the daisy chain, or aspirations-第51章

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be　taken。　　At　home；　Norman　found　it　already　known；　and　his　father
half　glad；　half　vexed；　enjoying　the　victory　over　Tomkins；　yet　a
little　uneasy　on　his　son's　behalf。　　〃What　will　Dr。　Hoxton　say　to　the
dux？〃　said　he。　　〃I　didn't　know　he　was　to　be　dux　in　mischief　as　well
as　out　of　it。〃

〃You　can't　call　it　mischief；　papa；　to　resent　an　unwarranted
encroachment　of　our　rights　by　such　an　old　ruffian　as　that。　　One's
blood　is　up　to　think　of　the　things　he　has　done！〃

〃He　richly　deserves　it；　no　doubt；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃and　yet　I　wish
you　had　been　out　of　the　row。　　If　there　is　any　blame；　you　will　be　the
first　it　will　light　on。〃

〃I　am　glad　of　it；　that　is　but　just。　　Anderson　and　I　seem　to　have
stirred　it　upif　it　wanted　stirringfor　it　was　in　every　fellow
there；　indeed；　I　had　no　notion　it　was　coming　to　this　when　I　began。〃

〃Oratory；〃　said　the　doctor；　smiling。　　〃Ha；　Norman！　　Think　a　little
another　time；　my　boy；　before　you　take　the　law　into　your　own　hands；
or；　what　is　worse；　into　a　lot　of　hands　you　can't　control　for　good；
though　you　may　excite　them　to　harm。〃

Dr。　Hoxton　did　not　come　into　school　at　the　usual　hour；　and；　in　the
course　of　the　morning；　sent　for　May　senior；　to　speak　to　him　in　his
study。

He　looked　very　broad；　awful；　and　dignified；　as　he　informed　him　that
Mr。　Tomkins　had　just　been　with　him　to　complain　of　the　damage　that　had
been　done；　and　he　appeared　extremely　displeased　that　the　dux　should
have　been　no　check　on　such　proceedings。

〃I　am　sorry；　sir；〃　said　Norman；　〃but　I　believe　it　was　the　general
feeling　that　he　had　no　right　to　stop　the　alley；　and；　therefore；　that
it　could　not　be　wrong　to　break　it　down。〃

〃Whether　he　has　a　right　or　not　is　not　a　question　to　be　settled　by
you。　　So　I　find　that　you；　whose　proper　office　it　is　to　keep　order；
have　been　inflaming　the　mischievous　and　aggressive　spirit　amongst　the
others。　　I　am　surprised　at　you；　I　thought　you　were　more　to　be
depended　upon；　May；　in　your　position。〃

Norman　coloured　a　good　deal；　and　simply　answered？　〃I　am　sorry；　sir。〃

〃Take　care；　then；　that　nothing　of　the　kind　happens　again；〃　said　Dr。
Hoxton；　who　was　very　fond　of　him；　and　did　not　find　fault　with　him
willingly。

That　the　first　inflammatory　discourse　had　been　made　by　Anderson　did
not　appear　to　be　knownhe　only　came　in　for　the　general　reprimand
given　to　the　school。

It　was　reported　the　following　evening；　just　as　the　town　boys　turned
out　to　go　to　their　homes；　that　〃old　Tomkins　had　his　fence　up　five
times　higher　than　before。〃

〃Have　at　him　again；　say　I！〃　exclaimed　Axworthy。　　〃What　business　has
he　coming　stopping　up　ways　that　were　made　before　he　was　born？〃

〃We　shall　catch　it　from　the　doctor　if　we　do；〃　said　Edward　Anderson；
〃He　looked　in　no　end　of　a　rage　yesterday　when　he　talked　about　the
credit　of　the　school。〃

〃Who　cares　for　the　credit　of　the　school？〃　said　the　elder　Anderson；
〃we　are　out　of　the　school　nowwe　are　townsmenStoneborough　boys
citizens　not　bound　to　submit　to　injustice。　　No；　no；　the　old　rogue
knew　it　would　not　stand　if　it　was　brought　into　court；　so　he　brings
down　old　Hoxton　on　us　insteada　dirty　trick　he　deserves　to　be
punished　for。〃

And　there　was　a　general　shout　and　yell　in　reply。

〃Anderson；〃　said　Norman；　〃you　had　better　not　excite　them　again；　they
are　ripe　for　mischief。　　It　will　go　further　than　it　did　yesterday
don't　you　see？〃

Anderson　could　not　afford　to　get　into　a　scrape　without　May　to　stand
before　him；　and　rather　sulkily　he　assented。

