“Certainly, Mr. Morton. Are you often troubled in that way?”
“About once a week. It affects me so that I cannot study while it lasts.”
“You had better go. I hope you will soon recover.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Phineas went back to his seat, took a couple of books from his desk, and went out of the schoolroom. Peter Groot exchanged looks with John Wall. All had happened as he desired. Now he felt safe in precipitating2 a conflict.
His first overt3 act was to drop his slate4 heavily on the floor. The noise was such as to draw general attention. Walter looked up, but as he had no evidence that the disturbance5 was intentional6, he said nothing. Five minutes later, Peter, having piled all his books near the edge of his desk, gave them a push and they, too, dropped on the floor.
“Be a little more careful, Peter,” said Walter, mildly. “You are disturbing the school.”
Peter mistook this mild tone for a confession7 of timidity, and it emboldened8 him. He threw up his head, and, leaning back in his seat, stared insolently9 at the young teacher, as much to say: “What are you going to do about it?”
“It’s coming,” thought Walter. “Well, it’s just as well now as at any other time.”
“Peter, will you pick up your books?” he said, calmly.
Peter made no motion to obey, but sat still, staring insolently at the teacher.
“Didn’t you hear me?” said Walter.
“Yes,” said Peter, “I heard you.”
“Then why don’t you obey me?”
“I will pick them up when I get ready,” said Peter, impudently11.
Walter found it difficult to restrain his temper at this open insolence12, but he succeeded by an effort.
“You appear to forget that I am the teacher of this school, and you are my scholar,” said Walter.
“You are a boy like me,” said Peter. “I ain’t goin’ to be ordered round by a boy no older than I am.”
“I am aware,” said Walter, quietly, “that I am only a boy, and that some of my pupils, probably yourself, are older than I am. But that does not alter the fact that I am your teacher. The trustees knew my age when they appointed me teacher. They placed me here not only to teach, but to keep good order. I have had no trouble thus far with any one but you. What is your object in making trouble?”
“I ain’t goin’ to be ordered round by a boy,” said Peter.
“I don’t intend to do any ordering, except what is absolutely necessary. But I intend to keep order,” said Walter, firmly. “You can continue to attend school, and I will do my best to advance you in your studies, or you can leave it, if you are unwilling13 to be orderly. Take your choice.”
“I am comin’ to school,” said Peter, “and I will behave as I have a mind to.”
“Not if I can prevent it,” said Walter, resolutely14, his eyes flashing with anger.
“What are you goin’ to do about it?” demanded Peter, insolently.
“Come out on the floor if you would like to be informed.”
“I have no objection, but you must keep order.”
Peter’s answer to this was to throw his slate on the floor.
Walter felt that the time for forbearance was past. If he suffered this insolence to go unpunished his authority in the school was overthrown16. In that case he might as well retire at once. Moral suasion was thrown away upon Peter Groot. He must understand what was meant by physical suasion.
“Scholars,” said Walter, “I am sorry for what is about to happen, but I call you to witness that it has been forced upon me.”
He walked up to Peter’s desk, eying him in a quiet, determined17 manner.
“You have defied my authority,” he said, “and insulted me before the rest of the scholars. You believe me to be unable to enforce my orders. Come out on the floor and I will convince you to the contrary.”
“I am comfortable where I am,” said Peter, glancing about him triumphantly18.
“Then, as you don’t accept my offer, I must force it upon you.”
Walter, who now stood beside Peter’s desk, seized him suddenly by the collar, and by a quick movement, jerked him into the aisle19 between the desks. Peter had not anticipated this. He was astonished and indignant beyond measure. The smile of triumph faded from his face, and his features were distorted with rage.
“You’ll be sorry for this!” he screamed, adding an oath, which is better omitted. “I’ll pay you up for it.”
