the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第29章
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from meeting in the town now and then； nor could her utmost ingenuity
interrupt postal arrangements。 There was no end of notes passing between
the students and the Primroses。 Notes tied to the heads of arrows were shot
into dormitory windows； notes were tucked under fences； and hidden in
the trunks of decayed trees。 Every thick place in the boxwood hedge that
surrounded the seminary was a possible post…office。
It was a terrible shock to Miss Dorothy the day she unearthed a nest of
letters in one of the huge wooden urns surmounting the gateway that led to
her dovecot。 It was a bitter moment to Miss Phoebe and Miss Candace and
Miss Hesba； when they had their locks of hair grimly handed back to them
by Miss Gibbs in the presence of the whole school。 Girls whose locks of
hair had run the blockade in safety were particularly severe on the
offenders。 But it didn't stop other notes and other tresses； and I would like
to know what can stop them while the earth holds together。
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Now when I first came to Rivermouth I looked upon girls as rather
tame company； I hadn't a spark of sentiment concerning them； but seeing
my comrades sending and receiving mysterious epistles； wearing bits of
ribbon in their button…holes and leaving packages of confectionery
（generally lemon…drops） in the hollow trunks of trees…why； I felt that this
was the proper thing to do。 I resolved； as a matter of duty； to fall in love
with somebody； and I didn't care in the least who it was。 In much the same
mood that Don Quixote selected the Dulcinea del Toboso for his lady…love；
I singled out one of Miss Dorothy's incomparable young ladies for mine。
I debated a long while whether I should not select two； but at last
settled down on one…a pale little girl with blue eyes； named Alice。 I shall
not make a long story of this； for Alice made short work of me。 She was
secretly in love with Pepper Whitcomb。 This occasioned a temporary
coolness between Pepper and myself。
Not disheartened； however； I placed Laura Rice…I believe it was Laura
Rice…in the vacant niche。 The new idol was more cruel than the old。 The
former frankly sent me to the right about； but the latter was a deceitful lot。
She wore my nosegay in her dress at the evening service （the Primroses
were marched to church three times every Sunday）； she penned me the
daintiest of notes； she sent me the glossiest of ringlets （cut； as I afterwards
found out； from the stupid head of Miss Gibbs's chamber…maid）； and at the
same time was holding me and my pony up to ridicule in a series of letters
written to Jack Harris。 It was Harris himself who kindly opened my eyes。
〃I tell you what； Bailey；〃 said that young gentleman； 〃Laura is an old
veteran； and carries too many guns for a youngster。 She can't resist a
flirtation； I believe she'd flirt with an infant in arms。 There's hardly a
fellow in the school that hasn't worn her colors and some of her hair。 She
doesn't give out any more of her own hair now。 It's been pretty well used
up。 The demand was greater than the supply； you see。 It's all very well to
correspond with Laura； but as to looking for anything serious from her； the
knowing ones don't。 Hope I haven't hurt your feelings； old boy；〃 （that was
a soothing stroke of flattery to call me 〃old boy；〃） 〃but it was my duty as a
friend and a Centipede to let you know who you were dealing with。〃
Such was the advice given me by that time…stricken； careworn； and
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embittered man of the world； who was sixteen years old if he was a day。
I dropped Laura。 In the course of the next twelve months I had perhaps
three or four similar experiences； and the conclusion was forced upon me
that I was not a boy likely to distinguish myself in this branch of business。
I fought shy of Primrose Hall from that moment。 Smiles were smiled
over the boxwood hedge； and little hands were occasionally kissed to me；
but I only winked my eye patronizingly； and passed on。 I never renewed
tender relations with Miss Gibbs's young ladies。 All this occurred during
my first year and a half at Rivermouth。
Between my studies at school； my out…door recreations； and the hurts
my vanity received； I managed to escape for the time being any very
serious attack of that love fever which； like the measles； is almost certain
to seize upon a boy sooner or later。 I was not to be an exception。 I was
merely biding my time。 The incidents I have now to relate took place
shortly after the events described in the last chapter。
In a life so tranquil and circumscribed as ours in the Nutter House； a
