jeremy-第11节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


supper　before　The　Day；　the　last　bed　before　The　Day。　。　。　Suddenly；
like　a　Jack…in…the…Box；　The　Day　itself。

Then　the　awful　thing　happened。

Jeremy　awoke　to　the　consciousness　that　something　terrific　was　about
to　occur。　He　lay　for　a　minute　thinkingthen　he　was　up；　running
about　the　nursery　floor　as　though　he　were　a　young　man　in　Mr。
Rossetti's　poetry　shouting：　〃Helen！　Mary！　Mary！　Helen！　。　。　。　It's
Dick　Whittington！　Dick　Whittington！〃

On　such　occasions　he　lost　entirely　his　natural　reserve　and　caution。
He　dressed　with　immense　speed；　as　though　that　would　hasten　the
coming　of　the　evening。　He　ran　into　the　nursery；　carrying　the　black
tie　that　went　under　his　sailor…collar。

He　held　it　out　to　the　Jampot；　who　eyed　him　with　disfavour。　She　was
leaving　them　all　in　a　week　and　was　a　strange　confusion　of　sentiment
and　bad　temper；　love　and　hatred；　wounded　pride　and　injured　dignity。

〃Nurse。　Please。　Fasten　it；〃　he　said　impatiently。

〃And　that's　not　the　way　to　speak；　Master　Jeremy；　and　well　you　know
it；〃　she　said。　〃'Ave　you　cleaned　your　teeth？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered　without　hesitation。　It　was　not　until　the　word　was
spoken　that　he　realised　that　he　had　not。　He　flushed。　The　Jampot　eyed
him　with　a　sudden　sharp　suspicion。　He　was　then　and　ever　afterwards　a
very　bad　hand　at　a　lie。　。　。

He　would　have　taken　the　word　back；　he　wanted　to　take　it　backbut
something　held　him　as　though　a　stronger　than　he　had　placed　his　hand
over　his　mouth。　His　face　flamed。

〃You've　truly　cleaned　them？〃　she　said。

〃Yes；　truly；〃　he　answered；　his　eyes　on　the　ground。　Never　was　there　a
more　obvious　liar　in　all　the　world。

She　said　no　more；　he　moved　to　the　fireplace。　His　joy　was　gone。　There
was　a　cold　clammy　sensation　about　his　heart。　Slowly；　very　slowly；
the　consciousness　stole　upon　him　that　he　was　a　liar。　He　had　not
thought　it　a　lie　when　he　had　first　spoken；　now　he　knew。

Still　there　was　time。　Had　he　turned　round　and　spoken；　all　might
still　have　been　well。　But　now　obstinacy　held　him。　He　was　not　going
to　give　the　Jampot　an　opportunity　for　triumphing　over　him。　After
all；　he　would　clean　them　so　soon　as　she　went　to　brush　Helen's　hair。
In　a　moment　what　he　had　said　would　be　true。

But　he　was　miserable。　Hamlet　came　up　from　the　nether　regions　where
he　had　spent　the　night；　showing　his　teeth；　wagging　his　tail；　and
even　rolling　on　the　cockatoos。　Jeremy　paid　no　attention。　The　weight
in　his　heart　grew　heavier　and　heavier。　He　watched；　from　under　his
eyelids；　the　Jampot。　In　a　moment　she　must　go　into　Helen's　room。　But
she　did　not。　She　stayed　for　a　little　arranging　the　things　on　the
breakfast…tablethen　suddenly；　without　a　word；　she　turned　into
Jeremy's　bedchamber。　His　heart　began　to　hammer。　There　was　an　awful
pause；　he　heard　from　miles　away　Mary's　voice：　〃Do　do　that　button；
Helen；　I　can't　get　it！〃　and　Helen's　〃Oh；　bother！〃

Then；　like　Judgment；　the　Jampot　appeared　again。　She　stood　in　the
doorway；　looking　across　at　him。

〃You　'ave　not　cleaned　your　teeth；　Master　Jeremy；〃　she　said。　〃The
glass　isn't　touched；　nor　your　toothbrush。　。　。　You　wicked；　wicked
boy。　So　it's　a　liar　you've　become；　added　on　to　all　your　other
wickedness。〃

