the daisy chain, or aspirations-第74章

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〃She　should　not　bother　me；〃　said　Tom　sulkily。

Norman　sent　Mary　away；　pacifying　her　by　promises　that　he　would　not
revenge　her　quarrel　upon　Tom；　and　then；　turning　the　basket　upside
down；　and　perching　himself　astride　on　it；　he　began：　〃That　is　the
kindest；　most　forgiving　little　sister　I　ever　did　see。　　What　possesses
you　to　treat　her　so　ill？〃

〃I　wasn't　going　to　hurt　her。〃

〃But　why　drive　her　away？　　Why　don't　you　come　to　read？〃　　No　answer；
and　Norman；　for　a　moment；　felt　as　if　Tom　were　really　hopelessly　ill…
conditioned　and　sullen；　but　he　persevered　in　restraining　his　desire
to　cuff　the　ill…humour　out　of　him；　and　continued；　〃Come！　there's
something　wrong；　and　you　will　never　be　better　till　it　is　out。　　Tell
medon't　be　afraid。　　Those　fellows　have　been　at　you　again？〃

He　took　Tom　by　the　arm　to　draw　him　nearer；　but　a　cry　and　start　of
pain　were　the　result。　　〃So　they　have　licked　you？　　Eh？　　What　have　they
been　doing？〃

〃They　said　they　would　spiflicate　me　if　I　told！〃　sighed　Tom。

〃They　shall　never　do　anything　to　you；〃　and；　by…and…by；　a　sobbing
confession　was　drawn　forth；　muttered　at　intervals；　as　low　as　if　Tom
expected　the　strings　of　onions　to　hear　and　betray　him　to　his　foes。
Looking　on　him　as　a　deserter；　these　town…boys　had　taken　advantage　of
his　brother's　absence　to　heap　on　him　every　misery　they　could　inflict。
There　had　been　a　wager　between　Edward　Anderson　and　Sam　Axworthy　as　to
what　Tom　could　be　made　to　do；　and　his　personal　timidity　made　him　a
miserable　victim；　not　merely　beaten　and　bruised；　but　forced　to
transgress　every　rule　of　right　and　wrong　that　had　been　enforced　on
his　conscience。　　On　Sunday；　they　had　profited　by　the　absence　of　their
dux　to　have　a　jollification　at　a　little　public…house；　not　far　from
the　playing…fields；　and　here　had　Tom　been　dragged　in；　forced　to
partake　with　them；　and　frightened　with　threats　that　he　had　treated
them　all；　and　was　liable　to　pay　the　whole　bill；　which；　of　course；　he
firmly　believed；　as　well　as　that　he　should　be　at　least　half　murdered
if　he　gave　his　father　any　suspicion　that　the　whole　had　not　been
consumed　by　himself。　　Now；　though　poor　Tom's　conscience　had　lost　many
scruples　during　the　last　spring；　the　offence；　into　which　he　had　been
forced；　was　too　heinous　to　a　child　brought　up　as　he　had　been　to　be
palliated　even　in　his　own　eyes。　　The　profanation　of　Sunday；　and　the
carousal　in　a　public…house；　had　combined　to　fill　him　with　a　sense　of
shame　and　degradation；　which　was　the　real　cause　that　he　felt　himself
unworthy　to　come　and　read　with　his　sisters。　　His　grief　and　misery
were　extreme；　and　Norman's　indignation　was　such　as　could　find　no
utterance。　　He　sat　silent；　quivering　with　anger；　and　clenching　his
fingers　over　the　handle　of　the　hoe。

〃I　knew　it！〃　sighed　Tom。　　〃None　of　you　will　ever　speak　to　me　again！〃

〃You！　　Why；　August；　man；　I　have　better　hopes　of　you　than　ever。　　You
are　more　really　sorry　now　than　ever　you　were　before。〃

〃I　had　never　been　at　the　Green　Man　before；〃　said　poor　Tom；　feeling
his　future　life　stained。

〃You　never　will　again！〃

〃When　you　are　gone〃and　the　poor　victim's　voice　died　away。

〃Tom；　you　will　not　stay　after　me。　　It　is　settled　that　when　I　go　to
Balliol；　you　leave　Stoneborough；　and　go　to　Mr。　Wilmot　as　pupil。
Those　scamps　shall　never　have　you　in　their　clutches　again。〃

It　did　not　produce　the　ecstasy　Norman　had　expected。　　The　boy　still
sat　on　the　ground；　staring　at　his　brother；　as　if　the　good　news　hardly
penetrated　the　gloom；　and；　after　a　disappointing　silence；　recurred　to
the　most　immediate　cause　of　distress：　　〃Eight　shillings　and　tenpence
halfpenny！　　Norman；　if　you　would　only　lend　it　to　me；　you　shall　have
all　my　tin　till　I　have　made　it　upsixpence　a　week；　and　half…a…crown
on　New　Year's　Day。〃

