some short christmas stories(圣诞故事)-第13节
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his desk with a precious long snuff to his candle； and his hands before his
face； crying。 But no member of the Society could pity him； even if he
felt inclined； because the President said it was Old Cheeseman's
conscience。
So Old Cheeseman went on； and didn't he lead a miserable life！ Of
course the Reverend turned up his nose at him； and of course SHE did
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because both of them always do that at all the mastersbut he suffered
from the fellows most； and he suffered from them constantly。 He never
told about it； that the Society could find out； but he got no credit for that；
because the President said it was Old Cheeseman's cowardice。
He had only one friend in the world； and that one was almost as
powerless as he was； for it was only Jane。 Jane was a sort of wardrobe
woman to our fellows； and took care of the boxes。 She had come at first；
I believe； as a kind of apprenticesome of our fellows say from a Charity；
but I don't knowand after her time was out； had stopped at so much a
year。 So little a year； perhaps I ought to say； for it is far more likely。
However； she had put some pounds in the Savings' Bank； and she was a
very nice young woman。 She was not quite pretty； but she had a very frank；
honest； bright face； and all our fellows were fond of her。 She was
uncommonly neat and cheerful； and uncommonly comfortable and kind。
And if anything was the matter with a fellow's mother； he always went and
showed the letter to Jane。
Jane was Old Cheeseman's friend。 The more the Society went
against him； the more Jane stood by him。 She used to give him a good…
humoured look out of her still…room window； sometimes； that seemed to
set him up for the day。 She used to pass out of the orchard and the
kitchen garden （always kept locked； I believe you！） through the
playground； when she might have gone the other way； only to give a turn
of her head； as much as to say 〃Keep up your spirits！〃 to Old Cheeseman。
His slip of a room was so fresh and orderly that it was well known who
looked after it while he was at his desk； and when our fellows saw a
smoking hot dumpling on his plate at dinner； they knew with indignation
who had sent it up。
Under these circumstances； the Society resolved； after a quantity of
meeting and debating； that Jane should be requested to cut Old Cheeseman
dead； and that if she refused； she must be sent to Coventry herself。 So a
deputation； headed by the President； was appointed to wait on Jane； and
inform her of the vote the Society had been under the painful necessity of
passing。 She was very much respected for all her good qualities； and
there was a story about her having once waylaid the Reverend in his own
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study； and got a fellow off from severe punishment； of her own kind
comfortable heart。 So the deputation didn't much like the job。 However；
they went up； and the President told Jane all about it。 Upon which Jane
turned very red； burst into tears； informed the President and the deputation；
in a way not at all like her usual way； that they were a parcel of malicious
young savages； and turned the whole respected body out of the room。
Consequently it was entered in the Society's book （kept in astronomical
cypher for fear of detection）； that all communication with Jane was
interdicted： and the President addressed the members on this convincing
instance of Old Cheeseman's undermining。
But Jane was as true to Old Cheeseman as Old Cheeseman was false to
our fellowsin their opinion； at all eventsand steadily continued to be his
only friend。 It was a great exasperation to the Society； because Jane was
as much a loss to them as she was a gain to him； and being more inveterate
against him than ever； they treated him worse than ever。 At last； one
morning； his desk stood empty； his room was peeped into； and found to be
vacant； and a whisper went about among the pale faces of our fellows that
Old Cheeseman； unable to bear it any longer； had got up early and
drowned himself。
The mysterious looks of the other masters after breakfast； and the
evident fact that old Cheeseman was not expected； confirmed the Society
in this opinion。 Some began to discuss whether the President was liable
to hanging or only transportation for life； and the President's face showed
a great anxiety to know which。 However； he said that a jury of his
country should find him game； and that in his address he should put it to
them to lay their hands upon their hearts and say whether they as Britons
approved of informers； and how they thought they would like it
themselves。 Some of the Society considered that he had better run away
until he found a forest where he might change clothes with a wood…cutter；
and stain his face with blackberries； but the majority believed that if he
stood his ground； his fatherbelonging as he did to the West Indies； and
being worth millionscould buy him off。
All our fellows' hearts beat fast when the Reverend came in； and made
a sort of a Roman； or a Field Marshal； of himself with the ruler； as he
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always did before delivering an address。 But their fears were nothing to
their astonishment when he came out with the story that Old Cheeseman；
〃so long our respected friend and fellow… pilgrim in the pleasant plains of
knowledge；〃 he called himO yes！ I dare say！ Much of that！was the
orphan child of a disinherited young lady who had married against her
father's wish； and whose young husband had died； and who had died of
sorrow herself； and whose unfortunate baby （Old Cheeseman） had been
brought up at the cost of a grandfather who would never consent to see it；
baby； boy； or man： which grandfather was now dead； and serve him
rightthat's my putting inand which grandfather's large property； there
being no will； was now； and all of a sudden and for ever； Old Cheeseman's！
Our so long respected friend and fellow…pilgrim in the pleasant plains of
knowledge； the Reverend wound up a lot of bothering quotations by
saying； would 〃come among us once more〃 that day fortnight； when he
desired to take leave of us himself； in a more particular manner。 With
these words； he stared severely round at our fellows； and went solemnly
out。
There was precious consternation among the members of the Society；
now。 Lots of them wanted to resign； and lots more began to try to make
out that they had never belonged to it。 However； the President stuck up；
and said that they must stand or fall together； and that if a breach was
made it should be over his bodywhich was meant to encourage the
Society： but it didn't。 The President further said； he would consider the
position in which they stood； and would give them his best opinion and
advice in a few days。 This was eagerly looked for； as he knew a good
deal of the world on account of his father's being in the West Indies。
After days and days of hard thinking； and drawing armies all over his
slate； the President called our fellows together； and made the matter clear。
He said it was plain that when Old Cheeseman came on the appointed day；
his first revenge would be to impeach the Society； and have it flogged all
round。 After witnessing with joy the torture of his enemies； and gloating
over the cries which agony would extort from them； the probability was
that he would invite the Reverend； on pretence of conversation； into a
private roomsay the parlour into which Parents were shown；
