登陆注册
5383200000012

第12章 TEMPLE BOW(2)

But the boy was relentless.

``Why,'' said he, ``my father was a friend of Mr.

Lowndes and Mr.Mathews.I have seen them here drinking with him.And in town.And he ran away?''

``I do not know where he went,'' said I, which was the truth.

He said nothing, but hid his face in his arms over the rail of the bower.At length he looked up at me fiercely.

``If you ever tell this, I will kill you,'' he cried.``Do you hear?''

That made me angry.

``Yes, I hear,'' I said.``But I am not afraid of you.''

He was at me in an instant, knocking me to the floor, so that the breath went out of me, and was pounding me vigorously ere I recovered from the shock and astonishment of it and began to defend myself.He was taller than I, and wiry, but not so rugged.Yet there was a look about him that was far beyond his strength.A look that meant, NEVER SAY DIE.Curiously, even as I fought desperately I compared him with that other lad I had known, Andy Jackson.And this one, though not so powerful, frightened me the more in his relentlessness.

Perhaps we should have been fighting still had not some one pulled us apart, and when my vision cleared I saw Nick, struggling and kicking, held tightly in the hands of the clergyman.And it was all that gentleman could do to hold him.I am sure it was quite five minutes before he forced the lad, exhausted, on to the seat.And then there was a defiance about his nostrils that showed he was undefeated.The clergyman, still holding him with one hand, took out his handkerchief with the other and wiped his brow.

I expected a scolding and a sermon.To my amazement the clergyman said quietly:--``Now what was the trouble, David?''

``I'll not be the one to tell it, sir,'' I said, and trembled at my temerity.

The parson looked at me queerly.

``Then you are in the right of it,'' he said.``It is as I thought; I'll not expect Nicholas to tell me.''

``I will tell you, sir,'' said Nicholas.``He was in the house with my father when--when he ran away.And Isaid that if he ever spoke of it to any one, I would kill him.''

For a while the clergyman was silent, gazing with a strange tenderness at the lad, whose face was averted.

``And you, David?'' he said presently.

``I--I never mean to tell, sir.But I was not to be frightened.''

``Quite right, my lad,'' said the clergyman, so kindly that it sent a strange thrill through me.Nicholas looked up quickly.

``You won't tell?'' he said.

``No,'' I said.

``You can let me go now, Mr.Mason,'' said he.Mr.

Mason did.And he came over and sat beside me, but said nothing more.

After a while Mr.Mason cleared his throat.

``Nicholas,'' said he, ``when you grow older you will understand these matters better.Your father went away to join the side he believes in, the side we all believe in--the King's side.

``Did he ever pretend to like the other side?'' asked Nick, quickly.

``When you grow older you will know his motives,''

answered the clergyman, gently.``Until then; you must trust him.''

``You never pretended,'' cried Nick.

``Thank God I never was forced to do so,'' said the clergyman, fervently.

It is wonderful that the conditions of our existence may wholly change without a seeming strangeness.After many years only vivid snatches of what I saw and heard and did at Temple Bow come back to me.I understood but little the meaning of the seigniorial life there.My chief wonder now is that its golden surface was not more troubled by the winds then brewing.It was a new life to me, one that I had not dreamed of.

After that first falling out, Nick and I became inseparable.Far slower than he in my likes and dislikes, he soon became a passion with me.Even as a boy, he did everything with a grace unsurpassed; the dash and daring of his pranks took one's breath; his generosity to those he loved was prodigal.Nor did he ever miss a chance to score those under his displeasure.At times he was reckless beyond words to describe, and again he would fall sober for a day.He could be cruel and tender in the same hour; abandoned and freezing in his dignity.He had an old negro mammy whose worship for him and his possessions was idolatry.I can hear her now calling and calling, ``Marse Nick, honey, yo' supper's done got cole,'' as she searched patiently among the magnolias.

And suddenly there would be a shout, and Mammy's turban go flying from her woolly head, or Mammy herself would be dragged down from behind and sat upon.

We had our supper, Nick and I, at twilight, in the children's dining room.A little white room, unevenly panelled, the silver candlesticks and yellow flames fantastically reflected in the mirrors between the deep windows, and the moths and June-bugs tilting at the lights.We sat at a little mahogany table eating porridge and cream from round blue bowls, with Mammy to wait on us.

Sometimes there floated in upon us the hum of revelry from the great drawing-room where Madame had her company.Often the good Mr.Mason would come in to us (he cared little for the parties), and talk to us of our day's doings.Nick had his lessons from the clergyman in the winter time.

Mr.Mason took occasion once to question me on what I knew.Some of my answers, in especial those relating to my knowledge of the Bible, surprised him.Others made him sad.

``David,'' said he, ``you are an earnest lad, with a head to learn, and you will.When your father comes, I shall talk with him.'' He paused--``I knew him,'' said he, ``Iknew him ere you were born.A just man, and upright, but with a great sorrow.We must never be hasty in our judgments.But you will never be hasty, David,'' he added, smiling at me.``You are a good companion for Nicholas.''