He knew how to fight after his style, and prepared to “pitch in” in his customary manner. Walter had drawn20 back a little, so as to be clear of the desks, and Peter followed him up. He aimed a blow at the young teacher’s head, which would have been likely to give him a headache, but Walter had assumed an attitude of defence, and fended21 it off with the greatest ease. Peter quickly followed up the blow by another quite as vigorous. But this again was warded22 off. Walter did not immediately act offensively. He wished before doing so to show Peter that his own efforts were futile23. In proportion as Peter discovered the ill success of his attempts to hit his opponent, his rage became more ungovernable, and he began to curse and swear. At length, when he felt it to be time, Walter retaliated24. One swift, well-planted blow, which Peter was utterly25 unable to ward1 off, and the troublesome pupil found himself lying upon his back on the floor of the schoolroom.
Walter remained standing26, a little flushed, but otherwise calm, and made no attempt to prevent Peter’s rising. Peter was not a hero, but he was not altogether without pluck, and he was up again quickly and ready to renew the contest.
Walter held himself in readiness, but did not speak. He wished this to be a decisive battle. “I will give Peter all the chance he wants,” he said to himself. “He must find out once for all that I am more than his match, and then he will cease to trouble me.”
Peter pitched in again, but he was unable to profit by the lessons he had learned. He saw that the teacher was more scientific than himself, but feeling that in strength he was quite his equal, he did not understand why he could not match him. He tried to grasp Walter around the waist, which would, of course, have given him a decided27 advantage, and neutralized28 Walter’s superior science, but our hero was too wary29 for this. Taking advantage of Peter’s unguarded state, he planted another heavy blow, which, like the first, prostrated30 his opponent.
The scholars looked on with intense interest. Not one except John Wall sympathized with Peter. Not one was sorry to see the insolent10 boy receiving his deserts. Some of the better class had feared that the new teacher would prove unequal to the encounter, but a very short time undeceived them. When Peter went down a second time there was a stamping of feet, intended as applause.
“Be kind enough not to applaud,” said Walter, turning to them. “I am glad your sympathies are with me, but I hope you will not mortify31 your schoolfellow, who, I hope, will some time be ashamed of the course which he is now taking.”
This manly32 request raised Walter still higher in the opinion of his pupils. They saw that he had no desire to triumph over Peter; that he was only influenced by the desire to maintain his authority. When Peter had renewed the contest, and again been thrown, Walter addressed him calmly: “If you wish to keep on, Peter, I will accommodate you, but you must know by this time that you stand no chance of success. I know something of boxing, and it is clear that you do not.”
“You may be, but you don’t know how to use your strength. Suppose we stop here, and forget all that has happened. I shall bear you no grudge34, and shall only expect the same of you that I do from the other scholars.”
“That’s fair, Peter,” said half a dozen boys from their seats.
Peter did not answer, but on the other hand he did not offer to renew the contest. He rose and walked quietly to his desk, and seated himself, with his opinions of the “master’s” prowess decidedly revolutionized. Walter walked back to the teacher’s desk, and quietly called the next class. He might have felt a little excited by the conflict in which he had just been engaged, but, if so, he did not betray it in his manner. He was very glad that the ordeal35 was over, and that his efforts were crowned with success. He had known boys like Peter before, and he felt confident that he should have no more trouble with him. He made up his mind neither by look nor word to remind Peter of his defeat, but to do all he could to spare him humiliation36. He wanted, if possible, to convert him from an enemy to a friend.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
precipitating
|
|
| adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
overt
|
|
| adj.公开的，明显的，公然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
slate
|
|
| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
disturbance
|
|
| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
intentional
|
|
| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
emboldened
|
|
| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
insolently
|
|
| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
insolent
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
impudently
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
insolence
|
|
| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
resolutely
|
|
| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
defiantly
|
|
| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
overthrown
|
|
| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
aisle
|
|
| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
fended
|
|
| v.独立生活，照料自己( fend的过去式和过去分词 )；挡开，避开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
warded
|
|
| 有锁孔的，有钥匙榫槽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
futile
|
|
| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
retaliated
|
|
| v.报复，反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
neutralized
|
|
| v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
wary
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
prostrated
|
|
| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
mortify
|
|
| v.克制，禁欲，使受辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
manly
|
|
| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
grudge
|
|
| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
humiliation
|
|
| n.羞辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |