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首页 » 经典英文小说 » The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings » CHAPTER II. PHIL HEARS HIS DISMISSAL
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CHAPTER II. PHIL HEARS HIS DISMISSAL
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 “Where you been, young man?” The question was a snarl1 rather than a sentence.
 
“To school, Uncle, of course.”
 
“School’s been out more than an hour. I say, where have you been?”
 
“I stopped on the way for a few minutes.”
 
“You did?” exploded Abner Adams. “Where?”
 
“Teddy Tucker and I stopped to read a circus bill over there on Clover Street. We did not stop but a few minutes. Was there any harm in that?”
 
“Harm? Circus bill—”
 
“And I want to go to the circus, too, Uncle, when it comes here. You know? I have not been to anything of that sort since mother died—not once. I’ll work and earn the money. I can go in the evening after my work is finished. Please let me go, Uncle.”
 
For a full minute Abner Adams was too overcome with his emotions to speak. He hobbled about in a circle, smiting2 the ground with his cane3, alternately brandishing4 it threateningly in the air over the head of the unflinching Phil.
 
“Circus!” he shouted. “I might have known it! I might have known it! You and that Tucker boy are two of a kind. You’ll both come to some bad ending. Only fools and questionable5 characters go to such places—”
 
“My mother and father went, and they always took me,” replied the boy, drawing himself up with dignity. “You certainly do not include them in either of the two classes you have named?”
 
“So much the worse for them! So much the worse for them. They were a pair of—”
 
“Uncle, Uncle!” warned Phil. “Please don’t say anything against my parents. I won’t stand it. Don’t forget that my mother was your own sister, too.”
 
“I’m not likely to forget it, after she’s bundled such a baggage as you into my care. You’re turning out a worthless, good-for- nothing loaf—”
 
“You haven’t said whether or not I might go to the circus, Uncle,” reminded Phil.
 
“Circus? No! I’ll have none of my money spent on any such worthless—”
 
“But I didn’t ask you to spend your money, even though you have plenty of it. I said I would earn the money—”
 
“You’ll have a chance to earn it, and right quick at that. No, you won’t go to any circus so long as you’re living under my roof.”
 
“Very well, Uncle, I shall do as you wish, of course,” answered Phil, hiding his disappointment as well as he could. The lad shifted his bundle of books to the other hand and started slowly for the house.
 
Abner Adams hobbled about until he faced the lad again, an angry gleam lighting6 up his squinting7 eyes.
 
“Come back here!”
 
Phil halted, turning.
 
“I said come back here.”
 
The lad did so, his self-possession and quiet dignity never deserting him for an instant. This angered the crabbed8 old uncle more than ever.
 
“When will you get through school?”
 
“Tomorrow, I believe.”
 
“Huh! Then, I suppose you intend to loaf for the rest of the summer and live on my hard earned savings9. Is that it?”
 
“No, sir; I hadn’t thought of doing anything of the sort. I thought—”
 
“What did you think?”
 
“I thought I would find something to do. Of course, I do not expect to be idle. I shall work at something until school begins again next fall, then, of course, I shall not be able to do so much.”
 
“School! You’ve had enough school! In my days boys didn’t spend the best part of their lives in going to school. They worked.”
 
“Yes, sir; I am willing to work, too. But, Uncle, I must have an education. I shall be able to earn so much more then, and, if necessary, I shall be able to pay you for all you have spent on me, which isn’t much, you know.”
 
“What, what? You dare to be impudent10 to me? You—”
 
“No, sir, I am not impudent. I have never been that and I never shall be; but you are accusing me wrongfully.”
 
“Enough. You have done with school—”
 
“You—you mean that I am not to go to school any more—that I have got to go through life with the little I have learned? Is that what you mean, Uncle?” asked the boy, with a sinking heart.
 
“You heard me.”
 
“What do you want me to do?”
 
“Work!”
 
“I am working and I shall be working,” Phil replied.
 
“You’re right you will, or you’ll starve. I have been thinking this thing over a lot lately. A boy never amounts to anything if he’s mollycoddled11 and allowed to spend his days depending on someone else. Throw him out and let him fight his own way. That’s what my father used to tell me, and that’s what I’m going to say to you.”
 
“What do you mean, Uncle?”
 
“Mean? Can’t you understand the English language? Have I got to draw a picture to make you understand? Get to work!”
 
“I am going to as soon as school is out.”
 
“You’ll do it now. Get yourself out of my house, bag and baggage!”
 
“Uncle, Uncle!” protested the lad in amazement12. “Would you turn me out?”
 
“Would I? I have, only you are too stupid to know it. You’ll thank me for it when you get old enough to have some sense.”
 
