CHAPTER XIII — GODFREY'S REBELLION

 Having made his complaint, Godfrey waited impatiently for the recess¹ to close, in order that he might see retribution fall upon the head of Andy. He had not long to wait. Meanwhile, however, he was missed in the playground.

 

"Where's Godfrey?" asked one of the boys.

 

"He don't want to come out. He got a licking from Andy Burke."

 

"I ain't much sorry. It'll cure him of some of his airs."

 

"I don't know about that. It comes natural to him to put on airs."

 

"If anybody has insulted Godfrey," remarked Ben Travers, his toady², "he had better look out for himself."

 

"Do you hear that, Andy? Ben Travers says you must look out for yourself."

 

"Who's goin' to punish me?" asked Andy. "If it's Ben, let him come on."

 

But Ben showed no disposition³ to "come on." He could talk and threaten, but when words were to be succeeded by blows he never was on hand. In fact he was a coward, and ought to have kept quiet, but it is just that class that are usually most noisy.

 

Andy had no idea that Godfrey would complain to the teacher in a matter where he was so clearly in the wrong, nor would he if he had not relied upon his father's position to carry him through.

 

"Mr. Stone is a poor man," he thought, "and he won't dare to take the part of a low Irish boy against the only son and heir of Colonel Preston. He knows on which side his bread is buttered, and he won't be such a fool as to offend my father."

 

While he said this he knew that it was very doubtful whether his father would espouse⁴ his cause, but then Mr. Stone would probably suppose he would, which would answer the same purpose on the present occasion.

 

When Andy re-entered the schoolroom with the rest of the boys at the termination of recess, he saw Godfrey in his seat. The latter darted⁵ at him a glance of malicious⁶ triumph.

 

When the noise of entering was over, Mr. Stone said:

 

"Andrew Burke, come forward!"

 

Considerably⁷ surprised, Andy came forward, and looked up with a modest self-possession into the teacher's face.

 

"A complaint has been entered against you, Andrew," Mr. Stone began.

 

"What is it, sir?" asked Andy.

 

"You are charged by Godfrey Preston with violently assaulting and throwing him down, just before school commenced. Is this true?"

 

"Yes, sir," answered Andy, promptly⁸.

 

"You are charged with kneeling down upon him, and preventing his getting up."

 

"That is true," said Andy, quite composedly.

 

"I am surprised that you should have acted in this manner," said Mr. Stone. "I did not think you quarrelsome or a bully⁹."

 

"I hope I am not," said Andy. "Did Godfrey tell you why I knocked him over?"

 

"He said it was because he would not associate with you."

 

Andy laughed.

 

"I hope you'll excuse my laughing, sir," he said, respectfully; "but I'd rather associate with any of the boys than with Godfrey. I like him least of all."

 

"Then, that is the reason you attacked him, is it?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"Then, what was it?"

 

"If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to have you ask Alfred Parker."

 

"Alfred Parker," called out the teacher, "come forward."

 

Alfred obeyed.

 

"Do you know why Andrew attacked Godfrey Preston?"

 

"Yes, sir; it was on my account."

 

"On your account! Explain."

 

"This morning, before school, I was playing with another boy, and accidentally ran into Godfrey. He got mad, and threw me over violently. Then he pressed his knee on my breast till I could hardly breathe. I begged him to let me up, but he would not, though he knew that it was only an accident. While I was lying on the ground, Andy Burke came up. He no sooner saw me than he ran up, and threw Godfrey off, and got on him in the same manner, and I think he served him right."

 

As he uttered these last words, Godfrey scowled¹⁰ ominously¹¹, but Andy's face brightened up. He was glad that Alfred was brave enough to speak up for him.

 

"This alters the case considerably," said the teacher. "Is there any other boy who witnessed the affair, and can substantiate¹² what has been said? If so, let him raise his hand."

 

Herman Reynolds raised his hand.

 

"Well, Herman, what do you know about it? Were you present?"

 

"Yes, sir, I was. It was just as Alfred said it was."

 

"What have you to say, Godfrey?" asked Mr. Stone, sternly.

 

"I don't mean to be insulted by an Irish boy," said Godfrey, haughtily¹³.

 

"Remember where you are, sir, and speak in a more becoming manner. Did you attack Alfred Parker, as he says?"

 

"He had no business to run into me."

 

"Answer my question."

 

"Yes, I did."

 

"And did you kneel on his breast?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Oblige me by saying, 'Yes, sir.'"

 

"Yes, sir," said Godfrey, reluctantly.

 

"Why do you complain, then, of being treated in a similar manner by Andrew?"

 

"He has no business to touch me."

 

"If he had not interfered¹⁴ when he saw you maltreating his young schoolfellow, I should have been ashamed of him," said the teacher.

 

This so far chimed in with the sentiment of the boys that they almost involuntarily applauded; and one boy, arising, exclaimed:

 

"Three cheers for the teacher!"

