The most interesting of Owen's neighbors were Donald and Duncan Peck, two lively specimens2 belonging to his own class and section, as indistinguishable and mischievous4 a brace5 of twins as ever looked upon the world as a happy hunting-ground, and on the inhabitants thereof as fair game. The tales concerning the Pecks passed on[Pg 12] by his room-mate Simmons, Rob considered barefaced6 attempts to impose on his simplicity7. Later he found that many of them were true. Between the room which he occupied and that of the twins lay, according to one informant, a natural feud8. At least such had prevailed the year before in the days of Tompkins, Rob's predecessor9. He was advised by Lindsay, the football man who roomed opposite, to ignore this fact and avoid a continuance of the custom; and the stories in circulation concerning the amenities10 of Tompkins and the Pecks seemed to prove that the advice was both kindly11 and sound. Beyond Lindsay came Payner, a little, saturnine12, black-haired, dark-visaged lower middler from the extreme Southwest; and opposite Payner the two Moons. The other room on the floor was tenanted by a dull-witted toiler13 named Smith. With Smith an unfeeling Faculty14 had yoked15 Crossett, a volatile16 senior, who spent as little time as possible in the society of his room-mate. Durand shared Lindsay's quarters.
Payner was no ordinary individual. In recitation, Rob was informed, he halted and stumbled,[Pg 13] pretending to know what he evidently did not know, and receiving corrections with an ungracious if not defiant17 air. Outside he cultivated a morose18 and forbidding manner, and went his solitary19 way as if he scorned society. Whether this unsociability was due to homesickness or sensitiveness or a naturally ugly disposition20, Rob was for a considerable time in doubt. He was at first inclined to charge it up against homesickness, feeling himself for a time the forlornness of his exile from the home circle, and the burden of his independence. At the end of a fortnight, however, when all trace of discontent had vanished from Owen's mind, Payner remained as sour and taciturn as ever. Rob next ascribed the fellow's conduct to shyness, and put himself to some inconvenience to show himself friendly. All to no purpose; Payner's only salutation was still a niggardly21 nod of the head and a scowl22. He then tried to make a call on pretence23 of borrowing a book; Payner merely projected his head through the partly opened door and remarked that he had no books to lend. Thus repeatedly discouraged, Rob gave up his benevolent24 attempts[Pg 14] in disgust; the fellow was too disagreeable to waste a thought upon!
With Lindsay he got on much better, though as the football season advanced the senior became more and more absorbed in the work of the eleven, and had less time for incidental acquaintances. Lindsay's visitors especially interested the newcomer; they were such important characters in the school that he soon came to know them by sight, though they, of course, had no interest in him. Among them were Ware25, the manager of the eleven, Hendry, a football player, and big, serious Laughlin, the captain of the team, who appeared but occasionally in the dormitory until near the end of the season, when the conferences in Lindsay's room became frequent. Of the non-football players no one seemed to Owen more wholly desirable as a friend than Poole, the captain of the nine. He was a straight, dark, wiry fellow of average height and weight, with an open face and an air of quiet confidence and simple honesty and unaffected common sense combined visibly with energy and principle. According to Lindsay, Poole pos[Pg 15]sessed all the admirable qualities except brilliancy. Being but a fair scholar and compelled to work hard for whatever he learned, his classroom performances were not extraordinary and he was not distinguished26 either as a speaker or as a writer. At the first school meeting, however, Owen learned that Poole's utterances27, though lacking in finish, were listened to with greater respect than those of almost any one else; and in all the sub-surface carping and criticism, which is as prevalent in the school world as elsewhere, Poole was more often spared than other conspicuous28 characters.
"I hear you are a catcher," said the captain one morning, about a fortnight after the opening of school.
"Yes, I've caught a little," replied Owen, modestly. "How did you find that out?"
"Why, your friend Carle told me. He says he has pitched a good deal. Is he good?"
"He's all right!" Owen made haste to say in the hopelessly vague, yet emphatic29 phrase of the day. "He's the best pitcher30 of his age I've ever seen! He's got speed, curves, and fine control. He's had a lot of experience, too."
[Pg 16]
Poole's expressive31 face beamed with delight. A man who could really pitch and had had good experience was just what he was on the lookout32 for. In a moment, however, the radiance had passed away and a dubious33 shade settled into its place. Terryville High School and the famous Seaton Academy were two very different places. Poole had known other much-vaunted performers on high school teams who had not "made good" on the Seaton field. It was a question of standard of play.
"What kind of teams has he faced?" he asked, with doubt showing in both countenance34 and voice.
Owen understood very well the suspicion that lay behind the question. "Good ones, some of them, and some poor," he answered dryly, smothering35 the sharp retort that sprang to his lips. "We played other nines besides the high schools. Carle had as good coaching as any young fellow can get. Mike McLennan of the ——'s has had him in hand for several years."
Poole caught his breath, and his eyes danced with joy. A pitcher coached by the famous pro[Pg 17]fessional whose name appeared as often in the newspapers, if not as honorably, as that of President Eliot or a member of the cabinet! Here was a find indeed! But suddenly a horrible suspicion laid hold of him. He seized Owen by the arm and swung him round so as to bring his face close to his own. "Tell me straight now," he demanded with an earnestness that was almost stern, and looking squarely into Owen's eyes. "I want the truth right now and all the truth. Is his record clear? Has he ever been paid for pitching, directly or indirectly36, or been hired by hotels to play summer ball, or been given expense money in a lump so that he could clear a margin—or done anything of the sort? If he's got anything in his record against him, or if he's the least bit crooked37 or shady, I want to know it before I tackle him. We can't have any questionable38 men on our teams."
