Mr Myame’s school played cricket in Regent’s Park in the summer, but it did not play any game in the winter, because football made the boys muddy and parents objected, But Mr Myame was convinced that good sound open-air exercise was conducive3 to morality. He hated to ‘think of boys “loafing about” and the menu of his prospectus4 included “compulsory5 games.” Boys should go tired to bed. It was possible to obtain caps, flannels6, shoes and equipment generally from firms of school outfitters at advantageous7 wholesale8 prices, and even the most unworldly parents were gratified by the spectacle of their offspring apparently9 playing cricket in a socially acceptable manner. The underlying10 seriousness of the school was apparent in the choice of black and white for the school colours.
Contemplating11 this enlargement of his enterprise, Mr Myame, being aware of a certain athletic12 insufficiency in himself, added a “Games Master” to the staff, Mr Plipp, an excellent young married elementary teacher who was free on Wednesday afternoons and who was also prepared to regard scout13 marches and tracking on Primrose14 Hill as a compulsory game for the winter months.
Nothing remained to perfect this games side of the school except to arrange a few matches, and here Mr Myame was so fortunate as to fall in with the Principal of Bolter’s College who was watching his boys “practise”, while he wrestled16 with a similar problem. Bolter’s College was a small genteel private establishment in Highbury which catered17 mainly for the offspring of remote or hypothetical parents in the tropics; it had a union Jack18 on its blazer pockets, its caps were red, white and blue, and its style of play did not seem to be hopelessly above the school standard. So an annual, no, the annual cricket match was arranged, and had been going on for several years before Edward Albert joined the school Generally Bolter’s won by producing lean, lithe19 and dusky “old boys” or alleged20 new additions to the staff who never reappeared. Nothing had been said about “old boys.” It seemed unkind to exclude them. Myame’s was a younger and smaller establishment without them.
They wanted Edward Albert to come up nearer and on the off side. Was there to be no longstop? Up there and closer was more dangerous. In the slips a ball can knock you over and stun21 you before you know where you are. Why not pretend to be sick or go home? And be jawed22 at after by Mr Myame? Instead of tea?
Edward Albert trotted23 up to his appointed place. The ritual of the game began. Middle? No — a little to the left. That’s right. Play!
The old boy batting at the wicket snicked the ball neatly24 for a boundary. It passed within a foot of Edward Albert. Six.
“Look alive there, Tewler,” said Mr Plipp, not too pleasantly.
Edward Albert neglected the game for a moment or so while he exchanged offensive grimaces25 with Nuts. Then a ball hit him,
It hit him so hard that for a moment he thought he saw two balls, one at his feet and one running away from him. The College batsmen were running. “Can you, Sir?”
cried the daemonic old boy. “Come on, Sir?” They were stealing a second run. “Now then, Tewler!” cried Mr Myame. “Oh! Look alive.”
Edward Albert scrabbled at his feet and secured a ball, and with all his soul and strength threw it at the wicket keeper. It missed him by about a yard and a half, and knocked the bails27 off the wicket. The bat of the long darkie slid over the creases29, five seconds too late. Still Edward Albert did not realise his good fortune.
“Owzatsir?” Mr Myame was saying, and the Umpire answered “Out.”
“Well thrown in, Tewler!” said Mr Plipp. “Perfect! exactly what I wanted.”
Edward Albert grew an inch or so and forgot that he probably had a bump at the back of his head. “I fort it best to throw straight at the wicket, Sir,” he said.
“Exactly. Exactly.”
“You did quite right,” Mr Myame confirmed. “We shall make a cricketer of you yet, Tewler. Smartest thing you’ve done for a long time. . . . ”
The game was held up for a moment by cries of “Thank you, Sir, Thank you.” There was a ball about from an adjacent game, and this was the established way of demanding its return. There it was, quite close to the Umpire’s foot. (Then there had been a second ball! ) The Old Boy picked it up absent-mindedly and sent it soaring home, before retiring to the College outs to brood over his premature30 dismissal. He had counted on a long and glorious afternoon of free, loose hitting. He was replaced by a small boy who succumbed31 to the third of what were known as Mr Plipp’s “googlies”, a curious slow overarm delivery with great hypnotic power over the young.
“Owe-ver.”
And then came a terrific event. Mr Plipp told Edward Albert to bowl. He told him to bowl. He held the ball in his hand, looked at it, started, seemed to be struck by some strange idea, and then ordered Edward Albert to bowl.
Mr Plipp was a cricket strategist of the most elaborate type, but for him to tell Edward Albert to take the next over strained the faith of his following to near the breaking point. He instructed his pupil carefully in undertones. “This big chap,” he said, “is a slogger and used to good ordinary bowling32. Well, give him some of those incalculable grounders of yours. See? Lob a bit if you like. Don’t mind if he swipes you out of bounds once or twice. I know what I’m doing.”
And, after looking at it again for another reflective moment, he handed the ball to Edward Albert. “Bowl to his leg side,” said Mr Plipp, “and vary the pace. I want him to hit.”
