CHAPTER XII — A LITTLE DIFFICULTY

 It has already been said that Godfrey Preston was a conceited¹ and arrogant² boy. He had a very high idea of his own importance, and expected that others would acknowledge it; but he was not altogether successful. He would like to have had Andy Burke look up to him as a member of a superior class, and in that case might have condescended³ to patronize him, as a chieftain might in the case of a humble⁴ retainer. But Andy didn't want to be patronized by Godfrey. He never showed by his manner that he felt beneath him socially, and this greatly vexed⁵ Godfrey.

 

"His mother used to iron at our house," he said to Ben Travers one day; "but my mother discharged her. I don't see why the boys treat him as an equal. I won't, for my part."

 

"Of course, he isn't your equal," said the subservient⁶ Ben. "That's a good joke."

 

"He acts as if he was," said Godfrey, discontentedly.

 

"It's only his impudence⁷."

 

"You are right," said Godfrey, rather liking⁸ this explanation. "He is one of the most impudent⁹ boys I know. I wish my father would send me to a fashionable school, where I shouldn't meet such fellows. That's the worst of these public schools—you meet all sorts of persons in them."

 

"Of course you do."

 

"I suppose this Burke will be a hod-carrier, or something of that kind, when he is a man."

 

"While you are a member of Congress."

 

"Very likely," said Godfrey, loftily; "and he will claim that he was an old schoolmate of mine. It is disgusting."

 

"Of course it is. However, we needn't notice him."

 

"I don't mean to."

 

But in the course of the next week there was an occurrence which compelled Godfrey to "notice" his detested¹⁰ schoolfellow.

 

Among the scholars was a very pleasant boy of twelve, named Alfred Parker. He was the son of a poor widow, and was universally liked for his amiable¹¹ and obliging disposition¹². One morning, before school, he was engaged in some game which required him to run. He accidentally ran against Godfrey, who was just coming up the hill, with considerable force. Now, it was very evident that it was wholly unintentional; but Godfrey was greatly incensed¹³.

 

"What do you mean by that, you little scamp?" he exclaimed, furiously.

 

"Excuse me, Godfrey; I didn't mean to run into you."

 

"That don't go down."

 

"Indeed, I didn't. I didn't see you."

 

"I can't help it. You ought to have been more careful. Take that, to make you more careful."

 

As he said this, he seized him by the collar, and, tripping him, laid him flat on his back.

 

"For shame, Godfrey!" said another boy standing¹⁴ by; but as it was a small boy, Godfrey only answered:

 

"If you say that again, I'll serve you the same way."

 

Alfred tried to get up, but Godfrey put his knee on his breast.

 

"Let me up, Godfrey," said Alfred, piteously. "I can't breathe. You hurt me."

 

"I'll teach you to run into me," said the bully¹⁵.

 

"I didn't mean to."

 

"I want to make sure of your not doing it again."

 

"Do let me up," said Alfred.

 

In return, Godfrey only pressed more heavily, and the little fellow began to cry. But help was near at hand. Andy Burke happened to come up the hill just then, and saw what was going on. He had a natural chivalry¹⁶ that prompted him always to take the weaker side. But besides this, he liked Alfred for his good qualities, and disliked Godfrey for his bad ones. He did not hesitate a moment, therefore, but ran up, and, seizing Godfrey by the collar with a powerful grasp, jerked him on his back in the twinkling of an eye. Then, completely turning the tables, he put his knee on Godfrey's breast, and said:

 

"Now, you know how it is yourself. How do you like it?"

 

"Let me up," demanded Godfrey, furiously.

 

"That's what Alfred asked you to do," said Andy, coolly. "Why didn't you do it?"

 

"Because I didn't choose," answered the prostrate¹⁷ boy, almost foaming¹⁸ at the mouth with rage and humiliation¹⁹.

 

"Then I don't choose to let you up."

 

"You shall suffer for this," said Godfrey, struggling, but in vain.

 

"Not from your hands. Oh, you needn't try so hard to get up. I can hold you here all day if I choose."

 

"You're a low Irish boy!"

 

"You're lower than I am just now," said Andy.

 

"Let me up."

 

"Why didn't you let Alfred up?"

 

"He ran against me."

 

"Did he mean to?"

 

"No, I didn't, Andy," said Alfred, who was standing near. "I told Godfrey so, but he threw me over, and pressed on my breast so hard that it hurt me."

 

"In this way," said Andy, increasing the pressure on his prostrate enemy.

 

Godfrey renewed his struggles, but in vain.

 

"Please let him up now, Andy," said Alfred, generously.

 

"If he'll promise not to touch you any more, I will."

 

"I won't promise," said Godfrey. "I won't promise anything to a low beggar."

 

"Then you must feel the low beggar's knee," said Andy.

 

"You wouldn't have got me down if I had been looking. You got the advantage of me."

 

"Did I? Well, then, I'll give you a chance."

 

Andy rose to his feet, and Godfrey, relieved from the pressure, arose, too. No sooner was he up than he flew like an enraged²⁰ tiger at our hero, but Andy was quite his equal in strength, and, being cool, had the advantage.