〃I　forgot；〃　he　muttered　sullenly。　〃I　thought　I　had。〃

She　smiled　the　smile　of　approaching　triumph。

〃No；　you　did　not；〃　she　said。　〃You　knew　you'd　told　a　lie。　It　was　in
your　face。　All　of　a　pieceall　of　a　piece。〃

The　way　she　said　this；　like　a　pirate　counting　over　his　captured
treasure；　was　enraging。　Jeremy　could　feel　the　wild　fury　at　himself；
at　her；　at　the　stupid　blunder　of　the　whole　business　rising　to　his
throat。

〃If　you　think　I'm　going　to　let　this　pass　you're　making　a　mighty
mistake；〃　she　continued；　〃which　I　wouldn't　do　not　if　you　paid　me　all
the　gold　in　the　kingdom。　I　mayn't　be　good　enough　to　keep　my　place
and　look　after　such　as　you；　but　anyways　I'm　able　to　stop　your　lying
for　another　week　or　two。　I　know　my　duty　even　though　there's　them　as
thinks　I　don't。〃

She　positively　snorted；　and　the　excitement　of　her　own　vindication
and　the　just　condemnation　of　Jeremy　was　such　that　her　hands
trembled。

〃I　don't　care　what　you　do；〃　Jeremy　shouted。　〃You　can　tell　anyone　you
like。　I　don't　care　what　you　do。　You're　a　beastly　woman。〃

She　turned　upon　him；　her　face　purple。　〃That's　enough；　Master
Jeremy；〃　she　said；　her　voice　low　and　trembling。　〃I'm　not　here　to　be
called　names　by　such　as　you。　You'll　be　sorry　for　this　before　you're
much　older。　。　。　。　You　see。〃

There　was　then　an　awful　and　sickly　pause。　Jeremy　seemed　to　himself
to　be　sinking　lower　and　lower　into　a　damp　clammy　depth　of
degradation。　What　must　this　world　be　that　it　could　change　itself　so
instantly　from　a　place　of　gay　and　happy　pleasure　into　a　dim　groping
room　of　punishment　and　dismay？

His　feelings　were　utterly　confused。　He　supposed　that　he　was　terribly
wicked。　But　he　did　not　feel　wicked。　He　only　felt　miserable；　sick　and
defiant。　Mary　and　Helen　came　in；　their　eyes　open　to　a　crisis；　their
bodies　tuned　sympathetically　to　the　atmosphere　of　sin　and　crime　that
they　discerned　around　them。

Then　Mr。　Cole　came　in　as　was　his　daily　habitfor　a　moment　before
his　breakfast。

〃Well；　here　are　you　all；〃　he　cried。　〃Ready　for　to…night？　No
breakfast　yet？　Why；　now　。　。　。　？〃

Then　perceiving；　as　all　practised　fathers　instantly　must；　that　the
atmosphere　was　sinful；　he　changed　his　voice　to　that　of　the
Children's　Sunday　Afternoon　Servicea　voice　well　known　in　his
family。

〃Please；　sir；〃　began　the　Jampot；　〃I'm　sorry　to　'ave　to　tell　you；
sir；　that　Master　Jeremy's　not　been　at　all　good　this　morning。〃

〃Well；　Jeremy；〃　he　said；　turning　to　his　son；　〃what　is　it？〃

Jeremy's　face；　raised　to　his　father's；　was　hard　and　set　and　sullen。

〃I've　told　a　lie；〃　he　said；　〃I　said　I'd　cleaned　my　teeth　when　I
hadn't。　Nurse　went　and　looked；　and　then　I　called　her　a　beastly
woman。〃

The　Jampot's　face　expressed　a　grieved　and　at　the　same　time
triumphant　confirmation　of　this。