Nicholas and I slept in the same bedroom, at a corner of the long house, and far removed from his mother.She would not be disturbed by the noise he made in the mornings.

同类推荐
  • 佛说圣法印经

    佛说圣法印经

    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。
  • 佛说兜沙经

    佛说兜沙经

    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。
  • At the Earth's Core

    At the Earth's Core

    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。
  • 大观茶论

    大观茶论

    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。
  • 佛说菩萨本业经

    佛说菩萨本业经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 爱玛

    爱玛

    主人公爱玛是个美丽、聪慧而富有的姑娘,同时也是一位不折不扣的幻想家。她热心关注身边的浪漫故事,却又固执地认为自己永远不会陷入其中。她自作主张为孤女哈丽埃特导演了一次又一次的恋爱。当哈丽埃特误以为自己爱上了地方官奈特利先生时,爱玛才惊觉原来自己也在爱着奈特利先生。
  • 那年,仲夏之约

    那年,仲夏之约

    承诺!也许在每个人的青春里或多或少都对别人对自己有过承诺!“毕业后我们在一起吧”“那个夏天,我想娶你!”“我一定要有一场属于自己的演唱会”“……”而夏柯等的承诺却只是无期……那个夏天的约定,……如果那个夏天长一点,会不会有机会说再见!
  • 中国大文学家的故事

    中国大文学家的故事

    中华民族是一个有悠久历史的文明古国,在这个漫漫的历史长河中,为了中华民族的发展和兴旺,一批批优秀人物前赴后继,不懈努力,才换来了我们今天的幸福生活。
  • 灵士长生传

    灵士长生传

    一个少年,自幼受尽家族中人嘲笑奚落,背井离乡,只为寻求更强之路,他能否血洗羞耻?没落的家族,父亲唯一的希望,他能否完成自己对父亲的承诺呢?爱恨的纠葛,家族的羁绊,彼此相爱,却有种种牵挂,他们间的纠葛到底会如何演绎?
  • 天国的月亮

    天国的月亮

    那是初秋的一天上午,我正坐在《卫南晚报》记者部里,思考着今天该找什么新闻线索,以确保完成每月见报十五篇的采写任务,这时桌上的电话响了,我接听后话筒里传来一个苍老的声音。“请问,这是《卫南晚报》吗?”“是的。”“请帮我找一下郁松记者吧。”“我就是,” 我闻听一愣,“请问您是哪位?”“啊,那太好啦,我写了一篇稿子,想送给你看看,请等我一会儿,我马上赶过去。”
  • 最是晴好的时节

    最是晴好的时节

    青春的滋味如酸甜橙子的味道,我们怀念曾经的无话不谈,我们怀念那时的年少轻狂,我们怀念老师的千般絮叨,我们曾迷茫,我们曾失落又充满希望,也曾精虫上脑,干了无数坏事,曾偷偷暗恋别家男孩(女孩),也“恨”过人家的好孩子,再见了,这些年,放肆的你我;再见了课堂上接老师话吧子的时光;再见了小卖部的辣条、冰棍,还有吃独食的你。回顾曾经,我想我们唯一欠对方的是一句谢谢。谢谢,在最好的青春年华里遇见最好的你!青春就是这样,真是让人爱的想抱在怀里轻轻抚慰,又让人恨得牙痒痒,爱它的多情,恨它的无情,我希望也相信,我们会再见!更相信我们不会遗忘曾经你们是年少的欢喜!
  • 末世之狐妖降临

    末世之狐妖降临

    作为一名狐妖,为什么母亲风情万种,父亲风华绝代,而自己就像一只被拔毛的丑小鸭!!我到底是不是亲生的啊!而且,为什么人类世界如此恐怖!丧尸来临啦!!男主??男主你有女朋友啦!?没事,我不要你的人也不要你的心,只要把我的东西还给我就好啦!
  • 爱不逢时

    爱不逢时

    梁景行,你已经长我一轮,还要让我等吗?你就不怕再等你就真的老了,我们就此错过吗?
  • 家庭主妇“经济学”

    家庭主妇“经济学”

    本书没有生涩的公式和图表,完全用一种轻松的方式,以日常生活中发生的故事为主线,将经济学原理蕴涵其中。本书内容涵盖了家庭主妇们关心的消费、理财和在相夫教子、休闲娱乐、婚恋情感等过程中涉及的经济学知识。读完本书后,家庭主妇们会发现,原来经济学是如此实用,如此易学,如此贴近生活。
  • 亚德哈姆

    亚德哈姆

    陈大少,眯着眼,跷着二郎腿,嘴里还叼根牙芊,得意洋洋坐在椅子对着大表叔讲:“当初要不是为了我老婆,球大爷才愿意去打打杀杀。。。。。。。。。。。。。。