the daisy chain, or aspirations-第50章

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strain　too　great　to　be　always　kept　up；　and　he　had　reason　to　believe
he　was　eluded　more　than　once。

At　last　came　a　capture；　something　like　that　of　Tom；　one　which　he
could　not　have　well　avoided　making。　　The　victim　was　George　Larkins；
the　son　of　a　clergyman　in　the　neighbourhood；　a　wild；　merry　varlet；
who　got　into　mischief　rather　for　the　sake　of　the　fun　than　from　any
bad　disposition。

His　look　of　consternation　was　exaggerated　into　a　most　comical
caricature；　in　order　to　hide　how　much　of　it　was　real。

〃So　you　are　at　that　trick；　Larkins。〃

〃There！　that　bet　is　lost！〃　exclaimed　Larkins。　　〃I　laid　Hill　half…a…
crown　that　you　would　not　see　me　when　you　were　mooning　over　your
verses！〃

〃Well；　I　have　seen　you。　　And　now〃

〃Come；　you　would　not　thrash　a　fellow　when　you　have　just　lost　him
half…a…crown！　　Single　misfortunes　never　come　alone；　they　say；　so
there's　my　money　and　my　credit　gone；　to　say　nothing　of　Ballhatchet's
ginger…beer！〃

The　boy　made　such　absurd　faces；　that　Norman　could　hardly　help
laughing；　though　he　wished　to　make　it　a　serious　affair。　　〃You　know；
Larkins；　I　have　given　out　that　such　things　are　not　to　be。　　It　is　a
melancholy　fact。〃

〃Ay；　so　you　must　make　an　example　of　me！〃　said　Larkins；　pretending　to
look　resigned。　　〃Better　call　all　the　fellows　together；　hadn't　you；
and　make　it　more　effective？　　It　would　be　grateful　to　one's　feelings；
you　know；　and　June；〃　added　he；　with　a　ridiculous　confidential　air；
〃if　you'll　only　lay　it　on　soft；　I'll　take　care　it　makes　noise　enough。
Great　cry；　little　wool；　you　know。〃

〃Come　with　me；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I'll　take　care　you　are　example　enough。
What　did　you　give　for　those　articles？〃

〃Fifteen…pence　halfpenny。　　　Rascally　dear；　isn't　it？　but　the　old
rogue　makes　one　pay　double　for　the　risk！　　You　are　making　his　fortune；
you　have　raised　his　prices　fourfold。〃

〃I'll　take　care　of　that。〃

〃Why；　where　are　you　taking　me？　　Back　to　him？〃

〃I　am　going　to　gratify　your　wish　to　be　an　example。〃

〃A　gibbet！　a　gibbet〃　cried　Larkins。　　〃I'm　to　be　turned　off　on　the
spot　where　the　crime　took　placea　warning　to　all　beholders。　　Only
let　me　send　home　for　old　Neptune's　chain；　if　you　please；　sirif　you
hang　me　in　the　combined　watch…chains　of　the　school；　I　fear　they　would
give　way　and　defeat　the　purposes　of　justice。〃

They　were　by　this　time　at　the　bridge。　　〃Come　in；〃　said　Norman　to　his
follower；　as　he　crossed　the　entrance　of　the　little　shop；　the　first
time　he　had　ever　been　there。　　A　little　cringing　shrivelled　old　man
stood　up　in　astonishment。

〃Mr。　May！　can　I　have　the　pleasure；　sir？〃

〃Mr。　Ballhatchet；　you　know　that　it　is　contrary　to　the　rules　that
there　should　be　any　traffic　with　the　school　without　special
permission？〃

〃Yes；　sirjust　nothing；　sironly　when　the　young　gentlemen　come
here；　sirI'm　an　old　man；　sir；　and　I　don't　like　not　to　oblige　a
young　gentleman；　sir；〃　pleaded　the　old　man；　in　a　great　fright。

〃Very　likely；〃　said　Norman；　〃but　I　am　come　to　give　you　fair　notice。
I　am　not　going　to　allow　the　boys　here　to　be　continually　smuggling
spirits　into　the　school。〃

〃Spirits！　bless　you；　sir；　I　never　thought　of　no　sich　a　thing！　　'Tis
nothing　in　life　but　ginger…beervery　cooling　drink；　sir；　of　my
wife's　making　she　had　the　receipt　from　her　grandmother　up　in
Leicestershire。　　Won't　you　taste　a　bottle；　sir？〃　and　he　hastily　made
a　cork　bounce；　and　poured　it　out。

That；　of　course；　was　genuine；　but　Norman　was　〃up　to　him；〃　in
schoolboy　phrase。

〃Give　me　yours；　Larkins。〃

No　pop　ensued。　　Larkins；　enjoying　the　detection；　put　his　hands　on　his
knees　and　looked　wickedly　up　in　the　old　man's　face　to　see　what　was
coming。

