some short christmas stories(圣诞故事)-第14节
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private roomsay the parlour into which Parents were shown； where the
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two great globes were which were never usedand would there reproach
him with the various frauds and oppressions he had endured at his hands。
At the close of his observations he would make a signal to a Prizefighter
concealed in the passage； who would then appear and pitch into the
Reverend； till he was left insensible。 Old Cheeseman would then make
Jane a present of from five to ten pounds； and would leave the
establishment in fiendish triumph。
The President explained that against the parlour part； or the Jane part；
of these arrangements he had nothing to say； but； on the part of the Society；
he counselled deadly resistance。 With this view he recommended that all
available desks should be filled with stones； and that the first word of the
complaint should be the signal to every fellow to let fly at Old Cheeseman。
The bold advice put the Society in better spirits； and was unanimously
taken。 A post about Old Cheeseman's size was put up in the playground；
and all our fellows practised at it till it was dinted all over。
When the day came； and Places were called； every fellow sat down in
a tremble。 There had been much discussing and disputing as to how Old
Cheeseman would come； but it was the general opinion that he would
appear in a sort of triumphal car drawn by four horses； with two livery
servants in front； and the Prizefighter in disguise up behind。 So； all our
fellows sat listening for the sound of wheels。 But no wheels were heard；
for Old Cheeseman walked after all； and came into the school without any
preparation。 Pretty much as he used to be； only dressed in black。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the Reverend； presenting him； 〃our so long
respected friend and fellow…pilgrim in the pleasant plains of knowledge； is
desirous to offer a word or two。 Attention； gentlemen； one and all！〃
Every fellow stole his hand into his desk and looked at the President。
The President was all ready； and taking aim at old Cheeseman with his
eyes。
What did Old Cheeseman then； but walk up to his old desk； look round
him with a queer smile as if there was a tear in his eye； and begin in a
quavering； mild voice； 〃My dear companions and old friends！〃
Every fellow's hand came out of his desk； and the President suddenly
began to cry。
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〃My dear companions and old friends；〃 said Old Cheeseman； 〃you
have heard of my good fortune。 I have passed so many years under this
roofmy entire life so far； I may saythat I hope you have been glad to
hear of it for my sake。 I could never enjoy it without exchanging
congratulations with you。 If we have ever misunderstood one another at
all； pray； my dear boys； let us forgive and forget。 I have a great tenderness
for you； and I am sure you return it。 I want in the fulness of a grateful
heart to shake hands with you every one。 I have come back to do it； if
you please； my dear boys。〃
Since the President had begun to cry； several other fellows had broken
out here and there： but now； when Old Cheeseman began with him as
first boy； laid his left hand affectionately on his shoulder and gave him his
right； and when the President said 〃Indeed； I don't deserve it； sir； upon my
honour I don't；〃 there was sobbing and crying all over the school。 Every
other fellow said he didn't deserve it； much in the same way； but Old
Cheeseman； not minding that a bit； went cheerfully round to every boy；
and wound up with every masterfinishing off the Reverend last。
Then a snivelling little chap in a corner； who was always under some
punishment or other； set up a shrill cry of 〃Success to Old Cheeseman！
Hooray！〃 The Reverend glared upon him； and said； 〃MR。 Cheeseman；
sir。〃 But； Old Cheeseman protesting that he liked his old name a great
deal better than his new one； all our fellows took up the cry； and； for I
don't know how many minutes； there was such a thundering of feet and
hands； and such a roaring of Old Cheeseman； as never was heard。
After that； there was a spread in the dining…room of the most
magnificent kind。 Fowls； tongues； preserves； fruits； confectionaries；
jellies； neguses； barley…sugar temples； trifles； crackerseat all you can and
pocket what you likeall at Old Cheeseman's expense。 After that；
speeches； whole holiday； double and treble sets of all manners of things
for all manners of games； donkeys； pony…chaises and drive yourself；
dinner for all the masters at the Seven Bells （twenty pounds a…head our
fellows estimated it at）； an annual holiday and feast fixed for that day
every year； and another on Old Cheeseman's birthdayReverend bound
down before the fellows to allow it； so that he could never back outall at
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Old Cheeseman's expense。
And didn't our fellows go down in a body and cheer outside the Seven
Bells？ O no！
But there's something else besides。 Don't look at the next story… teller；
for there's more yet。 Next day； it was resolved that the Society should
make it up with Jane； and then be dissolved。 What do you think of Jane
being gone； though！ 〃What？ Gone for ever？〃 said our fellows； with
long faces。 〃Yes； to be sure；〃 was all the answer they could get。 None
of the people about the house would say anything more。 At length； the
first boy took upon himself to ask the Reverend whether our old friend
Jane was really gone？ The Reverend （he has got a daughter at home
turn…up nose； and red） replied severely； 〃Yes； sir； Miss Pitt is gone。〃 The
idea of calling Jane； Miss Pitt！ Some said she had been sent away in
disgrace for taking money from Old Cheeseman； others said she had gone
into Old Cheeseman's service at a rise of ten pounds a year。 All that our
fellows knew； was； she was gone。
It was two or three months afterwards； when； one afternoon； an open
carriage stopped at the cricket field； just outside bounds； with a lady and
gentleman in it； who looked at the game a long time and stood up to see it
played。 Nobody thought much about them； until the same little
snivelling chap came in； against all rules； from the post where he was
Scout； and said； 〃It's Jane！〃 Both Elevens forgot the game directly； and
ran crowding round the carriage。 It WAS Jane！ In such a bonnet！ And
if you'll believe me； Jane was married to Old Cheeseman。
It soon became quite a regular thing when our fellows were hard at it
in the playground； to see a carriage at the low part of the wall where it
joins the high part； and a lady and gentleman standing up in it； looking
over。 The gentleman was always Old Cheeseman； and the lady was
always Jane。
The first time I ever saw them； I saw them in that way。 There had
been a good many changes among our fellows then； and it had turned out
that Bob Tarter's father wasn't worth Millions！ He wasn't worth anything。
Bob had gone for a soldier； and Old Cheeseman had purchased his
discharge。 But that's not the carriage。 The carriage stopped； and all our
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fellows stopped as soon as it was seen。
〃So you have never sent me to Coventry after all！〃 said the lady；
laughing； as our fellows swarmed up the wall to shake hands with her。
〃Are you never g