Fear and pride mingled33 in Edward Albert’s heart as he handled the ball. As he felt for its creases, he had a curious feeling of unfamiliarity34. This ball was showing signs of wear, he thought. . . . But now to bowl, If he aimed about a yard or so to the right he might get the wicket. It often happened like that. He would do that. To begin with he would try one of his short sneakers. It pitched short and rolled slowly towards the wicket The giant, who seemed now ten feet high and broad in proportion, awaited its Doming35 with some hesitation36. It was not the sort of ball he was accustomed to deal with. He wasn’t prepared for anything so feeble. He simply blocked the ball.
“Well bowled, Tewler,” cried Nuts derisively37. Jealous? Yes, but next time . . .
Our hero resolved to vary his attack. He would send in a few very simple grounders to the giant’s leg. One fast and then a slow twister? Down there. Out of his reach, perhaps. The fast one first. Edward Albert put all his strength into it and alas38! up went the ball in the air. Up, up, it went — a perfect Yorker. He’d slog it to — heaven! But the giant, expecting another lob, had been advancing to smite39. This strange ball, high in the air, made him hesitate, and, hesitating, he was lost. He remembered what he had to do just half a second too late. He stepped across the pitch and hit hard to leg. Swish! Click! The leg bail26 dropped. Flop40, went the ball into Mr Myame’s gloves. To Goliath’s astonishment41, to Edward Albert’s astonishment, to everyone’s astonishment, the ball had got the leg stump42. “Howzat, Umpire?” came Mr Myame’s astonished voice as he held up the ball.
“Out!” came the verdict.
“Oh, GorORMIGHTY!” cried Nuts out loud and unreproved. Butter-fingers had clean bowled Goliath. Clean bowled him, Sir!
The rest of the innings was inglorious. Two of the College kids made two runs, and there was a wide, and, strangely enough, Edward Albert was not asked to bowl again. The back of the defence was broken. Mr Plipp resumed his celebrated43 googlies and Mr Myame bowled three overs, and the last man was out.
The College had been disposed of for twenty-four, eighteen actual runs, a wide, three byes and two no-balls by Mr Myame overrunning the crease28. The black and whites went in at last to a possible victory. This time they just might do it. Mr. Plipp displayed an unwonted disposition44 to slog, scored sixteen, and was caught out by Goliath at long on.
Mr Myame compiled a cautious five and was clean bowled by the lean and long Old Boy, who also gave four byes from his bowling. Edward Albert did not actually score a run, but the end of the innings left him in so that he “carried his bat “triumphantly45” not out.” Nothing remained but the cheering. The school had won by six wickets, and Edward Albert was the hero of the day.
“A fine match,” said the Principal, shaking hands with Mr Myame.
Bert wanted to throw catches to some of the other chaps, but he found Mr Plipp had pocketed the ball. “No, you don’t want them to see you miss your catches,” said Mr Plipp, with unusual snappiness.
The College retired46 in good order, discussing the glorious uncertainties47 of the game, and the victorious48 school fell into column with the annual match tea (currant bread and jam, day-boys invited), enlivening its outlook.
As they left the park a young man in flannels came hurrying after Mr Myame. “Excuse me,” he said. “I’m afraid you’ve been playing most of the time with the wrong ball. He produced a nice new red match ball as he spoke49, and handed it to the Headmaster.
“Hm,” said Mr Myame gravely. “That certainly has a resemblance to our ball, but —”
He looked across at the departing College. It was far away and out of earshot. He turned a perplexed50 and heavy face to Mr Plipp. “Odd,” he said. Mr Plipp took the ball and immediately put it into his pocket, producing another with the greatest promptitude. “That is yours,” he said.
“That is ours,” said the young man. “It’s a Lillywhite, Yours is a Duke. I hope this won’t upset your game in any way. We didn’t notice at first.”
“I hit two boundaries,” said Mr Plipp. “The change may have occurred then. Just at the end of the game.”
“I think it occurred rather earlier,” said the young man,
“I really don’t know of any rule of the M.C.C. on the matter.”
“Nor do I,” said Mr Plipp.
Mr Myame reflected. There was a pause of several seconds and then he coughed and his hirsute51 adornments sprang to attention. “Let us assume,” he said, “that there has been at some time in this game a temporary and beneficial substitution of one ball for another, then, the question arises, was this a deliberate and dishonest substitution of one ball for another, or was it due to some entirely52 innocent misapprehension? In the former case we have no right to our victory. No, Sir. None whatever. We have to call this match off as —” he sought for an appropriate phrase —“a non sequitur. But if, on the other hand, the substitution by the player was pure and honest — and I happen to know this young Tewler as one of the most earnest young Christians53 in my charge, a veritable Child of God, let alone that he was suffering from considerable pain at the time from die concussion54 of the ball, then I have no hesitation whatever in saying that not only are we entitled to this match, but that it was meant and intended that we should win this match. The stars in their courses, if one may put it humbly55 and reverently56, were fighting for us, and it would be sheer ingratitude57 — ingratitude — to quibble over this victory.”
