
“I’ve got a word or two to say to you,” said Jim, significantly.
“Say them quick,” said Ben, “for I’m in a hurry.”
“I’m not,” said Jim, in his old tone, “and it makes no difference whether you are or not.”
“Indeed! you are as polite as usual,” returned Ben.
“Look here, you young whelp!” Jim broke forth13, unable any longer to restrain his wrath14, “what, did you mean by lying about me last evening?”
“I didn’t lie about you,” said Ben, boldly.
“Yes, you did. What made you say you saw me put that wallet into Roscoe’s pocket?”
“I can’t think of any reason, unless because it was true,” said Ben.
“Even if it were, how dared you turn against me? First you play the spy, and then informer. Paugh!”
“I see you admit it,” said Ben. “Well, if you want an answer I will give you one. You laid a plot for Hector Roscoe—one of the meanest, dirtiest plots I ever heard of, and I wasn’t going to see you lie him into a scrape while I could prevent it.”
“That’s enough, Platt!” exclaimed Jim, furiously. “Now, do you know what I am going to do?”
“I don’t feel particularly interested in the matter.”
“You will be, then. I am going to thrash you.”
“You wouldn’t if Hector Roscoe were here,” said Ben, not appearing to be much frightened.
“Well, he isn’t here, though if he were it wouldn’t make any difference. I’ll whip you so you can’t stand.”
Ben’s reply was to call “Wilkins!”
From a clump15 of bushes, where he had lurked16, unobserved hitherto, sprang Wilkins, and joined his friend.
“There are two of us, Smith!” said Ben Platt.
“I can thrash you both,” answered Jim, whose blood was up.
Before the advent17 of Hector no two boys would have ventured to engage Jim in combat, but his defeat by a boy considerably18 smaller had lost him his prestige, and the boys had become more independent. He still fancied himself a match for both, however, and the conflict began. But both of his antagonists19 were in earnest, and Jim had a hard time.
Now, it so happened that Mr. Crabb, the usher20, was taking a solitary21 walk, and had approached the scene of conflict unobserved by any of the participants. He arrived at an opportune22 time. Jim had managed to draw Wilkins away, and by a quick movement threw him. He was about to deal his prostrate23 foe24 a savage25 kick, which might have hurt him seriously, when the usher, quiet and peaceful as he was by nature, could restrain himself no longer. He rushed up, seized him by the collar, dragged him back and shook him with a strength he did not suppose he possessed26, saying:
Jim turned quickly, and was very much surprised when he saw the meek28 usher, whom he had always despised, because he looked upon him as a Miss Nancy.
“So it’s you, is it?” he said, with a wicked glance.
“Is it any of your business?” demanded Jim, looking as if he would like to thrash the usher.
“I have made it my business. Platt and Wilkins, I advise you to join me, and leave this fellow, who has so disgraced himself as to be beneath your notice.”
“We will accompany you with pleasure, sir,” said the boys.
They regarded the usher with new respect for this display of courage, for which they had not given him credit.
“I’ll fix you, Crabb,” said Jim Smith, insolently30, “and don’t you forget it!”
Jim Smith was as good as his word.
An hour later Mr. Crabb was summoned to the presence of the principal.
Socrates received him with marked coldness.
“Mr. Crabb,” he said, “I cannot conceal32 the amazement33 I feel at a complaint which has just been made by my nephew.”
“Well, sir?”
Mr. Crabb had nerved himself for the worst, and did not cower34 or show signs of fear, as Socrates expected he would.
“James tells me that you attacked him savagely35 this afternoon when he was having a little sport with two of his schoolfellows.”
“Is that what he says, Mr. Smith?”
“Yes, sir, and I require an explanation.”
“You shall have it. The sport in which your nephew was engaged was attempting to thrash Wilkins. He had him down, and was about to deal him a savage kick when I fortunately came up.”
“Of course, you color the affair to suit yourself,” said Socrates, coldly. “The fact is that you, an usher, have lowered yourself by taking part in a playful schoolboy contest.”
“Playful!” repeated Mr. Crabb.
“Yes, and I shall show how I regard it by giving you notice that I no longer require your services in my school. I shall pay you up at the end of the week and then discharge you.”
“Mr. Smith,” said the usher, “permit me to say that anything more disgraceful than your own conduct within the last twenty-four hours I have never witnessed. You have joined your nephew in a plot to disgrace an innocent boy, declining to do justice, and now you have capped the climax38 by censuring39 me for stopping an act of brutality, merely because your nephew was implicated40 in it!”
“This to me?” exclaimed Socrates Smith, hardly crediting the testimony of his ears.
“Yes, sir, and more! I predict that the stupid folly41 which has characterized your course will, within six months, drive from you every scholar you have in your school!”
“Mr. Crabb,” gasped42 Socrates, never more surprised in his life than he was at the sudden spirit exhibited by the usher, “I will not be so insulted. Leave me, and to-morrow morning leave my service.”
“I will, sir. I have no desire to remain here longer.”
But when Mr. Crabb had walked away his spirit sank within him. How was he to obtain another situation? He must consult immediately with Hector Roscoe, in whose judgment43, boy as he was, he reposed44 great confidence.
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1
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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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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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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7
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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8
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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9
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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10
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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11
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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12
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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15
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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16
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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17
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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19
antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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21
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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24
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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26
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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31
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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32
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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33
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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34
cower
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| v.畏缩，退缩，抖缩 | |
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35
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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36
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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38
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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39
censuring
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的现在分词 ) | |
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40
implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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41
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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42
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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43
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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44
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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