Phil’s heart sank within him, and it required all his self-control to keep the bitter tears from his eyes.
 
“When do you wish me to go?” he asked without a quaver in his voice.
 
“Now.”
 
“Very well, I’ll go. But what do you think my mother would say, could she know this?”
 
“That will do, young man. Do your chores, and then—”
 
“I am not working for you now, Uncle, you know, so I shall have to refuse to do the chores. There is fifty cents due me from Mr. Churchill for fixing his chicken coop. You may get that, I don’t want it.”
 
Phil turned away once more, and with head erect13 entered the house, going straight to his room, leaving Abner Adams fuming14 and stamping about in the front yard. The old man’s rage knew no bounds. He was so beside himself with anger over the fancied impudence15 of his nephew that, had the boy been present, he might have so far forgotten himself as to have used his cane on Phil.
 
But Phil by this time had entered his own room, locking the door behind him. The lad threw his books down on the bed, dropped into a chair and sat palefaced, tearless and silent. Slowly his eyes rose to the old-fashioned bureau, where his comb and brush lay. The eyes halted when at length they rested on the picture of his mother.
 
The lad rose as if drawn16 by invisible hands, reached out and clasped the photograph to him. Then the pent-up tears welled up in a flood. With the picture pressed to his burning cheek Phil Forrest threw himself on his bed and sobbed17 out his bitter grief. He did not hear the thump18 of Abner Adams’ cane on the bedroom door, nor the angry demands that he open it.
 
“Mother, Mother!” breathed the unhappy boy, as his sobs19 gradually merged20 into long-drawn, trembling sighs.
 
Perhaps his appeal was not unheard. At least Phil Forrest sprang from his bed, holding the picture away from him with both hands and gazing into the eyes of his mother.
 
Slowly his shoulders drew back and his head came up, while an expression of strong determination flashed into his own eyes.
 
“I’ll do it—I’ll be a man, Mother!” he exclaimed in a voice in which there was not the slightest tremor21 now. “I’ll fight the battle and I’ll win.”
 
Phil Forest had come to the parting of the ways, which he faced with a courage unusual in one of his years. There was little to be done. He packed his few belongings22 in a bag that had been his mother’s. The lad possessed23 one suit besides the one he wore, and this he stowed away as best he could, determining to press it out when he had located himself.
 
Finally his task was finished. He stood in the middle of the floor glancing around the little room that had been his home for so long. But he felt no regrets. He was only making sure that he had not left anything behind. Having satisfied himself on this point, Phil gathered up his bundle of books, placed the picture of his mother in his inside coat pocket, then threw open the door.
 
The lad’s uncle had stamped to the floor below, where he was awaiting Phil’s coming.
 
“Good-bye, Uncle,” he said quietly, extending a hand.
 
“Let me see that bag,” snapped the old man.
 
“The bag is mine—it belonged to my mother,” explained the boy. “Surely you don’t object to my taking it with me?”
 
“You’re welcome to it, and good riddance; but I’m going to find out what’s inside of it.”
 
“You surely don’t think I would take anything that doesn’t belong to me—you can’t mean that?”
 
“Ain’t saying what I mean. Hand over that bag.”
 
With burning cheeks, Phil did as he was bid, his unwavering eyes fixed24 almost sternly on the wrathful face of Abner Adams.
 
“Huh!” growled25 the old man, tumbling the contents out on the floor, shaking Phil’s clothes to make sure that nothing was concealed26 in them.
 
Apparently27 satisfied, the old man threw the bag on the floor with an exclamation28 of disgust. Phil once more gathered up his belongings and stowed them away in the satchel29.
 
“Turn out your pockets!”
 
“There is nothing in them, Uncle, save some trinkets of my own and my mother’s picture.”
 
“Turn them out!” thundered the old man.
 
“Uncle, I have always obeyed you. Obedience30 was one of the things that my mother taught me, but I’m sure that were she here she would tell me I was right in refusing to humiliate31 myself as you would have me do. There is nothing in my pockets that does not belong to me. I am not a thief.”
 
“Then I’ll turn them out myself!” snarled32 Abner Adams, starting forward.
 
Phil stepped back a pace, satchel in hand.
 
“Uncle, I am a man now,” said the boy, straightening to his full height. “Please don’t force me to do something that I should be sorry for all the rest of my life. Will you shake hands with me?”
 
“No!” thundered Abner Adams. “Get out of my sight before I lay the stick over your head!”
 
Phil stretched out an appealing hand, then hastily withdrew it.
 
“Good-bye, Uncle Abner,” he breathed.
 
