poor and proud-第11章

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　though　she　had　already　solved　the　problem；　that　she　was　not　only　willing　but　able　to　support　her　mother。　She　had　originated　a　great　idea；　and　she　was　proud　of　it。

Just　as　soon；　therefore；　as　she　had　told　her　mother　all　about　the　recovery　of　the　watch；　she　prepared　another　tray　of　candy；　resolved　to　sell　the　whole　of　it　before　she　returned。　Her　mother　tried　to　induce　her　to　stay　in　the　house　and　rest　herself；　but　her　impatience　to　realize　the　fruits　of　her　grand　idea　would　not　permit　her　to　remain　inactive　a　single　hour。

〃Now；　mother；　I　shall　sell　all　this　candy　before　dark；　so　don't　be　uneasy　about　me。　I　am　going　to　make　lots　of　money；　and　you　shall　have　everything　you　want　in　a　few　weeks；〃　said　Katy；　as　she　put　on　her　bonnet。

〃I　wish　you　would　stay　at　home；　and　rest　yourself；　you　have　done　enough　for　one　day。〃

〃I　am　not　tired　a　bit；　mother；　I　feel　just　as　if　I　could　walk　a　hundred　miles。〃

〃That's　because　you　have　got　a　new　notion　in　your　head。　I　am　afraid　you　will　be　sick；　and　then　what　should　we　do？〃

〃O；　I　shan't　get　sick；　I　promise　you　I　won't；〃　replied　Katy；　as　she　left　the　room。

Unfortunately　for　the　little　candy　merchant　it　was　Wednesday　afternoon；　and　as　the　schools　did　not　keep；　there　were　a　great　many　boys　in　the　street；　and　many　of　them　were　very　rude；　naughty　boys。　When　she　passed　up　the　court；　some　of　them　called　out　to　her；　and　asked　her　where　she　was　going　with　all　that　candy。　She　took　no　notice　of　them；　for　they　spoke　very　rudely；　and　were　no　friends　of　hers。　Among　them　was　Johnny　Grippen；　whose　acquaintance　the　reader　made　on　the　pier　of　South　Boston　bridge。　This　young　ruffian　led　half　a　dozen　others　down　the　court　in　pursuit　of　her；　for　possibly　they　were　not　satisfied　with　the　cavalier　manner　in　which　Katy　had　treated　them。

〃Where　are　you　going　with　all　that　candy？〃　repeated　the　juvenile　bully；　when　he　overtook　her　in　Essex　Street。

〃I　am　going　to　sell　it；〃　replied　Katy；　finding　she　could　not　escape。

〃Give　us　a　junk；　will　you？〃　said　Johnny。

〃I　can't　give　it　away；　I　am　going　to　sell　it；　to　get　money　for　my　mother。〃

〃Won't　you　give　a　feller　a　piece？〃

〃I　can't　now；　perhaps　I'll　give　you　some　another　time。〃

Katy's　heart　beat　violently；　for　she　was　very　much　alarmed；　knowing　that　Johnny　had　not　followed　her　for　nothing。　As　she　made　her　firm　but　conciliatory　reply；　she　moved　on；　hoping　they　would　not　attempt　to　annoy　her。　It　was　a　vain　hope；　for　Johnny　kept　close　to　her　side；　his　eyes　fixed　wistfully　on　the　tempting　array　of　sweets　she　carried。

〃Come；　don't　be　stingy；　Katy；〃　continued　Johnny。

〃I　don't　mean　to　be；　but　I　don't　think　I　owe　you　anything；〃　replied　Katy；　gathering　courage　in　her　desperate　situation。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　demanded　the　little　ruffian；　as　he　placed　himself　in　front　of　her；　and　thus　prevented　her　further　progress。

〃Don't　stop　me；　I'm　in　a　hurry；〃　said　Katy。

〃Gi'　me　some　candy；　then。〃

〃No；　I　won't！〃　answered　Katy；　losing　her　patience。

〃Won't　you？〃

Johnny　made　a　dive　at　the　tray；　with　the　intention　of　securing　a　portion　of　the　candy；　but　Katy　adroitly　dodged　the　movement；　and　turning　up　a　narrow　alley　way；　ran　off。　Johnny　was　not　to　be　balked；　and　followed　her；　and　then　she　found　she　had　made　a　bad　mistake　in　getting　off　the　street；　where　there　were　no　passers…by　to　interfere　in　her　favor。