 

The three cheers were given with a will, and, though they were, strictly¹⁵ speaking, out of order, Mr. Stone was a sensible man, and the only notice he took of it was to say:

 

"Thank you, boys. I am glad to find that you agree with me on this point, and that your sympathies are with the weak and oppressed. Godfrey Preston, your complaint is dismissed. I advise you to cease acting¹⁶ the part of a bully, or you may get another similar lesson. Andrew, when you exert your strength, I hope it will always be in as just a cause. You may take your seat, and you also, Alfred."

 

The boys would have applauded again, but Mr. Stone said, waving his hand:

 

"Once is enough, boys. Time is precious, and we must now go on with our lessons. First class in arithmetic."

 

Godfrey had been equally surprised and angry at the turn that affairs had taken. He was boiling with indignation, and nervously¹⁷ moved about in his seat. After a slight pause, having apparently¹⁸ taken his determination, he took his cap, and walked toward the door.

 

Mr. Stone's attention was drawn¹⁹ to him.

 

"Where are you going, Godfrey?" he demanded, quickly.

 

"Home," said Godfrey.

 

"You will wait till the end of school."

 

"I would rather not, sir."

 

"It makes no difference what you would rather do, or rather not do. Are you sick?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"Then you have no good cause for leaving, and I shall not permit you to do so."

 

"I have been insulted, sir, and I don't wish to stay."

 

"By whom?" demanded the teacher, sharply.

 

Godfrey would like to have said, "By you," but he saw the teacher's keen eye fixed²⁰ upon him, and he didn't dare to do it. He hesitated.

 

"By whom?" repeated Mr. Stone.

 

"By Andrew Burke."

 

"That is no good reason for your leaving school, or would not be, if it were true, but it is not. He has only meted²¹ out to you the same punishment you undertook to inflict²² upon a smaller boy. Take your seat."

 

"My father will take me away from school," said Godfrey, angrily.

 

"We shall none of us mourn for your absence. Take your seat."

 

This last remark of the teacher still further incensed²³ Godfrey, and led him temporarily to forget himself. Though he had been bidden to take his seat, he resolved to leave the schoolroom, and made a rush for the door. But Mr. Stone was there before him. He seized Godfrey by the collar and dragged him, shaking him as he proceeded, to his seat, on which he placed him with some emphasis.

 

"That is the way I treat rebels," he said. "You forget yourself, Preston. The next time you make up your mind to resist my commands, count in advance on a much severer lesson."

 

Godfrey was pale with passion, and his hands twitched²⁴ convulsively. He only wished he had Mr. Stone in his power for five minutes. He would treat him worse than he did Alfred Parker. But a boy in a passion is not a very pleasant spectacle. It is enough to say that Godfrey was compelled to stay in school for the remainder of the forenoon. As soon as he could get away, he ran home, determined²⁵ to enlist²⁶ his mother in his cause.

1 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。

2 toady   

v.奉承；n.谄媚者，马屁精

参考例句：

• He flung it in my teeth that I was a toady.他责备我是个马屁精。
• Arrogance has no defense against a toady.傲慢防不了谄媚者。

3 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。

4 espouse   

v.支持，赞成，嫁娶

参考例句：

• Today,astronomers espouse the theory that comets spawn the swarms.如今，天文学家们支持彗星产生了流星团的说法。
• Some teachers enthusiastically espouse the benefits to be gained from educational software.有些教师热烈赞同可以从教学软件中得到好处的观点。

5 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

7 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

8 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

9 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。

10 scowled   

怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He scowled his displeasure. 他满脸嗔色。
• The teacher scowled at his noisy class. 老师对他那喧闹的课堂板着脸。

11 ominously   

adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地

参考例句：

• The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块，在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mammy shook her head ominously. 嬷嬷不祥地摇着头。 来自飘（部分）

12 substantiate   

v.证实；证明...有根据

参考例句：

• There is little scientific evidence to substantiate the claims.这些主张几乎找不到科学依据来证实。
• These theories are used to substantiate the relationship between the phenomenons of the universe.这些学说是用来证实宇宙现象之间的关系。

13 haughtily   

adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地

参考例句：

• She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
• Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯，走到二楼，我刚好站在那儿。

14 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

16 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

17 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

18 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

19 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

20 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

21 meted   

v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The severe punishment was meted out to the unruly hooligan. 对那个嚣张的流氓已给予严厉惩处。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The money was meted out only after it had been carefully counted. 钱只有仔细点过之后才分发。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

22 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

23 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。

24 twitched   

vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Her lips twitched with amusement. 她忍俊不禁地颤动着嘴唇。
• The child's mouth twitched as if she were about to cry. 这小孩的嘴抽动着，像是要哭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

26 enlist   

vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

参考例句：

• They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
• The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。