Rob's first impulse was to be angry, his second to laugh aloud; but Poole's earnestness was contagious39, and his own second thoughts assured him that the captain's suspicion was natural and his object wholly praiseworthy. Rob had seen some[Pg 18]thing of the malodorous borderland that lies between amateur and professional. McLennan's vulgarity he could put up with, because of McLennan's marvellous skill in his business. But the third-rater and the semi-professional, who represents a fair laborer40 or mechanic eternally spoiled to make a poor ball player, and in whom is the essence of all that is lowest and most evil in athletic41 associations, he viewed with unwavering contempt. So it was with cordiality and inward approval that he looked directly back into Poole's dark, fiercely shining eyes and answered confidently:
"His record's as clear as yours. He's had chances to play for money and refused them. McLennan advised him to keep clear of it until he was through school."
Poole dropped his arm. "I'm mighty42 glad to hear that. Of course we shall have to look him up, but what you say reassures43 me. You used to catch him, didn't you?"
"Yes, usually," replied Owen.
"We've got a good catcher now," said the captain, "but we want good men for other positions. Did you ever play in the infield?"
[Pg 19]
"Not much," answered Owen.
"Well, you must come out and try for the nine anyway," concluded the captain, turning away. "There'll be chance enough for any one who knows the game and can hit the ball."
Owen had an attack of homesickness after that interview which he found some difficulty in shaking off. The Terryville battery had always been Carle and Owen. The Seaton battery was to be Carle and somebody else! It was only a pitcher that Poole wanted; it evidently had not even occurred to him to raise the question whether the new man could possibly be better than the Seaton catcher. And Carle,—well, Carle was friendly, of course, and wished him well, but Carle could hardly be depended on to glorify44 his old catcher at his own expense. Carle would surely be on the popular side, whatever that was, and would think pretty much as those in authority thought.
"Try for the infield!" thought Owen to himself, angrily. "What experience have I ever had in the infield? Here I've been playing behind the bat ever since I was old enough to hold a ball, and they tell me to try the infield! I'm willing[Pg 20] to try for anything, of course, or play anywhere they want me, or not play at all; and if they've got a better catcher than I am, I'm glad of it, but they might at least say they'd give me a show in the position I'm used to! Well, it's months to the season anyway. I suppose I came here to study and not to play ball, so what's the use of worrying? Father would probably rather have me out of it altogether."
With these inconsequent and not altogether comforting reflections Rob Owen took down his books.
Poole and Borland, the catcher, soon had Carle out for a trial. The pitcher took ten minutes to warm up, but by the end of that time he was throwing all kinds of fast and slow balls as Borland demanded, and putting them over according to the catcher's suggestions. Poole could hardly moderate the expression of his joy into reasonably temperate45 approval.
"I'm not used to Borland," said Carle, as if to excuse his performance, as he pulled on his sweater and the trio started down toward the gymnasium. "Owen has always caught me."
[Pg 21]
"How is Owen—good?" asked the captain.
"Pretty fair," said Carle, yielding to the temptation to enhance his own glory by depreciating46 his mate. "We always worked well together. I presume I shall do as well with Borland."
"I hope so," said Borland.
And Poole said nothing, but he told Lindsay and Laughlin that night in secret that he had found the pitcher who was going to win for them the Hillbury game. Whereat Lindsay and Laughlin congratulated him heartily47 and turned again to the problem of guard defensive48 play on an end run which they had been eagerly discussing. Seaton brooks49 but one great athletic interest at a time.
The football season drew toward its end. As the eagerness of the school warmed to fever heat, Rob had new lessons as to school enthusiasm, and old ambitions sprang into new life. As he stood on the benches at the Hillbury game,—for he stood far more than he sat,—and cheered himself hoarse50 over the deeds of his heroes, these ambitions grew stronger and more definite. He laid his tired head on the pillow after the evening's[Pg 22] celebration with all the separate impressions of the day focussed in one deep, absorbing longing3. What Laughlin and Lindsay and Durand and Hendry and the rest had done that day for their schoolmates on the football field, that he would like to share in accomplishing on the diamond. "Any place, anywhere," he muttered, as his eyes closed, "just a fair chance to show what I can do!" And he dropped off to sleep with the words still on his lips.
dormitories
School Dormitories
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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3
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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6
barefaced
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| adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的 | |
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7
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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8
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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9
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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10
amenities
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| n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快 | |
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11
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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13
toiler
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| 辛劳者，勤劳者 | |
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14
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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15
yoked
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| 结合（yoke的过去式形式） | |
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volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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17
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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18
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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19
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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20
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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niggardly
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| adj.吝啬的，很少的 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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23
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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24
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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25
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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26
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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27
utterances
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| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
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28
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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29
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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30
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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31
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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32
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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33
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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34
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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35
smothering
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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36
indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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37
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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38
questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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39
contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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40
laborer
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| n.劳动者，劳工 | |
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41
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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42
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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43
reassures
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| v.消除恐惧或疑虑，恢复信心( reassure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
glorify
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| vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化 | |
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45
temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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46
depreciating
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的现在分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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47
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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48
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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49
brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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50
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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