〃Johnny！〃　shouted　one　of　the　bully's　companions。　〃Johnny；　Tom　Howard　is　coming。〃

〃Let　him　come！〃　replied　Johnny；　doggedly。

He　did　not　half　like　the　insinuation　conveyed　in　the　words　of　his　associates；　for　to　tell　him；　under　the　circumstances；　that　Tommy　was　coming；　was　as　much　as　to　say　he　was　afraid　of　him。　Now；　as　we　have　said；　Johnny　Grippen　was　a　〃fighting　character；〃　and　had　a　reputation　to　maintain。　He　gloried　in　the　name　of　being　able　to　whip　any　boy　of　his　size　in　the　neighborhood。　He　was　always　ready　to　fight；　and　had；　perhaps；　given　some　hard　knocks　in　his　time；　but　he　sustained　his　character　rather　by　his　talent　for　bullying；　than　by　any　conquests　he　had　won。　On　the　whole　he　was　a　miserable；　contemptible　little　bruiser　whom　no　decent　boy　could　love　or　respect。　He　talked　so　big　about　〃black　eyes；〃　〃bloody　noses〃　and　〃smashed　heads；〃　that　few　boys　cared　to　dispute　his　title　to　the　honors　he　had　assumed。　Probably　some　who　felt　able　to　contest　the　palm　with　him；　did　not　care　to　dirty　their　fingers　upon　the　bullying　cub。

Sensible　people；　whether　men　or　boys；　invariably　despise　the　〃fighting　character；〃　be　he　young　or　old。　Nine　times　out　of　ten　he　is　both　a　knave　and　a　fool；　a　coward　and　a　bully。

On　the　other　hand；　Tommy　Howard　was　one　of　those　hearty；　whole…souled　boys；　who　are　the　real　lions　of　the　playground。　He　was　not　a　〃fighting　character；〃　and　being　a　sensible　boy；　he　had　a　hearty　contempt　for　Johnny　Grippen。　He　was　not　afraid　of　him；　and　though　he　never　went　an　inch　out　of　his　way　to　avoid　a　fight　with　him；　it　so　happened　they　had　never　fought。　He　was　entirely　indifferent　to　his　threats；　and　had　no　great　opinion　of　his　courage。　Johnny　had　〃stumped〃　him　to　fight；　and　even　taken　off　his　coat　and　dared　him　to　come；　but　Tommy　would　laugh　at　him；　tell　him　to　put　on　his　coat　or　he　would　catch　cold；　and；　contrary　to　the　general　opinion　among　boys；　no　one　ever　thought　the　less　of　him　for　the　true　courage　he　exhibited　on　these　occasions。

Johnny　did　not　like　to　be　told　that　Tommy　was　coming；　for　it　reminded　him　that；　as　the　king　bully　of　the　neighborhood；　one　of　his　subjects　was　unconquered　and　rebellious。　But　Johnny　had　discretionand　bullies　generally　have　it。　He　did　not　like　that　cool；　independent　way　of　the　refractory　vassal；　it　warned　him　to　be　cautious。

〃What's　the　matter；　Katy？〃　asked　Tommy；　as　he　came　with　quick　pace　up　the　court；　without　deigning　to　cast　even　a　glance　at　the　ruffian　who　menaced　her。

〃Stand　by；　fellers；　and　see　fair　play；　and　I'll　lick　him　now；〃　said　Johnny；　in　a　low　tone；　to　his　companions。

〃He　won't　let　me　go；〃　replied　Katy；　pointing　to　her　assailant。

〃Go　ahead；　Katy；　don't　mind　him。〃

〃Won't　you　give　me　some　candy？〃　said　Johnny；　stepping　up　before　her　again。

〃Go　ahead；　Katy；〃　repeated　Tommy；　placing　himself　between　her　and　the　bully。　〃Don't　mind　him；　Katy。〃

As　she　advanced；　Johnny　pushed　forward；　and　made　another　dive　at　the　tray；　but　Katy's　champion　caught　him　by　the　arm　and　pulled　him　away。

〃You　mind　out！〃　growled　the　bully；　doubling　up　his　fists；　and　placing　himself　in　the　most　approved　attitude；　in　front　of　the　unwhipped　vassal。

〃Go　ahead；　Katy；　clear　out　as　fast　as　you　can；〃　said　Tommy；　who；　though　his　bosom　swelled　with　indignation；　still　preserved　his　wonted　coolness；　and　it　was　evident　to　the　excited　spectators　that　he　did　not　intend　to　〃mind　out。〃

〃Come　on；　if　you　want　to　fight！〃　shouted　Johnny；　brandishing　his　fists。

〃I　don't　want　to　fight；　but　you　are　a　mean；　dirty　blackguard；　or　you　wouldn't　have　treated　a　girl　like　that；〃　replied　Tommy；　standing　as　stiff　as　a　stake　before　the　bully。

〃Say　that　again；　and　I'll　black　your　eye　for　you。〃

〃Once　is　enough；　if　you　heard　me；　but　I　will　tell　your　father　about　it。〃

〃Will　you？　Just　say　that　again。〃

Somehow；　it　often　happens　that　bullies　want　a　person　to　say　a　thing　over　twice；　from　which　we　infer　that　they　must　be　very　deaf　or　very　stupid。　Tommy　would　not　repeat　the　offensive　remark；　and　Johnny's　supporters　began　to　think　he　was　not　half　so　anxious　to　fight　as　he　seemed；　which　was　certainly　true。　I　have　no　doubt；　if　they　had　been　alone；　he　would　have　found　a　convenient　excuse　for　retiring　from　the　field；　leaving　it　unsullied　by　a　black　eye　or　a　bloody　nose。