〃It　is　of　no　use　to　rave　about　old　Tomkins；〃　proceeded　Norman；　in　his
style　of　popular　oratory。　　〃If　it　is　illegal；　some　one　will　go　to　law
about　it；　and　we　shall　have　our　alley　again。　　We　have　shown　him　our
mind　once；　and　that　is　enough；　if　we　let　him　alone　now；　he　will　see
'tis　only　because　we　are　ordered；　not　for　his　sake。　　It　would　be　just
putting　him　in　the　right；　and　maybe　winning　his　cause　for　him；　to　use
any　more　violence。　　There's　law　for　you；　Anderson。　　So　now　no　more
about　itlet　us　all　go　home　like　rational　fellows。　　August；　where's
August？〃

Tom　was　not　visiblehe　generally　avoided　going　home　with　his
brother；　and　Norman　having　seen　the　boys　divide　into　two　or　three
little　parties；　as　their　roads　lay　homewards；　found　he　had　an　hour　of
light　for　an　expedition　of　his　own；　along　the　bank　of　the　river。　　He
had　taken　up　botany　with　much　ardour；　and　sharing　the　study　with
Margaret　was　a　great　delight　to　both。　　There　was　a　report　that　the
rare　yellow　bog…bean　grew　in　a　meadow　about　a　mile　and　a　half　up　the
river；　and　thither　he　was　bound；　extremely　enjoying　the　summer
evening　walk；　as　the　fresh　dewy　coolness　sunk　on　all　around；　and　the
noises　of　the　town　were　mellowed　by　distance；　and　the　sun's　last
beams　slanted　on　the　green　meadows；　and　the　May…flies　danced；　and
dragon…flies　darted；　and　fish　rose　or　leaped　high　in　the　air；　or
showed　their　spotted　sides；　and　opened　and　shut　their　gills；　as　they
rested　in　the　clear　water；　and　the　evening　breeze　rustled　in　the　tall
reeds；　and　brought　fragrance　from　the　fresh…mown　hay。

It　was　complete　enjoyment　to　Norman　after　his　day's　study　and　the
rule　and　watch　over　the　unruly　crowd　of　boys；　and　he　walked　and
wandered　and　collected　plants　for　Margaret　till　the　sun　was　down；　and
the　grasshoppers　chirped　clamorously；　while　the　fern…owl　purred；　and
the　beetle　hummed；　and　the　skimming　swallows　had　given　place　to　the
soft…winged　bat；　and　the　large　white　owl　floating　over　the　fields　as
it　moused　in　the　long　grass。

The　summer　twilight　was　sobering　every　tint；　when；　as　Norman　crossed
the　cricket…field；　he　heard；　in　the　distance；　a　loud　shout。　　He
looked　up；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　saw　some　black　specks　dancing
in　the　forbidden　field；　and　something　like　the　waving　of　a　flag；　but
it　was　not　light　enough　to　be　certain；　and　he　walked　quickly　home。

The　front　door　was　fastened；　and；　while　he　was　waiting　to　be　let　in；
Mr。　Harrison　walked　by；　and　called　out；　〃You　are　late　at　home　to…
nightit　is　half…past　nine。〃

〃I　have　been　taking　a　walk；　sir。〃

A　good…night　was　the　answer；　as　he　was　admitted。　　Every　one　in　the
drawing…room　looked　up；　and　exclaimed　as　he　entered；　〃Where's　Tom？〃

〃What！　he　is　not　come　home？〃

〃No！　Was　he　not　with　you？〃

〃I　missed　him　after　school。　　I　was　persuaded　he　was　come　home。　　I
have　been　to　look　for　the　yellow　bog…bean。　　There；　Margaret。　　Had　not
I　better　go　and　look　for　him？〃

〃Yes；　do；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃The　boy　is　never　off　one's　mind。〃

A　sort　of　instinctive　dread　directed　Norman's　steps　down　the　open
portion　of　Randall's　Alley；　and；　voices　growing　louder　as　he　came
nearer；　confirmed　his　suspicions。　　The　fence　at　this　end　was　down；
and；　on　entering　the　field；　a　gleam　of　light　met　his　eye　on　the
grounda　cloud　of　smoke；　black　figures　were　flitting　round　it；
pushing　brands　into　red　places；　and　feeding　the　bonfire。

〃What　have　you　been　doing？〃　exclaimed　Norman。　　〃You　have　got
yourselves　into　a　tremendous　scrape！〃

A　peal　of　laughter；　and　shout　of　〃Randall　and　Stoneborough　for　ever！〃
was　the　reply。

〃August！　　May　junior！　　Tom！　answer　me！　　Is　he　here？〃　asked　Norman；
not　solicitous　to　identify　any　one。

But　gruff　voices　broke　in　upon　them。　〃There　they　are；　nothing　like
'em　for　mischief。〃

〃Come；　young　gentlemen；〃　said　a　policeman；　〃be　off；　if　you　please。
We　don't　want　to　have　none　of　you　at　the　station　to…night。〃