visitor was a novelty of no little importance。 The whole household awoke
from its quietude one morning when the Captain announced that a young
niece of his from New York was to spend a few weeks with us。
The blue…chintz room； into which a ray of sun was never allowed to
penetrate； was thrown open and dusted； and its mouldy air made sweet
with a bouquet of pot…roses placed on the old…fashioned bureau。 Kitty was
busy all the forenoon washing off the sidewalk and sand…papering the
great brass knocker on our front…door； and Miss Abigail was up to her
elbows in a pigeon…pie。
I felt sure it was for no ordinary person that all these preparations were
in progress； and I was right。 Miss Nelly Glentworth was no ordinary
person。 I shall never believe she was。 There may have been lovelier
women； though I have never seen them； there may have been more
brilliant women； though it has not been my fortune to meet them； but that
there was ever a more charming one than Nelly Glentworth is a
proposition against which I contend。
I don't love her now。 I don't think of her once in five years； and yet it
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would give me a turn if in the course of my daily walk I should suddenly
come upon her eldest boy。 I may say that her eldest boy was not playing a
prominent part in this life when I first made her acquaintance。
It was a drizzling； cheerless afternoon towards the end of summer that
a hack drew up at the door of the Nutter House。 The Captain and Miss
Abigail hastened into the hall on hearing the carriage stop。 In a moment
more Miss Nelly Glentworth was seated in our sitting…room undergoing a
critical examination at the hands of a small boy who lounged
uncomfortably on a settee between the windows。
The small boy considered himself a judge of girls； and he rapidly came
to the following conclusions： That Miss Nelly was about nineteen； that she
had not given away much of her back hair； which hung in two massive
chestnut braids over her shoulders； that she was a shade too pale and a
trifle too tall； that her hands were nicely shaped and her feet much too
diminutive for daily use。 He furthermore observed that her voice was
musical； and that her face lighted up with an indescribable brightness
when she smiled。
On the whole； the small boy liked her well enough； and； satisfied that
she was not a person to be afraid of； but； on the contrary； one who might
be made quite agreeable； he departed to keep an appointment with his
friend Sir Pepper Whitcomb。
But the next morning when Miss Glentworth came down to breakfast
in a purple dress； her face 20as fresh as one of the moss…roses on the
bureau upstairs； and her laugh as contagious as the merriment of a robin；
the small boy experienced a strange sensation； and mentally compared her
with the loveliest of Miss Gibbs's young ladies； and found those young
ladies wanting in the balance。
A night's rest had wrought a wonderful change in Miss Nelly。 The
pallor and weariness of the journey had passed away。 I looked at her
through the toast…rack and thought I had never seen anything more
winning than her smile。
After breakfast she went out with me to the stable to see Gypsy； and
the three of us became friends then and there。 Nelly was the only girl that
Gypsy ever took the slightest notice of。
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It chanced to be a half…holiday； and a baseball match of unusual
interest was to come off on the school ground that afternoon； but；
somehow； I didn't go。 I hung about the house abstractedly。 The Captain
went up town； and Miss Abigail was busy in the kitchen making immortal
gingerbread。 I drifted into the sitting…room； and had our guest all to myself
for I don't know how many hours。 It was twilight； I recollect； when the
Captain returned with letters for Miss Nelly。
Many a time after that I sat with her through the dreamy September
afternoons。 If I had played baseball it would have been much better for
me。
Those first days of Miss Nelly's visit are very misty in my
remembrance。 I try in vain to remember just when I began to fall in love
with her。 'Whether the spell worked upon me gradually or fell upon me all
at once； I don't know。 I only know that it seemed to me as if I had always
loved her。 Things that took place before she came were dim to me； like
events that had occurred in the Middle Ages。
Nelly was at least five years my senior。 But what of that？ Adam is the
only man I ever heard of who didn't in early youth fall in love with a
woman older than himself； and I am convinced that he would have done so
if he had had the opportunity。
I wonder if girls from fifteen to twenty are aware of the glamour they
cast over the stragg