Without giving his uncle a chance to reply, the lad turned, opened the door and ran down the steps.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 snarl 8FAzv     
v.吼叫,怒骂,纠缠,混乱;n.混乱,缠结,咆哮
参考例句:
  • At the seaside we could hear the snarl of the waves.在海边我们可以听见波涛的咆哮。
  • The traffic was all in a snarl near the accident.事故发生处附近交通一片混乱。
2 smiting e786019cd4f5cf15076e237cea3c68de     
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He set to smiting and overthrowing. 他马上就动手殴打和破坏。 来自辞典例句
3 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
参考例句:
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
4 brandishing 9a352ce6d3d7e0a224b2fc7c1cfea26c     
v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 );炫耀
参考例句:
  • The horseman came up to Robin Hood, brandishing his sword. 那个骑士挥舞着剑,来到罗宾汉面前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He appeared in the lounge brandishing a knife. 他挥舞着一把小刀,出现在休息室里。 来自辞典例句
5 questionable oScxK     
adj.可疑的,有问题的
参考例句:
  • There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
  • Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。
6 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
7 squinting e26a97f9ad01e6beee241ce6dd6633a2     
斜视( squint的现在分词 ); 眯着眼睛; 瞟; 从小孔或缝隙里看
参考例句:
  • "More company," he said, squinting in the sun. "那边来人了,"他在阳光中眨巴着眼睛说。
  • Squinting against the morning sun, Faulcon examined the boy carefully. 对着早晨的太阳斜起眼睛,富尔康仔细地打量着那个年轻人。
8 crabbed Svnz6M     
adj.脾气坏的;易怒的;(指字迹)难辨认的;(字迹等)难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • His mature composi tions are generally considered the more cerebral and crabbed. 他成熟的作品一般被认为是触动理智的和难于理解的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • He met a crabbed, cantankerous director. 他碰上了一位坏脾气、爱争吵的主管。 来自辞典例句
9 savings ZjbzGu     
n.存款,储蓄
参考例句:
  • I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
  • By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
10 impudent X4Eyf     
adj.鲁莽的,卑鄙的,厚颜无耻的
参考例句:
  • She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
  • The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。
11 mollycoddled bb2b0cb018c8b7184d7b6344d3996413     
v.娇养,宠坏( mollycoddle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He doesn' t believe that children should be mollycoddled. 他认为不应溺爱儿童。 来自互联网
12 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
13 erect 4iLzm     
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的
参考例句:
  • She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头,把背挺得笔直。
  • Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。
14 fuming 742478903447fcd48a40e62f9540a430     
愤怒( fume的现在分词 ); 大怒; 发怒; 冒烟
参考例句:
  • She sat in the car, silently fuming at the traffic jam. 她坐在汽车里,心中对交通堵塞感到十分恼火。
  • I was fuming at their inefficiency. 我正因为他们效率低而发火。
15 impudence K9Mxe     
n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼
参考例句:
  • His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
  • What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。
16 drawn MuXzIi     
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。
17 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
参考例句:
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
18 thump sq2yM     
v.重击,砰然地响;n.重击,重击声
参考例句:
  • The thief hit him a thump on the head.贼在他的头上重击一下。
  • The excitement made her heart thump.她兴奋得心怦怦地跳。
19 sobs d4349f86cad43cb1a5579b1ef269d0cb     
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
  • She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。
20 merged d33b2d33223e1272c8bbe02180876e6f     
(使)混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 ); 相融; 融入; 渐渐消失在某物中
参考例句:
  • Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
  • The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。
21 tremor Tghy5     
n.震动,颤动,战栗,兴奋,地震
参考例句:
  • There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
  • A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。
22 belongings oy6zMv     
n.私人物品,私人财物
参考例句:
  • I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
  • Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。
23 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
24 fixed JsKzzj     
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。
25 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
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:
  • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
27 apparently tMmyQ     
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。
28 exclamation onBxZ     
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词
参考例句:
  • He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
  • The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号,以引起读者的注意。
29 satchel dYVxO     
n.(皮或帆布的)书包
参考例句:
  • The school boy opened the door and flung his satchel in.那个男学生打开门,把他的书包甩了进去。
  • She opened her satchel and took out her father's gloves.打开书箱,取出了她父亲的手套来。
30 obedience 8vryb     
n.服从,顺从
参考例句:
  • Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
  • Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。
31 humiliate odGzW     
v.使羞辱,使丢脸[同]disgrace
参考例句:
  • What right had they to bully and humiliate people like this?凭什么把人欺侮到这个地步呢?
  • They pay me empty compliments which only humiliate me.他们虚情假意地恭维我,这只能使我感到羞辱。
32 snarled ti3zMA     
v.(指狗)吠,嗥叫, (人)咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 );咆哮着说,厉声地说
参考例句:
  • The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
  • As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时,它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》


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