〃Bless　me！　it　is　a　little　flat。　　I　wonder　how　that　happened？　　I'll　be
most　happy　to　change　it；　sir。　　Wife！　what's　the　meaning　of　Mr。
Larkins's　ginger…pop　being　so　flat？〃

〃It　is　very　curious　ginger…beer　indeed；　Mr。　Ballhatchet；〃　said
Norman；　〃and　since　it　is　liable　to　have　such　strange　properties；　I
cannot　allow　it　to　be　used　any　more　at　the　school。〃

〃Very　well；　sir…as　you　please；　sir。　　You　are　the　first　gentleman　as
has　objected；　sir。〃

〃And；　once　for　all；　I　give　you　warning；〃　added　Norman；　〃that　if　I
have　reason　to　believe　you　have　been　obliging　the　young　gentlemen；
the　magistrates　and　the　trustees　of　the　road　shall　certainly　hear　of
it。〃

〃You　would　not　hurt　a　poor　man；　sir；　as　is　drove　to　ityou　as　has
such　a　name　for　goodness！〃

〃I　have　given　you　warning；〃　said　Norman。　〃The　next　time　I　find　any　of
your　bottles　in　the　school　fields；　your　licence　goes。　　Now；　there　are
your　goods。　　Give　Mr。　Larkins　back　the　fifteen…pence。　　I　wonder　you
are　not　ashamed　of　such　a　charge！〃

Having　extracted　the　money；　Norman　turned　to　leave　the　shop。
Larkins；　triumphant；　〃Ha！　there's　Harrison！〃　as　the　tutor　rode　by；
and　they　touched　their　caps。　　〃How　he　stared！　　My　eyes！　June；　you'll
be　had　up　for　dealing　with　old　Ball！〃　and　he　went　into　an　ecstasy　of
laughing。　　〃You've　settled　him；　I　believe。　　Well；　is　justice
satisfied？〃

〃It　would　be　no　use　thrashing　you；〃　said　Norman；　laughing；　as　he
leaned　against　the　parapet　of　the　bridge；　and　pinched　the　boy's　ear。
〃There's　nothing　to　be　got　out　of　you　but　chaff。〃

Larkins　was　charmed　with　the　compliment。

〃But　I'll　tell　you　what；　Larkins；　I　can't　think　how　a　fellow　like　you
can　go　and　give　in　to　these　sneaking；　underhand　tricks　that　make　you
ashamed　to　look　one　in　the　face。〃

〃It　is　only　for　the　fun　of　it。〃

〃Well；　I　wish　you　would　find　your　fun　some　other　way。　　Come；　Larkins；
recollect　yourself　a　littleyou　have　a　home　not　so　far　off。　　How　do
you　think　your　father　and　mother　would　fancy　seeing　you　reading　the
book　you　had　yesterday；　or　coming　out　of　Ballhatchet's　with　a　bottle
of　spirits；　called　by　a　false　name？〃

Larkins　pinched　his　fingers；　home　was　a　string　that　could　touch　him；
but　it　seemed　beneath　him　to　own　it。　　At　that　moment　a　carriage
approached；　the　boy's　whole　face　lighted　up；　and　he　jumped　forward。
〃Our　own！〃　he　cried。　　〃There　she　is！〃

She　was；　of　course；　his　mother；　and　Norman；　though　turning　hastily
away　that　his　presence　might　prove　no　restraint；　saw　the　boy　fly　over
the　door　of　the　open　carriage；　and　could　have　sobbed　at　the　thought
of　what　that　meeting　was。

〃Who　was　that　with　you？〃　asked　Mrs。　Larkins；　when　she　had　obtained
leave　to　have　her　boy　with　her；　while　she　did　her　shopping。

〃That　was　May　senior；　our　dux。〃

〃Was　it？　　I　am　very　glad　you　should　be　with　him；　my　dear　George。
He　is　very　kind　to　you；　I　hope？〃

〃He　is　a　jolly　good　fellow；〃　said　Larkins　sincerely；　though　by　no
means　troubling　himself　as　to　the　appropriateness　of　the　eulogy；　nor
thinking　it　necessary　to　explain　to　his　mother　the　terms　of　the
conversation。

It　was　not　fruitless；　Larkins　did　avoid　mischief　when　it　was　not
extremely　inviting；　was　more　amenable　to　May　senior；　and　having　been
put　in　mind　by　him　of　his　home；　was　not　ashamed　to　bring　the　thought
to　the　aid　of　his　eyes；　when；　on　Sunday；　during　a　long　sermon　of　Mr。
Ramsden's；　he　knew　that　Axworthy　was　making　the　grimace　which
irresistibly　incited　him　to　make　a　still　finer　one。

And　Ballhatchet　was　so　much　convinced　of　〃that　there　young　May〃　being
in　earnest；　that　he　assured　his　persuasive　customers　that　it　was　as
much　as　his　licence　was　worth　to　supply　them。

