汤姆.索亚历险记-第16节

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nd　so　she　was　an　easy　victim。　She　gathered　together　her　quack　periodicals　and　her　quack　medicines；　and　thus　armed　with　death；　went　about　on　her　pale　horse；　metaphorically　speaking；　with　〃hell　following　after。〃　But　she　never　suspected　that　she　was　not　an　angel　of　healing　and　the　balm　of　Gilead　in　disguise；　to　the　suffering　neighbors。
The　water　treatment　was　new；　now；　and　Tom's　low　condition　was　a　windfall　to　her。　She　had　him　out　at　daylight　every　morning；　stood　him　up　in　the　woodshed　and　drowned　him　with　a　deluge　of　cold　water；　then　she　scrubbed　him　down　with　a　towel　like　a　file；　and　so　brought　him　to；　then　she　rolled　him　up　in　a　wet　sheet　and　put　him　away　under　blankets　till　she　sweated　his　soul　clean　and　〃the　yellow　stains　of　it　came　through　his　pores〃　　as　Tom　said。
Yet　notwithstanding　all　this；　the　boy　grew　more　and　more　melancholy　and　pale　and　dejected。　She　added　hot　baths；　sitz　baths；　shower　baths；　and　plunges。　The　boy　remained　as　dismal　as　a　hearse。　She　began　to　assist　the　water　with　a　slim　oatmeal　diet　and　blisterplasters。　She　calculated　his　capacity　as　she　would　a　jug's；　and　filled　him　up　every　day　with　quack　cure…alls。
Tom　had　become　indifferent　to　persecution　by　this　time。　This　phase　filled　the　old　lady's　heart　with　consternation。　This　indifference　must　be　broken　up　at　any　cost。　Now　she　heard　of　Pain…killer　for　the　first　time。　She　ordered　a　lot　at　once。　She　tasted　it　and　was　filled　with　gratitude。　It　was　simply　fire　in　a　liquid　form。　She　dropped　the　water　treatment　and　everything　else；　and　pinned　her　faith　to　Pain…killer。　She　gave　Tom　a　teaspoonful　and　watched　with　the　deepest　anxiety　for　the　result。　Her　troubles　were　instantly　at　rest；　her　soul　at　peace　again；　for　the　〃indifference〃　was　broken　up。　The　boy　could　not　have　shown　a　wilder；　heartier　interest；　if　she　had　built　a　fire　under　him。
Tom　felt　that　it　was　time　to　wake　up；　this　sort　of　life　might　be　romantic　enough；　in　his　blighted　condition；　but　it　was　getting　to　have　too　little　sentiment　and　too　much　distracting　variety　about　it。　So　he　thought　over　various　plans　for　relief；　and　finally　hit　pon　that　of　professing　to　be　fond　of　Pain…killer。　He　asked　for　it　so　often　that　he　became　a　nuisance；　and　his　aunt　ended　by　telling　him　to　help　himself　and　quit　bothering　her。　If　it　had　been　Sid；　she　would　have　had　no　misgivings　to　alloy　her　delight；　but　since　it　was　Tom；　she　watched　the　bottle　clandestinely。　She　found　that　the　medicine　did　really　diminish；　but　it　did　not　occur　to　her　that　the　boy　was　mending　the　health　of　a　crack　in　the　sitting…room　floor　with　it。
One　day　Tom　was　in　the　act　of　dosing　the　crack　when　his　aunt's　yellow　cat　came　along；　purring；　eying　the　teaspoon　avariciously；　and　begging　for　a　taste。　Tom　said：
〃Don't　ask　for　it　unless　you　want　it；　Peter。〃
But　Peter　signified　that　he　did　want　it。
〃You　better　make　sure。〃
Peter　was　sure。
〃Now　you've　asked　for　it；　and　I'll　give　it　to　you；　because　there　ain't　anything　mean　about　me；　but　if　you　find　you　don't　like　it；　you　mustn't　blame　anybody　but　your　own　self。〃