〃You　told　a　lie？〃　Mr。　Cole's　voice　was　full　of　a　lingering　sorrow。

〃Yes；〃　said　Jeremy。

〃Are　you　sorry？〃

〃I'm　sorry　that　I　told　a　lie；　but　I'm　not　sorry　I　called　Nurse　a
beastly　woman。〃

〃Jeremy！〃

〃No；　I'm　not。　She　is　a　beastly　woman。〃

Mr。　Cole　was　always　at　a　loss　when　anyone　defied　him；　even　though　it
were　only　a　small　boy　of　eight。　He　took　refuge　now　in　his
ecclesiastical　and　parental　authority。

〃I'm　very　distressedvery　distressed　indeed。　I　hope　that
punishment；　Jeremy；　will　show　you　how　wrong　you　have　been。　I'm
afraid　you　cannot　come　with　us　to　the　Pantomime　to…night。〃

At　that　judgement　a　quiver　for　an　instant　held　Jeremy's　face；
turning　it；　for　that　moment；　into　something　shapeless　and　old。　His
heart　had　given　a　wild　leap　of　terror　and　dismay。　But　he　showed　no
further　sign。　He　simply　stood　there　waiting。

Mr。　Cole　was　baffled；　as　he　always　was　by　Jeremy's　moods；　so　he
continued：

〃And　until　you've　apologised　to　Nurse　for　your　rudeness　you　must
remain　by　yourself。　I　shall　forbid　your　sisters　to　speak　to　you。
Mary　and　Helen；　you　are　not　to　speak　to　your　brother　until　he　has
apologised　to　Nurse。〃

〃Yes；　Father；〃　said　Helen

〃Oh；　Father；　mayn't　he　come　to…night？〃　said　Mary。

〃No；　Mary；　I'm　afraid　not。〃

A　tear　rolled　down　her　cheek。　〃It　won't　be　any　fun　without　Jeremy；〃
she　said。　She　wished　to　make　the　further　sacrifice　of　saying　that
she　would　not　go　unless　Jeremy　did；　but　some　natural　caution
restrained　her。

Mr。　Cole；　his　face　heavy　with　sorrow；　departed。　At　the　dumb　misery
of　Jeremy's　face　the　Jampot's　hearin　reality　a　kind　and　even
sentimental　heartrepented　her。

〃There；　Master　Jeremy；　you　be　a　good　boy　all　day；　and　I　dare　say
your　father　will　take　you；　after　all；　and　we　won't　think　no　more
about　what　you　said　to　me　in　the　'eat　of　the　moment。〃

But　Jeremy　answered　nothing；　nor　did　he　respond　to　the　smell　of
bacon；　nor　the　advances　of　Hamlet；　nor　the　flood　of　sunlight　that
poured　into　the　room　from　the　frosty　world　outside。

A　complete　catastrophe。　They　none　of　them　had　wanted　to　see　this
thing　with　the　urgent　excitement　that　he　had　felt。　They　had　not
dreamt　of　it　for　days　and　nights　and　nights　and　days；　as　he　had
done。　Their　whole　future　existence　did　not　depend　upon　their
witnessing　this；　as　did　his。

During　that　morning　he　was　a　desperate　creature；　like　something
caged　and　tortured。　Do　happy　middle…aged　philosophers　assure　us　that
children　are　light…hearted　and　unfeeling　animals？　Let　them　realise
something　of　the　agony　which　Jeremy　suffered　that　day。　His　whole
world　had　gone。

He　was　wicked；　an　outcast；　his　word　could　never　be　trusted　again；　he
would　be　pointed　at；　as　the　boy　who　had　told　a　lie　。　。　。　And　he
would　not　meet　Dick　Whittington。

The　eternity　of　his　punishment　hung　around　his　neck　like　an　iron
chain。　Childhood's　tragedies　are　terrible　tragedies；　because　a　child
has　no　sense　of　time；　a　moment's　dismay　is　eternal；　a　careless　word
from　an　elder　is　a　lasting　judgment；　an　instant's　folly　is　a
lifetime's　mistake。

The　day　dragged　its　weary　length　along；　and　he　scarcely　moved　from
his　corner　by　the　fire。　He　did　not　attempt　conversation　with　anyone。
Once　or　twice　the　Jampot　tried　to　penetrate　behind　that　little　mask
of　anger　and　dismay。

〃Come；　now；　things　aren't　so　bad　as　all　that。　You　be　a　good　boy；　an