Evil　and　insubordination　were　more　easily　kept　under　than　Norman　had
expected；　when　he　first　made　up　his　mind　to　the　struggle。　　Firmness
had　so　far　carried　the　day；　and　the　power　of　manful　assertion　of　the
right　had　been　proved；　contrary　to　Cheviot's　parting　auguries；　that
he　would　only　make　himself　disliked；　and　do　no　good。

The　whole　of　the　school　was　extremely　excited　this　summer　by　a
proceeding　of　Mr。　Tomkins；　the　brewer；　who　suddenly　closed　up　the
footway　called　Randall's　Alley；　declaring　that　there　was　no　right　of
passage　through　a　certain　field　at　the　back　of　his　brewery。　　Not　only
the　school；　but　the　town　was　indignant；　and　the　Mays　especially　so。
It　had　been　the　doctor's　way　to　school　forty　years　ago；　and　there
were　recollections　connected　with　it　that　made　him　regard　it　with
personal　affection。　　Norman；　too；　could　not　bear　to　lose　it；　he　had
not　entirely　conquered　his　reluctance　to　pass　that　spot　in　the　High
Street；　and　the　loss　of　the　alley　would　be　a　positive　deprivation　to
him。　　Almost　every　native　of　Stoneborough　felt　strongly　the
encroachment　of　the　brewer；　and　the　boys；　of　course；　carried　the
sentiment　to　exaggeration。

The　propensity　to　public　speaking　perhaps　added　to　the　excitement；
for　Norman　May　and　Harvey　Anderson；　for　once　in　unison；　each　made　a
vehement　harangue　in　the　school…courtAnderson's　a　fine　specimen　of
the　village　Hampden　style；　about　Britons　never　suffering　indignities；
and　free…born　Englishmen　swelling　at　injuries。

〃That　they　do；　my　hearty；〃　interjected　Larkins；　pointing　to　an
inflamed　eye　that　had　not　returned　to　its　right　dimensions。　　However；
Anderson　went　on　unmoved　by　the　under　titter；　and　demonstrated；　to
the　full　satisfaction　of　all　the　audience；　that　nothing　could　be　more
illegal　and　unfounded　than　the　brewer's　claims。

Then　came　a　great　outburst　from　Norman；　with　all　his　father's
headlong　vehemence；　the　way　was　the　right　of　the　town；　the　walk　had
been　trodden　by　their　forefathers　for　generations　pastit　had　been
made　by　the　good　old　generous…hearted　man　who　loved　his　town　and
townspeople；　and　would　have　heard　with　shame　and　anger　of　a　stranger；
a　new　inhabitant；　a　grasping　radical；　caring；　as　radicals　always　did；
for　no　rights；　but　for　their　own　chance　of　unjust　gains；　coming　here
to　Stoneborough　to　cut　them　off　from　their　own　path。　　He　talk　of
liberalism　and　the　rights　of　the　poor！　　He　who　cut　off　Randall's　poor
old　creatures　in　the　almshouses　from　their　short　way！　and　then　came
some　stories　of　his　oppression　as　a　poor…law　guardian；　which　greatly
aggravated　the　wrath　of　the　speaker　and　audience；　though　otherwise
they　did　not　exactly　bear　on　the　subject。

〃What　would　old　Nicholas　Randall　say　to　these　nineteenth…century
doings？〃　finished　Norman。

〃Down；　with　them！〃　cried　a　voice　from　the　throng；　probably　Larkins's；
but　there　was　no　desire　to　investigate；　it　was　the　universal
sentiment。　　〃Down　with　it！　　Hurrah；　we'll　have　our　footpath　open
again！　　Down　with　the　fences！　　Britons　never　shall　be　slaves！〃　as
Larkins　finally　ejaculated。

〃That's　the　way　to　bring　it　to　bear！〃　said　Harvey　Anderson；　〃See　if
he　dares　to　bring　an　action　against　us。　　Hurrah！〃

〃Yes；　that's　the　way　to　settle　it；〃　said　Norman。　　〃Let's　have　it
down。　　It　is　an　oppressive；　arbitrary；　shameful　proceeding；　and　we'll
show　him　we　won't　submit　to　it！〃

Carried　along　by　the　general　feeling；　the　whole　troop　of　boys　dashed
shouting　up　to　the　barricade　at　the　entrance　of　the　field；　and
levelled　it　with　the　ground。　　A　handkerchief　was　fastened　to　the　top
of　one　of　the　stakes；　and　waved　over　the　brewhouse　wall；　and　some　of
the　boys　were　for　picking　up　stones　and　dirt；　and　launching　them
over；　in　hopes　of　spoiling　the　beer；　but　Norman　put　a　stop　to　this；
and　brought　them　back　to　the　school…yard；　still　in　a　noisy　state　of
exultation。

It　cooled　a　little　by…and…by　under　the　doubt　how　their　exploit　would
be　taken。　　At　home；　Norman　found　it　already　known；　and　his　father
half　glad；　half　vexed；　enjoying　t