Peter　was　agreeable。　So　Tom　pried　his　mouth　open　and　poured　down　the　Pain…killer。　Peter　sprang　a　couple　of　yards　in　the　air；　and　then　delivered　a　war…whoop　and　set　off　round　and　round　the　room；　banging　against　furniture；　upsetting　flower…pots；　and　making　general　havoc。　Next　he　rose　on　his　hind　feet　and　pranced　around；　in　a　frenzy　of　enjoyment；　with　his　head　over　his　shoulder　and　his　voice　proclaiming　his　unappeasable　happiness。　Then　he　went　tearing　around　the　house　again　spreading　chaos　and　destruction　in　his　path。　Aunt　Polly　entered　in　time　to　see　him　throw　a　few　double　summersets；　deliver　a　final　mighty　hurrah；　and　sail　through　the　open　window；　carrying　the　rest　of　the　flower…pots　with　him。　The　old　lady　stood　petrified　with　astonishment；　peering　over　her　glasses；　Tom　lay　on　the　floor　expiring　with　laughter。
〃Tom；　what　on　earth　ails　that　cat？〃
〃I　don't　know；　aunt；〃　gasped　the　boy。
〃Why；　I　never　see　anything　like　it。　What　did　make　him　act　so？〃
〃Deed　I　don't　know；　Aunt　Polly；　cats　always　act　so　when　they're　having　a　good　time。〃
〃They　do；　do　they？〃　There　was　something　in　the　tone　that　made　Tom　apprehensive。
〃Yes'm。　That　is；　I　believe　they　do。〃
〃You　do？〃
〃Yes'm。〃
The　old　lady　was　bending　down；　Tom　watching；　with　interest　emphasized　by　anxiety。　Too　late　he　divined　her　〃drift。〃　The　handle　of　the　telltale　teaspoon　was　visible　under　the　bed…valance。　Aunt　Polly　took　it；　held　it　up。　Tom　winced；　and　dropped　his　eyes。　Aunt　Polly　raised　him　by　the　usual　handle　　his　ear　　and　cracked　his　head　soundly　with　her　thimble。
〃Now；　sir；　what　did　you　want　to　treat　that　poor　dumb　beast　so；　for？〃
〃I　done　it　out　of　pity　for　him　　because　he　hadn't　any　aunt。〃
〃Hadn't　any　aunt！　　you　numskull。　What　has　that　got　to　do　with　it？〃
〃Heaps。　Because　if　he'd　had　one　she'd　a　burnt　him　out　herself！　She'd　a　roasted　his　bowels　out　of　him　'thout　any　more　feeling　than　if　he　was　a　human！〃
Aunt　Polly　felt　a　sudden　pang　of　remorse。　This　was　putting　the　thing　in　a　new　light；　what　was　cruelty　to　a　cat　might　be　cruelty　to　a　boy；　too。　She　began　to　soften；　she　felt　sorry。　Her　eyes　watered　a　little；　and　she　put　her　hand　on　Tom's　head　and　said　gently：
〃I　was　meaning　for　the　best；　Tom。　And；　Tom；　it　did　do　you　good。〃
Tom　looked　up　in　her　face　with　just　a　perceptible　twinkle　peeping　through　his　gravity。
〃I　know　you　was　meaning　for　the　best；　aunty；　and　so　was　I　with　Peter。　It　done　him　good；　too。　I　never　see　him　get　around　so　since　〃
〃Oh；　go　'long　with　you；　Tom；　before　you　aggravate　me　again。　And　you　try　and　see　if　you　can't　be　a　good　boy；　for　once；　and　you　needn't　take　any　more　medicine。〃
Tom　reached　school　ahead　of　time。　It　was　noticed　that　this　strange　thing　had　been　occurring　every　day　latterly。　And　now；　as　usual　of　late；　he　hung　about　the　gate　of　the　schoolyard　instead　of　playing　with　his　comrades。　He　was　sick；　he　said；　and　he　looked　it。　He　tried　to　seem　to　be　looking　everywhere　but　whither　he　really　was　looking　　down　the　road。　Presently　Jeff　Thatcher　hove　in　sight；　and　Tom's　face　lighted；　he　gazed　a　moment；　and　then　turned　sorrowfully　away。　When　Jeff　arrived；　Tom　accosted　him；　and　〃led　up〃　warily　to　opportunities　for　remark　about　Becky；　but　the　giddy　lad　never　could　see　the　bait。　