登陆注册
4808500000040

第40章 THE MORAL REFORMERS.(7)

"That's rummy," said McTurk, as a snore mixed with a sob. "'Cheek, _I_ think; or else he's shammin'.""No, 'tisn't," said Beetle. "'When 'Molly' Fairburn had attended to me for an hour or so I used to go bung off to sleep on a form sometimes. Poor devil! But he called me a beastly poet, though.""Well, come on." Stalky lowered his voice. "Good-by, Campbell. 'Member, if you don't talk, nobody will."There should have been a war-dance, but that all three were so utterly tired that they almost went to sleep above the tea-cups in their study, and slept till prep.

"A most extraordinary letter. Are all parents incurably mad? What do you make of it?" said the Head, handing a closely written eight pages to the Reverend John.

"'The only son of his mother, and she a widow.' That is the least reasonable sort."The chaplain read with pursed lips. "If half those charges are true he should be in the sick-house; whereas he is disgustingly well. Certainly he has shaved. I noticed that.""Under compulsion, as his mother points out. How delicious! How salutary!""You haven't to answer her. It isn't often I don't know what has happened in the school; but this is beyond me.""If you asked me I should say seek not to propitiate. When one is forced to take crammers' pups--""He was perfectly well at extra-tuition--with me--this morning," said the Head, absently. "Unusually well behaved, too.""--they either educate the school, or the school, as in this case, educates them. Iprefer our own methods," the chaplain concluded.

"You think it was that?" A lift of the Head's eyebrow.

"I'm sure of it! And nothing excuses his trying to give the College a bad name.""That's the line I mean to take with him," the Head answered.

The Augurs winked.

A few days later the Reverend John called on Number Five. "Why haven't we seen you before, Padre?" said they.

"I've been watching times and seasons and events and men--and boys," he replied. "Iam pleased with my Tenth Legion. I make them my compliments. Clewer was throwing ink-balls in form this morning, instead of doing his work. He is now doing fifty lines for--unheard-of audacity.""You can't blame us, sir," said Beetle. "You told us to remove the--er--pressure.

That's the worst of a fag."

"I've known boys five years his senior throw ink-balls, Beetle. To such an one have I given two hundred lines--not so long ago. And now I come to think of it, were those lines ever shown up?""Were they, Turkey?' said Beetle unblushingly.

"Don't you think Clewer looks a little cleaner, Padre?" Stalky interrupted.

"We're no end of moral reformers," said McTurk.

"It was all Stalky, but it was a lark," said Beetle.

"I have noticed the moral reform in several quarters. Didn't I tell you you had more influence than any boys in the Coll. if you cared to use it?""It's a trifle exhaustin' to use frequent--our kind of moral suasion. Besides, you see, it only makes Clewer cheeky.""I wasn't thinking of Clewer; I was thinking of--the other people, Stalky.""Oh, we didn't bother much about the other people," said McTurk. "Did we?""But _I_ did--from the beginning."

"Then you knew, sir?"

A downward puff of smoke. "Boys educate each other, they say, more than we can or dare. If I had used one half of the moral suasion you may or may not have employed--""With the best motives in the world. Don't forget our pious motives, Padre," said McTurk.

"I suppose I should be now languishing in Bideford jail, shouldn't I? Well, to quote the Head, in a little business which we have agreed to forget, that strikes me as flagrant injustice ... What are you laughing at, you young sinners? Isn't it true? Iwill not stay to be shouted at. What I looked into this den of iniquity for was to find out if any one cared to come down for a bathe off the Ridge. But I see you won't.""Won't we, though! Half a shake, Padre Sahib, till we get our towels, and _nous_sommes_avec_vous_!"

同类推荐
  • 洞真西王母宝神起居经

    洞真西王母宝神起居经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Christian Science

    Christian Science

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上慈悲九幽拔罪忏

    太上慈悲九幽拔罪忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蓝公案

    蓝公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜜蜂计

    蜜蜂计

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我竟然是白骨精

    我竟然是白骨精

    我是一只生活在白虎岭上单纯可爱又活波天真的小白骨精,本来我在这里过着无忧无虑单纯美好的小生活,可某一天,我这种简单平静的生活却被一群自称来自东土大唐的和尚给打破了……
  • 财商考验智慧(下)

    财商考验智慧(下)

