These untrained and somewhat desperate little bravos had also certain instincts which taught them to espouse13 the cause of those weaker than themselves: and it was often a ludicrous as well as a pathetic sight to see these small champions leading the van, and eagerly supporting girls and boys a great deal bigger than themselves. Their mother had certainly told them that fighting was sinful; but it was the breath of life to them, and when Thady was once asked what he liked best in the world, he answered promptly14, "Punchin' another feller's head." These small boys were quite little braves in their way; but, as there is a weak point in the most invincible15 armor, so were there conditions under which the general and his gallant16 captain would undoubtedly17 show the white feather. There was a presence which could effectually quench18 the ardor19 of two pairs of keen eyes, could cause two little faces to blanch20 to an unwholesome and sickly hue21, could cause two little hearts to beat anxiously, and could so affect the moral equilibrium22 of two very steadfast23 little souls, that lies would fall glibly24 from their lips, and the coward's weapons of deceit and subterfuge25 would be gladly used by them in self-defence.
It was a father who had this effect upon his children; and the torturing and ruining of these young child-lives was being effected in the civilized26 England of our nineteeth century. Granger represented a not too uncommon27 type of man, and Nat and Thady did not suffer more than hundreds of other boys when exposed to his influence.
On the morning after Bet had written her letter to Will, she rose early, and was preparing to go to the police-court, to look her last on her lover, when the door of their one little room in Sparrow Street was burst rudely open, and Granger, his face red and bloated, and his whole manner indicating that he had reached the quarrelsome stage of insobriety, entered the room with heavy strides. He was a big man, powerfully made, and when in his present condition even Bet thought it wisest to let him alone. He entered the room and glared about him savagely28. A great deal of this manner was put on, for he was acting30 a part under Dent31's instructions; but none of his children knew this, and when striding across the room, he caught the poor little blue-eyed captain by his ragged32 collar, the boy uttered a scream, and the general, basely deserting his brother, rushed to Bet for protection.
"Give up that lad," shouted Granger, hoarsely33. "I want the two of 'em. They are my lads, and you have played the fool with 'em long enough. I have got work as 'ull suit them, away in Warrington, and I'm going to take 'em by an early train. There—hands off, Bet—give me the lads." "Never," cried Bet. She looked like a wild creature about to be deprived of her young. Holding one arm firmly round the general, she gripped the little captain by the other hand.
"Gi' them up to me, father! You shan't have them—you shan't touch them—there! What do you mean? You take 'em away to work at I knows not what?—and they no more nor seven years old! Let 'em be—they're my lads, and you shan't harm a hair of their heads."
The boys clung to her, with white faces. The man, savage29 and amazed at this unexpected resistance, stood wavering for an instant. At that moment it seemed to Bet as if a thousand furies possessed34 her, and a thousand strengths were given to her. All the accumulated anguish35 of the past week seemed to gather vehemence36 now, and to lend iron force to her muscular arms. She wrenched37 the little captain quite away from the red-faced, bloated man; and then, both arms freed for a moment, she actually pushed him before her to the door, and, before he could utter a word, or collect his scattered38 forces, she locked him out.
"There! lads," she said, turning round with a triumphant39 half laugh, "you see as Bet's as good as her word."
"You're a born fighter," said the captain, in a tone of admiration40. He recovered his spirits and his courage on the spot, and in a few moments he and the general were amusing themselves in acting the scene which Bet had just gone through.
"Boys," said their sister's voice, after ten minutes had passed, and no attack been made on the door, she concluded that Granger had for the present withdrawn41 himself—"Boys, I'm a wanting to go out."
"Oh, no, Bet, no—father'll come back."
"But the door's werry strong. I'll lock it from the outside, and make off with the key. I won't be long, boys; I'm a hungered to see somebody—my heart draws me, and I'm in pain. You won't be in any danger, dear lads, and I'll be back werry soon. I jest want to set eyes on one face that I'll never see no more. You won't be afeard, ef there's a locked door between you and father."