Tom　watched　and　watched；　hoping　whenever　a　frisking　frock　came　in　sight；　and　hating　the　owner　of　it　as　soon　as　he　saw　she　was　not　the　right　one。　At　last　frocks　ceased　to　appear；　and　he　dropped　hopelessly　into　the　dumps；　he　entered　the　empty　schoolhouse　and　sat　down　to　suffer。　Then　one　more　frock　passed　in　at　the　gate；　and　Tom's　heart　gave　a　great　bound。　The　next　instant　he　was　out；　and　〃going　on〃　like　an　Indian；　yelling；　laughing；　chasing　boys；　jumping　over　the　fence　at　risk　of　life　and　limb；　throwing　handsprings；　standing　on　his　head　　doing　all　the　heroic　things　he　could　conceive　of；　and　keeping　a　furtive　eye　out；　all　the　while；　to　see　if　Becky　Thatcher　was　noticing。　But　she　seemed　to　be　unconscious　of　it　all；　she　never　looked。　Could　it　be　possible　that　she　was　not　aware　that　he　was　there？　He　carried　his　exploits　to　her　immediate　vicinity；　came　war…whooping　around；　snatched　a　boy's　cap；　hurled　it　to　the　roof　of　the　schoolhouse；　broke　through　a　group　of　boys；　tumbling　them　in　every　direction；　and　fell　sprawling；　himself；　under　Becky's　nose；　almost　upsetting　her　　and　she　turned；　with　her　nose　in　the　air；　and　he　heard　her　say：　〃Mf！　some　people　think　they're　mighty　smart　　always　showing　off！〃
Tom's　cheeks　burned。　He　gathered　himself　up　and　sneaked　off；　crushed　and　crestfallen。　
CHAPTER　XIII
TOM'S　mind　was　made　up　now。　He　was　gloomy　and　desperate。　He　was　a　forsaken；　friendless　boy；　he　said；　nobody　loved　him；　when　they　found　out　what　they　had　driven　him　to；　perhaps　they　would　be　sorry；　he　had　tried　to　do　right　and　get　along；　but　they　would　not　let　him；　since　nothing　would　do　them　but　to　be　rid　of　him；　let　it　be　so；　and　let　them　blame　HIM　for　the　consequences　　why　shouldn't　they？　What　right　had　the　friendless　to　complain？　Yes；　they　had　forced　him　to　it　at　last：　he　would　lead　a　life　of　crime。　There　was　no　choice。
By　this　time　he　was　far　down　Meadow　Lane；　and　the　bell　for　school　to　〃take　up〃　tinkled　faintly　upon　his　ear。　He　sobbed；　now；　to　think　he　should　never；　never　hear　that　old　familiar　sound　any　more　　it　was　very　hard；　but　it　was　forced　on　him；　since　he　was　driven　out　into　the　cold　world；　he　must　submit　　but　he　forgave　them。　Then　the　sobs　came　thick　and　fast。
Just　at　this　point　he　met　his　soul's　sworn　comrade；　Joe　Harper　　hard…eyed；　and　with　evidently　a　great　and　dismal　purpose　in　his　heart。　Plainly　here　were　〃two　souls　with　but　a　single　thought。〃　Tom；　wiping　his　eyes　with　his　sleeve；　began　to　blubber　out　something　about　a　resolution　to　escape　from　hard　usage　and　lack　of　sympathy　at　home　by　roaming　abroad　into　the　great　world　never　to　return；　and　ended　by　hoping　that　Joe　would　not　forget　him。
But　it　transpired　that　this　was　a　request　which　Joe　had　just　been　going　to　make　of　Tom；　and　had　come　to　hunt　him　up　for　that　purpose。　His　mother　had　whipped　him　for　drinking　some　cream　which　he　had　never　tasted　and　knew　nothing　about；　it　was　plain　that　she　was　tired　of　him　and　wished　him　to　go；　if　she　felt　that　way；　there　was　nothing　for　him　to　do　but　succumb；　he　hoped　she　would　be　happy；　and　never　regret　having　driven　her　poo