the daisy chain, or aspirations-第43章

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he　was　surprised　to　find　himself　very　comfortable　on　the　whole；　and
able　to　dismiss　repentance　as　well　as　terror。　　His　many　underhand
ways　with　Richard　had　taken　away　the　tenderness　of　his　conscience；
though　his　knowledge　of　what　was　right　was　clear；　and　he　was　quite
ready　to　accept　the　feeling　prevalent　at　Stoneborough；　that　truth　was
not　made　for　schoolboys。

The　axiom　was　prevalent；　but　not　universal；　and　parties　were　running
high。　　Norman　May；　who　as　head　boy　had；　in　play…hours；　the
responsibility；　and　almost　the　authority　of　a　master；　had　taken
higher　ground　than　was　usual　even　with　the　well…disposed；　and　felt　it
his　duty　to　check　abuses　and　malpractices　that　his　predecessors　had
allowed。　　His　friend；　Cheviot；　and　the　right…minded　set；　maintained
his　authority　with　all　their　might；　but　Harvey　Anderson　regarded　his
interference　as　vexatious；　always　took　the　part　of　the　offenders；　and
opposed　him　in　every　possible　way；　thus　gathering　as　his　adherents
not　only　the　idle　and　mischievous；　but　the　weak　and　mediocre；　and；
among　this　set；　there　was　a　positive　bitterness　of　feeling　to　May；
and　all　whom　they　considered　as　belonging　to　him。

In　shielding　Tom　May　and　leading　him　to　deceive；　the　younger　Anderson
had　gained　a　conquestin　him　the　Mays　had　fallen　from　that　pinnacle
of　truth　which　was　a　standing　reproach　to　the　average　Stoneborough
codeand；　from　that　time；　he　was　under　the　especial　patronage　of　his
friend。　　He　was　taught　the　most　ingenious　arts　of　saying　a　lesson
without　learning　it；　and　of　showing　up　other　people's　tasks；　whispers
and　signs　were　directed　to　him　to　help　him　out　of　difficulties；　and
he　was　sought　out　and　put　forward　whenever　a　forbidden　pleasure　was
to　be　enjoyed　by　stealth。　　These　were　his　stimulants　under　a　heavy
bondage；　he　was　teased　and　frightened；　bullied　and　tormented；
whenever　it　was　the　fancy　of　Ned　Anderson　and　his　associates　to　make
his　timidity　their　sport；　he　was　scorned　and　ill…treated；　and　driven；
by　bodily　terror；　into　acts　alarming　to　his　conscience；　dangerous　in
their　consequences；　and　painful　in　the　perpetration；　and　yet；　among
all　his　sufferings；　the　little　coward　dreaded　nothing　so　much　as
truth；　though　it　would　have　set　him　free　at　once　from　this　wretched
tyranny。

Excepting　on　holidays；　and　at　hours　when　the　town…boys　were　allowed
to　go　home；　there　were　strict　rules　confining　all　except　the　sixth
form　to　their　bounds；　consisting　of　two　large　courts；　and　an
extensive　field　bordered　by　the　river　and　the　road。　　On　the　opposite
side　of　the　bridge　was　a　turnpike　gate；　where　the　keeper　exposed
stalls　of　various　eatables；　very　popular　among　the　boys；　chiefly
because　they　were　not　allowed　to　deal　there。　　Ginger…beer　could　also
be　procured；　and　there　were　suspicions　that　the　bottles　so　called
contained　something　contraband。

〃August；〃　said　Norman；　as　they　were　coming　home　from　school　one
evening；　〃did　I　see　you　coming　over　the　bridge？〃

Tom　would　not　answer。

〃So　you　have　been　at　Ballhatchet's　gate？　　I　can't　think　what　could
take　you　there。　　If　you　want　tarts；　I　am　sure　poor　old　Betty's　are
just　as　good。　　What　made　you　go　there？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　Tom。

〃Well；　mind　you　don't　do　it　again；　or　I　shall　have　to　take　you　in
hand；　which　I　shall　be　very　sorry　to　do。　　That　man　is　a　regular　bad
character；　and　neither　my　father　nor　Dr。　Hoxton　would　have　one　of　us
have　anything　to　do　with　him；　as　you　know。〃

