the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第8节
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She got a place as a servant。 The family she lived with shortly moved to
Boston； and she accompanied them； then they went abroad； but Kitty
would not leave America。 Somehow she drifted to Rivermouth； and for
seven long years never gave speech to her sorrow； until the kindness of
strangers； who had become friends to her； unsealed the heroic lips。
Kitty's story； you may be sure； made my grandparents treat her more
kindly than ever。 In time she grew to be regarded less as a servant than as
a friend in the home circle； sharing its joys and sorrows…a faithful nurse； a
willing slave； a happy spirit in spite of all。 I fancy I hear her singing over
her work in the kitchen； pausing from time to time to make some witty
reply to Miss Abigail…for Kitty； like all her race； had a vein of unconscious
humor。 Her bright honest face comes to me out from the past； the light and
life of the Nutter House when I was a boy at Rivermouth。
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CHAPTER Six
Lights and Shadows
The first shadow that fell upon me in my new home was caused by the
return of my parents to New Orleans。 Their visit was cut short by business
which required my father's presence in Natchez； where he was establishing
a branch of the bankinghouse。 When they had gone； a sense of loneliness
such as I had never dreamed of filled my young breast。 I crept away to the
stable； and； throwing my arms about Gypsy's neck； sobbed aloud。 She too
had come from the sunny South； and was now a stranger in a strange land。
The little mare seemed to realize our situation； and gave me all the
sympathy I could ask； repeatedly rubbing her soft nose over my face and
lapping up my salt tears with evident relish。
When night came； I felt still more lonesome。 My grandfather sat in his
arm…chair the greater part of the evening； reading the Rivermouth Bamacle；
the local newspaper。 There was no gas in those days； and the Captain read
by the aid of a small block…tin lamp； which he held in one hand。 I observed
that he had a habit of dropping off into a doze every three or four minutes；
and I forgot my homesickness at intervals in watching him。 Two or three
times； to my vast amusement； he scorched the edges of the newspaper with
the wick of the lamp； and at about half past eight o'clock I had the
satisfactions am sorry to confess it was a satisfaction…of seeing the
Rivermouth Barnacle in flames。
My grandfather leisurely extinguished the fire with his hands； and
Miss Abigail； who sat near a low table； knitting by the light of an astral
lamp； did not even look up。 She was quite used to this catastrophe。
There was little or no conversation during the evening。 In fact； I do not
remember that anyone spoke at all； excepting once； when the Captain
remarked； in a meditative manner； that my parents 〃must have reached
New York by this time〃； at which supposition I nearly strangled myself in
attempting to intercept a sob。
The monotonous 〃click click〃 of Miss Abigail's needles made me
nervous after a while； and finally drove me out of the sitting…room into the
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kitchen； where Kitty caused me to laugh by saying Miss Abigail thought
that what I needed was 〃a good dose of hot…drops；〃 a remedy she was
forever ready to administer in all emergencies。 If a boy broke his leg； or
lost his mother； I believe Miss Abigail would have given him hot…drops。
Kitty laid herself out to be entertaining。 She told me several funny
Irish stories； and described some of the odd people living in the town； but；
in the midst of her comicalities； the tears would involuntarily ooze out of
my eyes； though I was not a lad much addicted to weeping。 Then Kitty
would put her arms around me； and tell me not to mind it…that it wasn't as
if I had been left alone in a foreign land with no one to care for me； like a
poor girl whom she had once known。 I brightened up before long； and told
Kitty all about the Typhoon and the old seaman； whose name I tried in
vain to recall； and was obliged to fall back on plain Sailor Ben。
I was glad when ten o'clock came； the bedtime for young folks； and
old folks too； at the Nutter House。 Alone in the hallchamber I had my cry
out； once for all； moistening the pillow to such an extent that I was obliged
to turn it over to find a dry spot to go to sleep on。
My grandfather wisely concluded to put me to school at once。 If I had
been permitted to go mooning about the house and stables； I should have
kept my discontent alive for months。 The next morning； accordingly； he
took me by the hand； and we set forth for the academy； which was located
at the farther end of the town。
The Temple School was a two…story brick building； standing in the
centre of a great square piece of land； surrounded by a high picket fence。
There were three or four sickly trees； but no grass； in this enclosure； which
had been worn smooth and hard by the tread of multitudinous feet。 I
noticed here and there small holes scooped in the ground； indicating that it
was the season for marbles。 A better playground for baseball couldn't have
been devised。
On reaching the schoolhouse door； the Captain inquired for Mr。
Grimshaw。 The boy who answered our knock ushered us into a side…room；
and in a few minutes…during which my eye took in forty…two caps hung on
forty…two wooden pegs…Mr。 Grimshaw made his appearance。 He was a
slender man； with white； fragile hands； and eyes that glanced half a dozen
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different ways at once…a habit probably acquired from watching the boys。
After a brief consultation； my grandfather patted me on the head and
left me in charge of this gentleman； who seated himself in front of me and
proceeded to sound the depth； or； more properly speaking； the shallowness；
of my attainments。 I suspect my historical information rather startled him。
I recollect I gave him to understand that Richard III was the last king of
England。
This ordeal over； Mr。 Grimshaw rose and bade me follow him。 A door
opened； and I stood in the blaze of forty…two pairs of upturned eyes。 I was
a cool hand for my age； but I lacked the boldness to face this battery
without wincing。 In a sort of dazed way I stumbled after Mr。 Grimshaw
down a narrow aisle between two rows of desks； and shyly took the seat
pointed out to me。
The faint buzz that had floated over the school…room at our entrance
died away； and the interrupted lessons were resumed。 By degrees I
recovered my coolness； and ventured to look around me。
The owners of the forty…two caps were seated at small green desks like
the one assigned to me。 The desks were arranged in six rows； with spaces
between just wide enough to prevent the boys' whispering。 A blackboard
set into the wall extended clear across the end of the room； on a raised
platform near the door stood the master's table； and directly in front of this
was a recitation…bench capable of seating fifteen or twenty pupils。 A pair
of globes； tattooed with dragons and winged horses； occupied a shelf
between two windows； which were so high from the floor that nothing but
a giraffe could have looked out of them。
Having possessed myself of these details； I scrutinized my new
acquaintances with unconcealed curiosity； instinctively selecting my
friends and picking out my enemies…and in only two cases did I mistake
my man。
A sallow boy with bright red hair； sitting in the fourth row； shook his
fist at me furtively several times during the morning。 I had a presentiment
I should have trouble with that boy some day…a presentiment subsequently
realized。
On my left was a chubby little fellow with a great many freckles （this
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was Pepper Whitcomb）； who made some mysterious motions
