He knew the way, for he had often gone in this direction on holidays, usually with a company of his schoolfellows.
He had hardly time to consider the importance of the step he was taking. He was animated2 by a feverish3 desire to get as far away as possible from the school where he was ill treated.
He feared and detested4 the head master, who, to the best of his remembrance, had never spoken a kindly5 word to him.
He would never of his own impulse have dared to run away, but the stronger will of Jim Rawdon dominated him.
As he hurried along on a rustic6 road between{99} two delightful7 hedge-rows, he looked backward from time to time with nervous apprehension8, almost expecting to see the tall, gaunt figure of Dr. Musgrave following him in hot pursuit, or the red head and malicious9 face of his young tormentor10, Simon.
But when a mile away he began to feel less apprehension. He was confident that Rawdon would somehow cover his flight and put the pursuers off his track.
An unwonted sense of freedom came to him.
“Oh, if I could get away entirely11 from Dr. Musgrave!” he thought. “I would be willing to work hard. Perhaps some farmer would engage me. I would not mind hard work as long as I was well treated.”
It is a very serious thing when a teacher who should be the guardian12 and guide of his pupils inspires dread13 and abhorrence14. It is difficult to estimate how much unhappiness is occasioned by such unprincipled tyrants15 as Dr. Peter Musgrave, the head master of Milton School.
It seems a pity that they could not for a time change places with some of the pupils they abuse, as is done in the ingenious story, “Vice Versa.”
Vivian had walked about two miles when he was overtaken by the carrier in his cart.{100}
“Where are you going, Master Bell?” asked the carrier, slackening his speed.
Vivian turned round and answered: “Won’t you ever tell, Jack?”
“Then I am running away.”
“You don’t mean it now, Master Bell?” exclaimed Jack, half incredulous.
“Yes, Jack, it’s true.”
“What! Running away from the schoolmaster?”
“Yes, Jack.”
“But I say, Master Bell, I didn’t think thee had it in thee. Why, I didn’t think thee had the pluck to run away.”
“I don’t think I would, Jack, if it hadn’t been for Jim Rawdon.”
“No, I don’t think Dr. Musgrave ever flogged Rawdon.”
“But he’s flogged thee?”{101}
“Oh, many a time,” answered Vivian, shuddering21. “Oh, he has beat me cruelly.”
“I’d like to get at him,” said Jack, shutting his teeth firmly together. “I’d like to get at him with a horsewhip, that I would!”
“But Simon is almost as bad.”
“That’s the schoolmaster’s boy. I know that Simon. He’s got an ugly temper, he has. And he’s impudent22, too.”
“Did you ever have any trouble with him, Jack?”
The carrier laughed.
“He’s had trouble with me,” he answered. “I’ll tell you how it was. I was drivin’ along one day, just as you see me now, when Simon came up, and, just out of ugliness, picked up a stone and fired it at my ’orse. Well, I wouldn’t stand that, you know, so I jumps off my cart and I ran after the boy whip in hand.”
“Did he run away?”
“No; he stood his ground. He thought I wouldn’t dare to hit him. So when I said: ‘Why did you go to do that?’ he answered, impudent like: ‘Because I chose.’ With that I took my whip and slashed23 him about the legs till he jumped and swore.”{102}
“Yes, I did. Oh, wasn’t he mad, though! He threatened that he would tell his pa, and have me locked up.”
“I am glad to hear that. It does me good! And you really and truly lashed Simon?”
“Ask him if I didn’t.”
“I wonder he didn’t tell the doctor.”
“I told him I would have him arrested for stoning my ’orse.”
“I would like to have been there.”
Vivian Bell was far from being a vindictive25 boy, but it seemed to do him good to hear that his persistent26 young persecutor27 had for once had the same treatment meted28 out to him that he had so often inflicted29 upon others.
“Where are you going, Master Bell?” asked the carrier, with a sudden thought.
“Rawdon told me I’d better go to Farmer Glover’s, and ask him to take me in over-night.”
“And a good plan it is; but you’re only half way to Giles Glover’s.”
“I’m not tired, Jack. I shall be able to walk.”
“There’s no need of walking. I’m going all the way there myself. So just jump up into my{103} cart, Master Bell, and I’ll have you there in a jiffy.”
Vivian was glad to accept this offer, and in a minute he was in the cart, riding beside Jack, the carrier.
“I am afraid I will get you into trouble, Jack,” said Vivian, after a pause.
“Never you think of that, Master Bell. You don’t think the doctor’ll be flogging me, do you, now?” asked the carrier, with a broad grin.
“No; I don’t think he would do that.”
“I would like to see him try it, I would.”
“But he might refuse to employ you.”
“As I am the only carrier hereabouts he wouldn’t do that.”
“Well, you are very kind, Jack.”
“And why wouldn’t I be? I’d help any of the schoolboys. There’s one thing I’d like to help them in.”
“And what’s that?”
“To flog the schoolmaster. That would be rare fun.”
So Vivian Bell and his good friend the carrier sped along till they came in sight of the farmhouse30 occupied by Giles Glover.
It so happened that the farmer himself was out in the yard when the carrier drove up.{104}
They greeted each other like old friends.
“And whom have you got with you, Jack?” asked the farmer.
“I’ve got a boarder for you, farmer.”
“I don’t understand. Isn’t this one of Dr. Musgrave’s boys?”
“Yes; and he’s run away from school.”
“You don’t say! And what for?”
“Because the doctor has been flogging him almost every day, till he’s tired of it. Will you take him in for a night?”
“Aye, that I will! But what are you going to do, lad?”
“I will wait here till Jim Rawdon comes. He will advise me.”
“It was he that advised me to run away.”
“But have you any money, lad? You know you can’t get along without money.”
“Yes, I have a little money. I will pay you for taking me in.”
“No, you won’t, lad! Giles Glover wants no pay from a poor, persecuted32 lad. There’s plenty to eat here, and you’re heartily33 welcome to it. But have you nothing to live on? Where is your father, lad?”{105}
“I have no father nor mother.”
“Then who pays your bills?”
“My guardian.”
“Then why don’t you go to him?”
“I can’t. He lives in Bombay. That’s ever so many thousands of miles off. I have written to him, and I hoped to hear from him before this time.”
“Wouldn’t it have been better to wait?”
“I couldn’t,” said Vivian, wearily. “It is four months since I wrote.”
“But how will you get along?”
“If I can get to London I will go to my guardian’s bankers.”
“Well, I will keep thee at any rate for a night or two, and it sha’n’t cost thee a penny.”
Soon after Vivian’s arrival he sat down to a plentiful34 supper. He ate heartily, and his courage rose. He was surrounded by humble35 but cordial friends, and the atmosphere of kindness was as grateful as it was new to him.
But it would not be long before his place of concealment36 would be discovered, and his foes37 be on his track.
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1
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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4
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
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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6
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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7
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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8
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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9
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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10
tormentor
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| n. 使苦痛之人, 使苦恼之物, 侧幕 =tormenter | |
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11
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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13
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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14
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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15
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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16
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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17
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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18
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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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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20
plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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21
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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22
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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23
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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24
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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25
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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26
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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persecutor
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| n. 迫害者 | |
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28
meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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31
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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32
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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33
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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34
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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35
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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36
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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37
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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