    本套从书集当代多家的研究成果于一体,系统地阐述了各种要素对人生历程的影响,它通俗易懂、体例活泼,重点突出,内容丰富,风格清新,读者的阅读过程本身就是一种人生的享受与愉悦。人生的智慧与经验告诉我们:追求需要了解人生的轨迹,而成功则需要科学地认识自己。人生的成败,究竟是命运主宰的还是自己创造的。探讨与预测人生的发展,是一门学问,现代科学研究表明,人生的未来是由现在的自我多种要素决定的。人生测试,目的是为了创造美好的人生未来。愿本丛书能给读者带来发现自己的快乐,带来明天的幸福人生。
  • 哈尔滨的愤怒

    哈尔滨的愤怒

    官吏的腐败、司法的腐败,是最大的腐败,是滋生和助长其他腐败的重要原因。——江泽民在中纪委八次全会上的讲话。哈尔滨是座英雄的城市,是第一个夺取并建立红色政权的省会城市,是全国解放战争的总后方。哈尔滨市人民政府成立于一九四六年的春天,铅灰色的市政府大楼座落在道里区,被两条以烈士名字命名的大街——尚志街和兆麟街拥抱着。市长们办公的小楼与李兆麟将军被害地近在咫尺,而李兆麟身中七刀的躯体就在隔道的大屋顶建筑的大院里停放过。
  • 安徒生童话精选大全

    安徒生童话精选大全

    本书共有一百六十多篇,本书精选了部分作品。其中,“丑小鸭”塑造了一个具有高尚心灵的理想形象;“卖火柴的小女孩”描绘了一幅震撼心灵的悲惨画面,却又是这般美丽;“皇帝的新装”、“五颗豌豆”在揭露假恶丑的同时,又充满了喜剧性的幽默感;“野天鹅”那出神入化的奇妙意境,洋溢着诗一般的抒情色彩。这些童话故事闪烁着智慧和情感的光芒,照耀着一代又一代人的心灵。
  • 年轻人要多懂点国学修养

    年轻人要多懂点国学修养

    这是一本帮助年轻人有效提升国学修养,完善立身处世能力的人生智慧宝典。本书从自立自强、放大格局、善于取舍、感恩惜福、安贫乐道、宽厚包容、达观处世等多个方面入手,通过层层深入的阐释和对典型案例的评析,全面讲解了年轻人急需掌握的各种人生哲理,不仅能激励年轻人乐观进取、自强不息,耐得住寂寞,挡得住诱惑,还能帮助他们培养谦和、感恩、自省、包容的心态,提高个人素养,赢得好人缘,是一本不可多得的国学修养必读书。
  • 我爸爸真是召唤师

    我爸爸真是召唤师

    霍尔再次穿越了,等他醒来之后,他发现竟然有一个萌萌哒的眼睛看着自己。“爸爸!你醒了?!”莫名其妙的多了一个女儿也就算了,自己的能力,召唤兽竟然都消失不见!好在系统空间恢复过来,这让霍尔忍不住抹了一把汗水。“爸爸!你会变魔术么?”“爸爸,我也想要一条听话的小黑!”“我告诉你们,我爸爸可厉害了!随便叫几个动物出来就能收拾你们!”“小黑!走!打他!”小黑……霍尔……“看来做爸爸不是那么容易啊!”
  • 你是夏夜的繁星

    你是夏夜的繁星

    “去把桌子上的水果拿来”“不要,我又不是你的佣人!”苏夏瞳瞪着她那双大葡萄眼,怒视着一脸悠哉躺在大床上的赫连北陌。“你说什么?”赫连北陌晃了晃手里的合约,深眸邪肆。“过来”赫连北陌朝苏夏勾了勾手。“干嘛?”苏夏不情愿地走到床前“你捏我脸干嘛!”赫连北陌捏起苏夏瞳婴儿肥的小脸“以后还敢不敢顶嘴了”“不敢了不敢了。”【本书甜宠无虐欢迎入坑】
  • 琴堂谕俗编

    琴堂谕俗编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 十万九千里

    十万九千里

    修行路没有尽头?可有前辈说这条路一共十万九千里,但从没有人走完这十万九千里的修行路。很多修行者一辈子都只走出了第一里,甚至是第一步。有人决心要走完这十万九千里,不止要走完,更要走出去。
  • 三星堆之101个谜

    三星堆之101个谜

    如果有人问,中国最神秘的图书是什么?我会毫不犹豫地回答,《山海经》。如果有人问,中国最具魅力的青铜文明是谁?我会毫不犹豫地回答三星堆……三星堆,一座古城,一个迷失的古国,跨进三星堆,就是跨进一座谜的城,一个谜的国度。