〃I　am　not　going　to　pay　Mr。　Axworthy's　reckoning；〃　said　Norman；　rather
angrily。　　〃You　will　never　be　better　till　you　have　told　my　father　the
whole。〃

〃Do　you　think　they　will　send　in　the　bill　to　my　father？〃　asked　Tom；　in
alarm。

〃No；　indeed！　that　is　the　last　thing　they　will　do；〃　said　Norman；　〃but
I　would　not　have　you　come　to　him　only　for　such　a　sneaking　reason。〃

〃But　the　girls　would　hear　it。　　Oh；　if　I　thought　Mary　and　Margaret
would　ever　hear　itNorman；　I　can't〃

Norman　assured　him　that　there　was　not　the　slightest　reason　that　these
passages　should　ever　come　to　the　knowledge　of　his　sisters。　　Tom　was
excessively　afraid　of　his　father；　but　he　could　not　well　be　more
wretched　than　he　was　already；　and　he　was　brought　to　assent　when
Norman　showed　him　that　he　had　never　been　happy　since　the　affair　of
the　blotting…paper；　when　his　father's　looks　and　tones　had　become
objects　of　dread　to　his　guilty　conscience。　　Was　not　the　only　means　of
recovering　a　place　in　papa's　esteem　to　treat　him　with　confidence？

Tom　answered　not；　and　would　only　shudder　when　his　brother　took　upon
him　to　declare　that　free　confession　would　gain　pardon　even　for　the
doings　at　the　Green　Man。

Tom　had　grown　stupefied　and　passive；　and　his　sole　dependence　was　on
Norman；　so；　at　last；　he　made　no　opposition　when　his　brother　offered
to　conduct　him　to　his　father　and　speak　for　him。　　The　danger　now　was
that　Dr。　May　should　not　be　forthcoming；　and　the　elder　brother　was　as
much　relieved；　as　the　younger　was　dismayed；　to　see；　through　the
drawing…room　window；　that　he　was　standing　beside　Margaret。

〃Papa；　can　you　come　and　speak　to　me；〃　said　Norman；　〃at　the　door？〃

〃Coming！　　What　now？〃　said　the　doctor；　entering　the　hall。　　〃What；　Tom；
my　boy；　what　is　it？〃　as　he　saw　the　poor　child；　white；　cold；　almost
sick　with　apprehension；　with　every　pulse　throbbing；　and　looking
positively　ill。　　He　took　the　chilly；　damp　hand；　which　shook
nervously；　and　would　fain　have　withdrawn　itself。

〃Come；　my　dear；　let　us　see　what　is　amiss；〃　and　before　Tom　knew　what
he　was　doing；　he　had　seated　him　on　his　knee；　in　the　arm…chair　in　the
study；　and　was　feeling　his　pulse。　　〃There；　rest　your　head！　　Has　it
not　been　aching　all　day？〃

〃I　do　not　think　he　is　ill；〃　said　Norman；　〃but　there　is　something　he
thinks　I　had　better　tell　you。〃

Tom　would　fain　have　been　on　his　feet；　yet　the　support　of　that
shoulder　was　inexpressibly　comfortable　to　his　aching　temples；　and　he
could　not　but　wait　for　the　shock　of　being　roughly　shaken　and　put
down。　　So；　as　his　brother　related　what　had　occurred；　he　crouched　and
trembled　more　and　more　on　his　father's　breast；　till；　to　his　surprise；
he　found　the　other　arm　passed　round　him　in　support；　drawing　him　more
tenderly　close。

〃My　poor　little　fellow！〃　said　Dr。　May；　trying　to　look　into　the
drooping　face；　〃I　grieve　to　have　exposed　you　to　such　usage　as　this！
I　little　thought　it　of　Stoneborough　fellows！〃

〃He　is　very　sorry；〃　said　Norman；　much　distressed　by　the　condition　of
the　culprit。

〃I　see　itI　see　it　plainly；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Tommy；　my　boy；　why
should　you　tremble　when　you　are　with　me？〃

〃He　has；　been　in　great　dread　of　your　being　displeased。〃

〃My　boy；　do　you　not　know　how　I　forgive　you？〃　　Tom　clung　round　his
neck；　as　if　to　steady　himself。

〃Oh；　papa！　I　thought　you　would　never〃

〃Nay；　you　need　never　have　thought　so；　my　boy！　　What　have　I　done　that
you　should　fear　me？〃

Tom　did　not　speak；　but　nestled　up　to　him　with　more　confidence。
〃There！　that's　better！　　Poor　child！　what　he　must　have　suffered！　　He
was　not　fit　for　the　place！　　I　had　thought　him　looking　ill。　　Little
did　I　guess　the　cause。〃

〃He　says　his　head　has　ached　ever　since　Sunday；〃　said　Norman；　〃and　I
believe　he　has　hardly　eaten　or　slept　properly　since。〃

〃He　shall　never　be　under　their　power　again！　　Thanks　to　you；　Norman。
Do　you　hear　that；　Tommy？〃