Tom　was　in　hopes　it　was　over；　but　Norman　went　on。　　〃I　am　afraid　you
are　getting　into　a　bad　way。　　Why　won't　you　mind　what　I　have　told　you
plenty　of　times　before；　that　no　good　comes　of　going　after　Ned
Anderson；　and　Axworthy；　and　that　set。　　What　were　you　doing　with　them
to…day？〃　　But；　receiving　no　answer；　he　went　on。　　〃You　always　sulk
when　I　speak　to　you。　　I　suppose　you　think　I　have　no　right　to　row　you；
but　I　do　it　to　save　you　from　worse。　　You　can't　never　be　found　out。〃
This　startled　Tom；　but　Norman　had　no　suspicion。　　〃If　you　go　on；　you
will　get　into　some　awful　scrape；　and　papa　will　be　grieved。　　I　would
not；　for　all　the　world；　have　him　put　out　of　heart　about　you。　　Think
of　him；　Tom；　and　try　to　keep　straight。〃　　Tom　would　say　nothing；　only
reflecting　that　his　elder　brother　was　harder　upon　him　than　any　one
else　would　be；　and　Norman　grew　warmer。　　〃If　you　let　Anderson　junior
get　hold　of　you；　and　teach　you　his　tricks；　you'll　never　be　good　for
anything。　　He　seems　good…natured　now；　but　he　will　turn　against　you；
as　he　did　with　Harry。　　I　know　how　it　is；　and　you　had　better　take　my
word；　and　trust　to　me　and　straightforwardness；　when　you　get　into　a
mess。〃

〃I'm　in　no　scrape；〃　said　Tom；　so　doggedly；　that　Norman　lost　patience；
and　spoke　with　more　displeasure。　〃You　will　be　then；　if　you　go　out　of
bounds；　and　run　Anderson's　errands；　and　shirk　work。　　You'd　better
take　care。　　It　is　my　place　to　keep　order；　and　I　can't　let　you　off　for
being　my　brother；　so　remember；　if　I　catch　you　going　to　Ballhatchet's
again；　you　may　make　sure　of　a　licking。〃

So　the　warning　closedTom　more　alarmed　at　the　aspect　of　right；　which
he　fancied　terrific；　and　Norman　with　some　compunction　at　having　lost
temper　and　threatened；　when　he　meant　to　have　gained　him　by　kindness。

Norman　recollected　his　threat　with　a　qualm　of　dismay　when；　at　the　end
of　the　week；　as　he　was　returning　from　a　walk　with　Cheviot；　Tom　darted
out　of　the　gate…house。　　He　was　flying　across　the　bridge；　with
something　under　his　arm；　when　Norman　laid　a　detaining　hand　on　his
collar；　making　a　sign　at　the　same　time　to　Cheviot　to　leave　them。

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　said　Norman　sternly；　marching　Tom　into　the
field。　　〃So　you've　been　there　again。　　〃What's　that　under　your
jacket？〃

〃Onlyonly　what　I　was　sent　for；〃　and　he　tried　to　squeeze　it　under
the　flap。

〃What　is　it？　a　bottle〃

〃Onlyonly　a　bottle　of　ink。〃

Norman　seized　it；　and　gave　Tom　a　fierce　angry　shake；　but　the
indignation　was　mixed　with　sorrow。　　〃Oh；　Tom；　Tom；　these　fellows　have
brought　you　a　pretty　pass。　　Who　would　have　thought　of　such　a　thing
from　us！〃

Tom　cowered；　but　felt　only　terror。

〃Speak　truth；〃　said　Norman；　ready　to　shake　it　out　of　him；　〃is　this
for　Anderson　junior？〃

Under　those　eyes；　flashing　with　generous；　sorrowful　wrath；　he　dared
not　utter　another　falsehood；　but　Anderson's　threats　chained　him；　and
he　preferred　his　thraldom　to　throwing　himself　on　the　mercy　of　his
brother　who　loved　him。　　He　would　not　speak。

〃I　am　glad　it　is　not　for　yourself；〃　said　Norman；　〃but　do　you　remember
what　I　said；　in　case　I　found　you　there　again？〃

〃Oh！　don't；　don't！〃　cried　the　boy。　　〃I　would　never　have　gone　if　they
had　not　made　me。〃

〃Made　you？〃　said　Norman；　disdainfully；　〃how？〃

〃They　would　have　thrashed　methey　pinched　my　fingers　in　the　box
they　pulled　my　earsoh；　don't〃

〃Poor　little　fellow！〃　said　Norman；　〃but　it　is　your　own　fault。　　If　you
won't　keep　with　me；　or　Ernescliffe；　of　course　they　will　bully　you。
But　I　must　not　let　you　offI　must　keep　my　word！〃　　Tom　cried；　sobbed；
and　implored　in　vain。　　〃I　can't　help　it；〃　he　said；　〃and　now；　don't
howl！　　I　had　rather　no　one　knew　it。　　It　will　soon　be　over。　　I　never
thought　to　have　this　to　do　to　one　of　us。〃　　Tom　roared　and　struggled；
till；　releasing　him；　he　said；　〃There；　that　will　do。　　Stop　bellowing；
I　was　obliged；　and　I　can't　have　hurt　you　much；　have　I？〃　he　added　more
kindly；　while　Tom　went　on　crying；　and　turning　from　him。　　〃It　is
nothing　to　care　about；　I　am　sure；　look　up；〃　and　he　pulled　down　his
hands。　　〃Say　you　are　sorryspeak　the　truthkeep　with　me；　and　no　one
shall　hurt　you　again。〃