 

The result was that in a few seconds he found himself once more on his back.

 

"You see," said Andy, "it isn't safe for you to attack me. I won't keep you down any longer, but if you touch Alfred again, I'll give you something worse."

 

Godfrey arose from the ground, and shook his fist at Andy.

 

"I'll make you remember this," he said.

 

"I want you to remember it yourself," said Andy.

 

Godfrey didn't answer, but made his way to the schoolroom, sullenly²¹.

 

"Thank you, Andy," said Alfred, gratefully, "for saving me from Godfrey. He hurt me a good deal."

 

"He's a brute," said Andy, warmly. "Don't be afraid of him, Alfred, but come and tell me if he touches you again. I'll give him something he won't like."

 

"You must be very strong, Andy," said the little boy, admiringly. "You knocked him over just as easy."

 

Andy laughed.

 

"Did you ever know an Irish boy that couldn't fight?" he asked. "I'm better with my fists than with my brains, Alfred."

 

"That's because you never went to school much. You're getting on fast, Andy."

 

"I'm tryin', Alfred," he said. "It's a shame for a big boy like me not to know as much as a little boy like you."

 

"You'll soon get ahead of me, Andy."

 

Meanwhile Godfrey had taken his place in school, feeling far from comfortable. He was outraged²² by the thought that Andy, whom he regarded as so much beneath him, should have had the audacity²³ to throw him down, and put his knees on his breast. It made him grind his teeth when he thought of it. What should he do about it? He wanted to be revenged in some way, and he meant to be.

 

Finally he decided²⁴ to report Andy to the teacher, and, if possible, induce him to punish him.

 

"The teacher knows that my father's a man of influence," he said to himself. "He will believe me before that ragamuffin. If he don't, I'll try to get him turned away."

 

When, therefore, the bell rang for recess²⁵, and the rest of the scholars hurried to the playground, Godfrey lingered behind. He waited till all the boys were gone, and then went up to the teacher.

 

"Well, Godfrey, what is it?" asked the master.

 

"Mr. Stone, I want to make a complaint against Andrew Burke," said Godfrey.

 

"What has he done?"

 

"He is a brute," said Godfrey, in an excited manner. "He dared to come up behind my back before school began, and knock me down. Then he put his knee on my chest, and wouldn't let me up."

 

"What made him do it?"

 

"He knows I don't like him, and am not willing to associate with him."

 

"Was that all the reason?" asked the teacher, keenly.

 

"I suppose so," said Godfrey.

 

"I was not aware that Andy Burke was quarrelsome," said the teacher. "He behaves well in school."

 

"Because he knows he must."

 

"Very well; I will inquire into the matter after recess."

 

Godfrey went back to his seat, triumphant²⁶. He didn't doubt that his enemy would be severely²⁷ punished.

1 conceited   

adj.自负的，骄傲自满的

参考例句：

• He could not bear that they should be so conceited.他们这样自高自大他受不了。
• I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think.我不像很多人认为的那么自负。

2 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

3 condescended   

屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲

参考例句：

• We had to wait almost an hour before he condescended to see us. 我们等了几乎一小时他才屈尊大驾来见我们。
• The king condescended to take advice from his servants. 国王屈驾向仆人征求意见。

4 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

5 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 subservient   

adj.卑屈的，阿谀的

参考例句：

• He was subservient and servile.他低声下气、卑躬屈膝。
• It was horrible to have to be affable and subservient.不得不强作欢颜卖弄风骚，真是太可怕了。

7 impudence   

n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼

参考例句：

• His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
• What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。

8 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

9 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

10 detested   

v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They detested each other on sight. 他们互相看着就不顺眼。
• The freethinker hated the formalist; the lover of liberty detested the disciplinarian. 自由思想者总是不喜欢拘泥形式者，爱好自由者总是憎恶清规戒律者。 来自辞典例句

11 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

12 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

13 incensed   

盛怒的

参考例句：

• The decision incensed the workforce. 这个决定激怒了劳工大众。
• They were incensed at the decision. 他们被这个决定激怒了。

14 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

15 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

16 chivalry   

n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤

参考例句：

• The Middle Ages were also the great age of chivalry.中世纪也是骑士制度盛行的时代。
• He looked up at them with great chivalry.他非常有礼貌地抬头瞧她们。

17 prostrate   

v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的

参考例句：

• She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
• The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。

18 foaming   

adj.布满泡沫的；发泡

参考例句：

• He looked like a madman, foaming at the mouth. 他口吐白沫，看上去像个疯子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is foaming at the mouth about the committee's decision. 他正为委员会的决定大发其火。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 humiliation   

n.羞辱

参考例句：

• He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
• He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。

20 enraged   

使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤

参考例句：

• I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令，我极为恼火。
• The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。

21 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

22 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

23 audacity   

n.大胆，卤莽，无礼

参考例句：

• He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
• He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。

24 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

25 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

26 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

27 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。