The　answer　was　hardly　audible。　　The　little　boy　was　already　almost
asleep；　worn　out　with　all　he　had　undergone。　　Norman　began　to　clear
the　sofa；　that　they　might　lay　him　down；　but　his　father　would　not　hear
of　disturbing　him；　and；　sending　Norman　away；　sat　still　for　more　than
an　hour；　until　the　child　slowly　awoke；　and　scarcely　recalling　what
had　happened；　stood　up　between　his　father's　knees；　rubbing　his　eyes；
and　looking　bewildered。

〃You　are　better　now；　my　boy？〃

〃I　thought　you　would　be　very　angry；〃　slowly　murmured　Tom；　as　the　past
returned　on　him。

〃Never；　while　you　are　sorry　for　your　faults；　and　own　them　freely。〃

〃I'm　glad　I　did；〃　said　the　boy；　still　half　asleep。　　〃I　did　not　know
you　would　be　so　kind。〃

〃Ah！　Tom；　I　fear　it　was　as　much　my　fault　as　yours　that　you　did　not
know　it。　　But；　my　dear；　there　is　a　pardon　that　can　give　you　better
peace　than　mine。〃

〃I　think；〃　muttered　Tom；　looking　down〃I　think　I　could　say　my
prayers　again　now；　if〃

〃If　what；　my　dear？〃

〃If　you　would　help　me；　as　mamma　used〃

There　could　be　but　one　response　to　this　speech。

Tom　was　still　giddy　and　unwell；　his　whole　frame　affected　by　the
troubles　of　the　last　week；　and　Dr。　May　arranged　him　on　the　sofa；　and
desired　him　to　be　quiet；　offering　to　send　Mary　to　be　his　companion。
Tom　was　languidly　pleased；　but　renewed　his　entreaty；　that　his
confession　might　be　a　secret　from　his　sisters。　　Dr。　May　promised；　and
Mary；　quite　satisfied　at　being　taken　into　favour；　asked　no　questions；
but　spent　the　rest　of　the　morning　in　playing　at　draughts　with　him；
and　in　having　inflicted　on　her　the　history　of　the　Bloody　Fire　King's
Ghosta　work　of　Tom's　imagination；　which　he　was　wont　to　extemporise；
to　the　extreme　terror　of　much　enduring　Mary。

When　Dr。　May　had　called　Mary；　he　next　summoned　Norman；　who　found　him
in　the　hall；　putting　on　his　hat；　and　looking　very　stern　and
determined。

〃Norman！〃　said　he　hastily；　〃don't　say　a　wordit　must　be　doneHoxton
must　hear　of　this。〃

Norman's　face　expressed　utter　consternation。

〃It　is　not　your　doing。　　It　is　no　concern　of　yours；〃　said　Dr。　May；
walking　impetuously　into　the　garden。　　〃I　find　my　boy　ill；　broken
down；　shatteredit　is　the　usage　of　this　crew　of　fellowswhat　right
have　I　to　conceal　itleave　other　people's　sons　to　be　so　served？〃

〃I　believe　they　did　so　to　Tom　out　of　ill…will　to　me；〃　said　Norman；
〃and　because　they　thought　he　had　ratted。〃

〃Hush！　don't　argue　against　it；〃　said　Dr。　May；　almost　petulantly。　　〃I
have　stood　a　great　deal　to　oblige　you；　but　I　cannot　stand　this。　　When
it　is　a　matter　of　corruption；　base　crueltyno；　Norman；　it　is　not
rightnot　another　word！〃

Norman's　words　had　not　been　many；　but　he　felt　a　conviction　that；　in
spite　of　the　dismay　and　pain　to　himself；　Dr。　May　ought　to　meet　with
submission　to　his　judgment；　and　he　acquiesced　by　silence。

〃Don't　you　see；〃　continued　the　doctor；　〃if　they　act　thus；　when　your
back　is　turned；　what　is　to　happen　next　half？　　'Tis　not　for　Tom's
sake；　but　how　could　we　justify　it　to　ourselves；　to　expose　other　boys
to　this　usage？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Norman；　not　without　a　sigh。　　〃I　suppose　it　must　be。〃

〃That　is　right；〃　said　Dr。　May；　as　if　much　relieved。　　〃I　knew　you　must
see　it　in　that　light。　　I　do　not　mean　to　abuse　your　confidence。〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　answered　Norman　warmly。

〃But　you　see　yourself；　that　where　the　welfare　of　so　many　is　at　stake；
it　would　be　wickednessyes；　wickednessto　be　silent。　　Could　I　see
that　little　fellow　prostrated；　trembling　in　my　arms；　and　think　of
those　scamps　inflicting　the　same　on　other　helpless　childrenaway
from　their　homes！〃

〃I　see；　I　see！〃　said　Norman；　carried　along　by　the　indignation　and
tenderness　that　agitated　his　father's　voice