My　young　friends　will　excuse　me　from　digressing　so　far　as　to　say　that；　in　more　than　a　dozen　years　with　boys；　in　school　and　out；　I　have　never　heard　of　such　a　thing　as　two　boys　getting　up　a　fight　and　having　it　out　alone。　There　must　be　a　crowd　of　bruisers　and　〃scallewags〃　around；　to　keep　up　the　courage　of　the　combatants。　Therefore；　those　who　look　on　are　just　as　bad　as　those　who　fight；　for　without　their　presence　the　fight　could　not　be　carried　through。

Tommy　Howard　had　said　all　he　had　to　say；　and　was　therefore　ready　to　depart。　He　turned　to　do　so；　and　walked　several　steps　down　the　alley；　though　he　kept　one　eye　over　his　shoulder　to　guard　against　accidents。

〃Hit　him；　Johnny！〃　cried　one　of　the　　vagabond　troops　that　followed　in　the　train　of　the　bully。

〃He　darsen't　fight；〃　replied　Johnny。

〃Nor　you；　nuther；〃　added　another　of　the　supporters。

This　was　too　much　for　Johnny。　It　cut　him　to　the　quick；　and　he　could　not　stand　it。　If　he　did　not　thrash　Tommy　now；　his　reputation　would　be　entirely　ruined。

〃Darsen't　I？〃　exclaimed　he。　〃Come　back　here；〃　but　as　Tommy　did　not　come；　he　ran　up　behind　him；　and　aimed　a　blow　at　the　side　of　his　head。

Katy's　intrepid　defender；　who　had　perhaps　read　in　some　Fourth　of　July　oration　that　〃eternal　vigilance　is　the　price　of　liberty；〃　was　not　to　be　surprised；　and　facing　about；　he　warded　off　the　blow。　Johnny's　imperiled　reputation　rendered　him　desperate。　He　had　gone　too　far　to　recede；　and　he　went　into　action　with　all　the　energy　and　skill　of　a　true　bruiser。　Tommy　was　now　fully　roused；　and　his　blows；　which　were　strictly　in　self…defense；　fell　rapidly　and　heavily　on　the　head　of　his　assailant。　But　I　am　not　going　to　give　my　young　readers　the　particulars　of　the　fight；　and　I　would　not　have　let　Tommy　engage　in　such　a　scene；　were　it　not　to　show　up　Johnny　as　he　was；　and　finish　the　portrait　of　him　which　I　had　outlined；　to　show　the　difference　between　the　noble；　generous；　brave；　and　true…hearted　boy；　and　the　little　bully；　whom　all　my　young　friends　have　seen　and　despised。

In　something　less　than　two　minutes；　Johnny　Grippen；　after　muttering　〃foul　play；〃　backed　out　with　bloody　nose；　as　completely　whipped；　and　as　thoroughly　〃cowed　down；〃　as　though　he　had　been　fighting　with　a　royal　Bengal　tiger。　His　supremacy　was　at　an　end；　and　there　was　danger　that　some　other　bold　fellow　might　take　it　into　his　head　to　thrash　the　donkey　after　the　lion's　skin　had　been　stripped　from　his　shoulders。

〃If　you　are　satisfied　now；　I'll　go　about　my　business；〃　said　Tommy；　as　he　gazed　with　mingled　pity　and　contempt　upon　his　crest…fallen　assailant。

〃You　don't　fight　fair；〃　grumbled　Johnny；　who　could　not　account　for　his　defeat　in　any　other　way。　〃If　you're　a　mind　to　fight　fair；　I'll　try　it　again　with　you　some　time。〃

〃I　don't　fight　for　the　fun　of　it。　I　only　fight　when　some　cowardly　bully　like　you　comes　at　me；　and　I　can't　help　myself。　When　you　feel　like　whipping　me　again；　you　needn't　stop　to　let　me　know　it　beforehand。　But　I　will　tell　you　this　much：　if　you　ever　put　your　hand　on　Katy　Redburn；　or　meddle　with　her　in　any　way；　I　promise　to　pound　you　as　handsomely　as　I　know　how；　fair　or　foul；　the　very　next　time　I　meet　you；　if　it　isn't　for　seven　years。　Just　bear　that　in　mind。〃

Johnny　made　no　reply；　he　was　not　in　a　condition　to　make　a　reply；　and　the　victor　in　the　conquest　departed；　leaving　the　bully　to　explain　his　defeat　as　best　he　could　to　his　admirers　and　supporters。

〃He　did　not　hurt　youdid　he？〃　asked　Katy；　as　Tommy　joined　her　at　the　foot　of　the　alley；　where　she　had　been　anxiously　waiting　the　result　of　the　encounter。

〃Not　a　bit；　Katy。　He　talks　very　loud；　but　he　is　a　coward。　I'm　sorry　I　had　to　thrash　him　though　I　think　it　will　do　him　good。〃

〃I　was　afraid　he'd　hurt　you。　You