The rare tears which scarcely ever came to her stood in Bet's eyes.
"No, we won't be afeard," said the captain, running up to his sister—"there ain't nought42 to be afeard of. You're wanting to see your sweetheart—ain't yer, Bet?"
"No," said Bet, with an almost-cry—"I han't got a sweetheart now. All the same, I hungers for the sight of a face. And I'll be back soon. Don't you be fretting43, lads. There'll be a locked door atween you and harm."
She wrapped her shawl about her, waited for no further words, locked the door on the little prisoners, and rushed downstairs. As she said, her heart was drawing her. Nothing but that passionate44 hunger would have caused her to forsake45 the children at this supreme46 moment. The house was intensely quiet, for most of the lodgers47 had gone out on their day's avocations48. Not a sign of Granger was to be seen.
Bet walked fast, and presently reached the police-court, where Will was to be tried. A crowd of people were waiting outside; a few policemen stood about. The doors of the building were not yet open. Bet saw Hester Wright standing49 very near the entrance. She made an effort to get to her, and called her name over the heads of the crowd; but Hester, after looking at her coldly, turned her back without making any response. This action cut Bet to the quick. She found the tears again springing to her eyes. Oh! for one glance, if only the last, of Will's kind face. The minutes dragged themselves along; the crowd increased; but as the right hour had not yet come, the doors remained fast shut. At last, at the stroke of ten, they were opened, and Bet was pressing in with the rest, when she felt a hand laid heavily on her arm. She turned, to see the coarse black-eyed girl who had bought her beat from Granger.
"Ef I was you, I'd go home, Bet," said the girl.
"You mind your own business," said Bet, shaking her off roughly.
"Well—there's a mischief50 brewing51, and I saw what I saw. Don't you say as you wasn't warned; and ef the two little chaps come to grief, it ain't Louisa Perkins' fault."
These last words alarmed Bet.
"Say out yer say at once," she answered, clutching the girl now, and forcing her back against the crowd who were pushing their way into the building,—"say your say and have done," she repeated. "What has come to the lads? I left them safe not an hour agone."
"I saw Granger making off with them."
"You didn't—that's a lie! I left them locked up safe in my room."
"Granger was hurrying off with them," repeated Louisa, "werry red in the face, and mad like. The captain was crying, and t'other chap had a red mark down his cheek—it's not a quarter of an hour by St. Giles' clock as I saw him."
"Where was they going?" asked Bet. "Tell me quick, or I'll shake you."
"Down Castle Street, making for Lime Street and the railway station, I expect."
Bet ceased to push inwards with the crowd. They went past her, and the little police-court was soon filled to overflowing52. Isaac Dent almost rubbed against her shoulder as he went by. He winked53 at Louisa, but Bet never noticed him.
"Hester—Hester Wright!" she suddenly called out.
Hester had not yet gone into the police-court. She was standing against one of the posts of the door, watching the crowd as they filed past.
"Hester!" repeated Bet. "Hetty—Hetty! Come and speak to me for a minute! I must go, but I want to send a message. Just one word, Hetty,—Hetty, come!"
Perhaps Hester did not hear. At any rate, she neither turned nor heeded54. Bet gave a low despairing cry; then, flinging her shawl off her shoulders, she ran as fast as if there were wings to her feet in the direction of Sparrow Street.
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1
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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lanky
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| adj.瘦长的 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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iota
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| n.些微，一点儿 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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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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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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12
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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espouse
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| v.支持，赞成，嫁娶 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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18
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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19
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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blanch
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| v.漂白；使变白；使(植物)不见日光而变白 | |
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21
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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23
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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24
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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subterfuge
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| n.诡计；藉口 | |
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26
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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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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30
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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32
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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35
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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36
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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37
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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38
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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39
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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40
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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41
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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42
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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43
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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44
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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45
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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46
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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47
lodgers
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| n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 ) | |
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48
avocations
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| n.业余爱好，嗜好( avocation的名词复数 )；职业 | |
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49
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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50
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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51
brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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52
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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53
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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54
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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