A　general　hurry…skurry　ensued。　　Norman　alone；　strong　in　innocence；
walked　quietly　away；　and；　as　he　came　forth　from　the　darkness　of　the
alley；　beheld　something　scouring　away　before　him；　in　the　direction　of
home。　　It　popped　in　at　the　front　door　before　him；　but　was　not　in　the
drawing…room。　　He　strode　upstairs；　called；　but　was　not　answered；　and
found；　under　the　bedclothes；　a　quivering　mass；　consisting　of　Tom；
with　all　his　clothes　on；　fully　persuaded　that　it　was　the　policeman
who　was　pursuing　him。




CHAPTER　XXII。



Oh　Life；　without　thy　chequered　scene；
Of　right　and　wrong；　of　weal　and　woe；
Success　and　failure；　could　a　ground
For　magnanimity　be　found？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WORDSWORTH。


Dr。　May　was　called　for　late　the　next　day；　Friday；　and　spent　some　time
in　one　of　the　houses　near　the　river。　　It　was　nearly　eight　o'clock
when　he　came　away；　and　he　lingered；　looking　towards　the　school；　in
hopes　of　a　walk　home　with　his　boys。

Presently　he　saw　Norman　coming　out　from　under　the　archway；　his　cap
drawn　over　his　face；　and　step；　gesture；　and　manner　betraying　that
something　was　seriously　wrong。　　He　came　up　almost　to　his　father
without　seeing　him；　until　startled　by　his　exclamation；　〃Normanwhy；
Norman；　what's　the　matter？〃

Norman's　lips　quivered；　and　his　face　was　palehe　seemed　as　if　he
could　not　speak。

〃Where's　Tom　？〃　said　the　doctor；　much　alarmed。　　〃Has　he　got　into
disgrace　about　this　business　of　Tomkins？　　That　boy〃

〃He　has　only　got　an　imposition；〃　interrupted　Norman。　　〃No；　it　is　not
thatit　is　myself〃and　it　was　only　with　a　gulp　and　struggle　that　he
brought　out　the　words；　〃I　am　turned　down　in　the　school。〃

The　doctor　started　back　a　step　or　two；　aghast。　　〃What…howspeak；
Norman。　　What　have　you　done？〃

〃Nothing！〃　said　Norman；　recovering　in　the　desire　to　reassure　his
father〃nothing！〃

〃That's　right；〃　said　the　doctor；　breathing　freely。　　〃What's　the
meaning　of　it。。。a　misunderstanding？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Norman；　with　bitterness。　　〃It　is　all　Anderson's　doinga
word　from　him　would　have　set　all　straightbut　he　would　not；　I
believe；　from　my　heart；　he　held　his　tongue　to　get　me　down；　that　he
might　have　the　Randall！〃

〃We'll　see　you　righted；〃　said　the　doctor　eagerly。　　〃Come；　tell　me　the
whole　story；　Norman。　　Is　it　about　this　unlucky　business？〃

〃Yes。　　The　town…fellows　were　all　up　about　it　last　evening；　when　we
came　out　of　school。　　Anderson　senior　himself　began　to　put　them　up　to
having　the　fence　down　again。　　Yes；　that　he　didI　remember　his　very
wordsthat　Tomkins　could　not　bring　it　into　court；　and　so　set　old
Hoxton　at　us。　　Well；　I　told　them　it　would　not　dothought　I　had
settled　themsaw　them　off　homeyes；　Simpson；　and　Benson；　and　Grey；
up　the　High　Street；　and　the　others　their　way。　　I　only　left　Axworthy
going　into　a　shop　when　I　set　off　on　my　walk。　　What　could　a　fellow　do
more？　　How　was　I　to　know　that　that　Axworthy　would　get　them　together
again；　and　take　them　to　this　affairpull　up　the　stakessaw　them
downfor　they　were　hard　to　get　downshy　all　sorts　of　things　over
into　the　court…hoot　at　old　Tomkins's　man；　when　he　told　them　to　be
offand　make　a　bonfire　of　the　sticks　at　last？〃

〃And　Harvey　Anderson　was　there？〃

〃Nonot　he。　　He　is　too　sharpborn　and　bred　attorney　as　he　ishe
talked　them　up　to　the　mischief　when　my　back　was　turned；　and　then
sneaked　quietly　home；　quite　innocent；　and　out　of　the　scrape。〃

〃But　Dr。　Hoxton　can　never　entertain　a　suspicion　that　you　had　anything
to　do　with　it！〃

〃Yes；　he　does　though。　　He　thinks　I　incited　them；　and　Tomkins　and　the
policeman　declare　I　was　there　in　the　midst　of　the　rowand　not　one　of
these　fellows　will　explain　how　I　came　at　the　last　to　look　for　Tom。〃

〃Not　Tom　himself？〃

〃He　did　try　to　speak；　poor　little　fellow；　but；　after　the　other
affair；　his　word　goes　for　nothing；　and　so；　it　seems；　does　mine。
I　did　think　Hoxton　would　have　trusted　me！〃

〃And　did　not　he？〃　exclaimed　Dr。　May。

〃He　did　not　in　so　many　words　accus