Very　different　this　from　Tom's　chosen　associates；　but　he　was　still
obdurate；　sullen；　and　angry；　and　would　not　speak；　nor　open　his　heart
to　those　kind　words。　　After　one　more；　〃I　could　not　help　it；　Tom；
you've　no　business　to　be　sulky；〃　Norman　took　up　the　bottle；　opened
it；　smelled；　and　tasted；　and　was　about　to　throw　it　into　the　river；
when　Tom　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　don't；　don't！　what　will　they　do　to　me？　give
it　to　me！〃

〃Did　they　give　you　the　money　to　pay　for　it？〃

〃Yes；　let　me　have　it。〃

〃How　much　was　it？〃

〃Fourpence。〃

〃I'll　settle　that；〃　and　the　bottle　splashed　in　the　river。　　〃Now　then；
Tom；　don't　brood　on　it　any　more。　　Here's　a　chance　for　you　of　getting
quit　of　their　errands。　　If　you　will　keep　in　my　sight。　　I'll　take　care
no　one　bullies　you；　and　you　may　still　leave　off　these　disgraceful
tricks；　and　do　well。〃

But　Tom's　evil　spirit　whispered　that　Norman　had　beaten　him；　that　he
should　never　have　any　diversion　again；　and　that　Anderson　would　punish
him；　and　there　was　a　sort　of　satisfaction　in　seeing　that　his　perverse
silence　really　distressed　his　brother。

〃If　you　will　go　on　in　this　way；　I　can't　help　it；　but　you'll　be　sorry
some　day；〃　said　Norman；　and　he　walked　thoughtfully　on；　looking　back
to　see　whether　Tom　was　following；　as　he　did　slowly；　meditating　on　the
way　how　he　should　avert　his　tyrant's　displeasure。

Norman　stood　for　a　moment　at　the　door；　surveying　the　court；　then
walked　up　to　a　party　of　boys；　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　shoulder　of
one；　holding　a　silver　fourpence　to　him。　〃Anderson　Junior；〃　said　he；
〃there's　your　money。　　I　am　not　going　to　let　Stoneborough　School　be
turned　into　a　gin　palace。　　I　give　you　notice；　it　is　not　to　be。　　Now
you　are　not　to　bully　May　junior　for　telling　me。　　He　did　not；　I　found
him　out。〃

Leaving　Anderson　to　himself　he　looked　for　Tom；　but　not　seeing　him；　he
entered　the　cloister；　for　it　was　the　hour　when　he　was　used　to　read
there；　but　he　could　not　fix　his　mind。　　He　went　to　the　bench　where　he
had　lain　on　the　examination　day；　and　kneeling　on　it；　looked　out　on
the　green　grass　where　the　graves　were。　　〃Mother！　mother！〃　he
murmured；　〃have　I　been　harsh　to　your　poor　little　tender　sickly　boy？
I　couldn't　help　it。　　Oh！　if　you　were　but　here！　　We　are　all　going
wrong！　　What　shall　I　do？　　How　should　Tom　be　kept　from　this　evil？it
is　ruining　him！　mean；　false；　cowardly；　sullenall　that　is　worstand
your　sonoh！　mother！　and　all　I　do　only　makes　him　shrink　more　from
me。　　It　will　break　my　father's　heart；　and　you　will　not　be　there　to
comfort　him。〃

Norman　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　and　a　fit　of　bitter　grief
came　over　him。　　But　his　sorrow　was　now　not　what　it　had　been　before
his　father's　resignation　had　tempered　it；　and　soon　it　turned　to
prayer；　resolution；　and　hope。

He　would　try　again　to　reason　quietly　with　him；　when　the　alarm　of
detection　and　irritation　should　have　gone　off；　and　he　sought　for　the
occasion；　but；　alas！　Tom　had　learned　to　look　on　all　reproof　as
〃rowing；〃　and　considered　it　as　an　additional　injury　from　a　brother；
who；　according　to　the　Anderson　view；　should　have　connived　at　his
offences；　and　turned　a　deafened　ear　and　dogged　countenance　to　all　he
said。　　The　foolish　boy　sought　after　the　Andersons　still　more；　and
Norman　became　more　dispirited　about　him；　greatly　missing　Harry；　that
constant　companion　and　follower；　who　would　have　shared　his
perplexities；　and　removed　half　of　them；　in　his　own　part　of　the
school；　by　the　influence　of　his　high；　courageous；　and　truthful
spirit。

In　the　meantime　Richard　was　studying　hard　at　home；　with　greater
hopefulness　and　vigour　than　he　had　ever　thrown　into　his　work　before。
〃Suppose；〃　Ethel　had　once　said　to　him；　〃that　when　you　are　a
clergyman；　you　could　be　Curate　of　Cocksmoor；　when　there　is　a