The young man regarded Mr Myame with a qualified58 admiration59, “That doesn’t leave anything more to be said about it, Sir, does it?” he said, pitching up his recovered ball and catching60 it again.
“I’m all for that,” said Mr Plipp.
Mr Myame and Mr Plipp hurried to overtake their exultant61 crocodile in a thoughtful silence. There was no reason why they should not talk together, but strangely enough neither of them could think of anything suitable to say. Finally, at the house door Plipp said one word, “Tewler.”
“No question about it,” snapped Mr. Myame, closing the discussion.
Boys who had never had a civil word for Edward Albert Tewler before, could be heard in the dingy62 passage and schoolroom glorifying63 and elaborating his achievements — melting up to him! . . .
And that is how he became a cricket fan and began to follow the Tests and collect pictures of eminent64 cricketers and watch matches on every possible occasion. There was hardly any grade of match that he could not watch now with helpful comments. “Well run, Sir!” “Keep ’em down, Sir!”
He did not play very much himself because you cannot be too careful about corrupting65 your style by inferior practice. But in his reveries, whistling after his fashion, he grew an immense beard — or wore a false beard perhaps — and made W.G. Grace seem a mere66 precursor67 to his own brighter and better batting. Or he returned triumphantly to the pavilion (all the other side out for nine), the super-Spofforth of his day, and there among the applauding throng68 were Bert and Nuts, realising with amazement69 that this demon70 bowler71 was merely another of the endless impersonations of silent Teddy Tewler, their intimate and yet mysterious pal15.
And henceforth “playing cricket” became a stock phrase with him, that phrase which still means so much to every Englishman, and which no Englishman can ever quite explain. We have submitted a sample, plucked straight from Regent’s Park. “Do I play cricket with you or don’t I?” he would demand of the Hidden Hand.
A new confidence appeared in his bearing. Hitherto Bert had unquestionably been the leader, but not now. And one day young Horry Budd, who had butted72 our hero playfully in the back after ‘his custom, received the surprise of his life. Hitherto Edward Albert had been indisposed to resent these little attentions. Now suddenly he turned. “Vad-a-nuff-o-vis,” said Edward Albert thickly.
He smacked73 Horry’s face with extreme viciousness, and smacked again with all his strength. He overwhelmed Horry with surprise and dismay. Horry was a puncher, and face-smacking was outside his imagination. He had never smacked a face in his life. He howled aloud. The red marks remained for days.
“Nuffin to what I’ll do to you, if I have any more of your cheek,” said Edward Albert.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sifter
|
|
| n.（用于筛撒粉状食物的）筛具，撒粉器；滤器；罗圈；罗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
conducive
|
|
| adj.有益的，有助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
prospectus
|
|
| n.计划书；说明书；慕股书 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
compulsory
|
|
| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
flannels
|
|
| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
advantageous
|
|
| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
wholesale
|
|
| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
underlying
|
|
| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
athletic
|
|
| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
scout
|
|
| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
primrose
|
|
| n.樱草，最佳部分， | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
pal
|
|
| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wrestled
|
|
| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
catered
|
|
| 提供饮食及服务( cater的过去式和过去分词 )； 满足需要，适合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
lithe
|
|
| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
alleged
|
|
| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
stun
|
|
| vt.打昏，使昏迷，使震惊，使惊叹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
jawed
|
|
| adj.有颌的有颚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
trotted
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
grimaces
|
|
| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
bail
|
|
| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
bails
|
|
| （法庭命令缴付的）保释金( bail的名词复数 )； 三柱门上的横木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
crease
|
|
| n.折缝，褶痕，皱褶；v.(使)起皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
creases
|
|
| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的第三人称单数 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
premature
|
|
| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
succumbed
|
|
| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
bowling
|
|
| n.保龄球运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
unfamiliarity
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
doming
|
|
| n.凸起（铺道） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
derisively
|
|
| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
smite
|
|
| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
flop
|
|
| n.失败(者)，扑通一声；vi.笨重地行动，沉重地落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
stump
|
|
| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
uncertainties
|
|
| 无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
hirsute
|
|
| adj.多毛的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
Christians
|
|
| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
concussion
|
|
| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
reverently
|
|
| adv.虔诚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ingratitude
|
|
| n.忘恩负义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
qualified
|
|
| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
exultant
|
|
| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
dingy
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
glorifying
|
|
| 赞美( glorify的现在分词 )； 颂扬； 美化； 使光荣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
eminent
|
|
| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
corrupting
|
|
| （使）败坏( corrupt的现在分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
precursor
|
|
| n.先驱者；前辈；前任；预兆；先兆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
demon
|
|
| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
bowler
|
|
| n.打保龄球的人，（板球的）投（球）手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
butted
|
|
| 对接的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
smacked
|
|
| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |