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！
but there was no desire to investigate； it was the universal
sentiment。 〃Down with it！ Hurrah； we'll have our footpath open
again！ Down with the fences！ Britons never shall be slaves！〃 as
Larkins finally ejaculated。
〃That's the way to bring it to bear！〃 said Harvey Anderson； 〃See if
he dares to bring an action against us。 Hurrah！〃
〃Yes； that's the way to settle it；〃 said Norman。 〃Let's have it
down。 It is an oppressive； arbitrary； shameful proceeding； and we'll
show him we won't submit to it！〃
Carried along by the general feeling； the whole troop of boys dashed
shouting up to the barricade at the entrance of the field； and
levelled it with the ground。 A handkerchief was fastened to the top
of one of the stakes； and waved over the brewhouse wall； and some of
the boys were for picking up stones and dirt； and launching them
over； in hopes of spoiling the beer； but Norman put a stop to this；
and brought them back to the school…yard； still in a noisy state of
exultation。
It cooled a little by…and…by under the doubt how their exploit would
be taken。 At home； Norman found it already known； and his father
half glad； half vexed； enjoying the victory over Tomkins； yet a
little uneasy on his son's behalf。 〃What will Dr。 Hoxton say to the
dux？〃 said he。 〃I didn't know he was to be dux in mischief as well
as out of it。〃
〃You can't call it mischief； papa； to resent an unwarranted
encroachment of our rights by such an old ruffian as that。 One's
blood is up to think of the things he has done！〃
〃He richly deserves it； no doubt；〃 said the doctor； 〃and yet I wish
you had been out of the row。 If there is any blame； you will be the
first it will light on。〃
〃I am glad of it； that is but just。 Anderson and I seem to have
stirred it upif it wanted stirringfor it was in every fellow
there； indeed； I had no notion it was coming to this when I began。〃
〃Oratory；〃 said the doctor； smiling。 〃Ha； Norman！ Think a little
another time； my boy； before you take the law into your own hands；
or； what is worse； into a lot of hands you can't control for good；
though you may excite them to harm。〃
Dr。 Hoxton did not come into school at the usual hour； and； in the
course of the morning； sent for May senior； to speak to him in his
study。
He looked very broad； awful； and dignified； as he informed him that
Mr。 Tomkins had just been with him to complain of the damage that had
been done； and he appeared extremely displeased that the dux should
have been no check on such proceedings。
〃I am sorry； sir；〃 said Norman； 〃but I believe it was the general
feeling that he had no right to stop the alley； and； therefore； that
it could not be wrong to break it down。〃
〃Whether he has a right or not is not a question to be settled by
you。 So I find that you； whose proper office it is to keep order；
have been inflaming the mischievous and aggressive spirit amongst the
others。 I am surprised at you； I thought you were more to be
depended upon； May； in your position。〃
Norman coloured a good deal； and simply answered？ 〃I am sorry； sir。〃
〃Take care； then； that nothing of the kind happens again；〃 said Dr。
Hoxton； who was very fond of him； and did not find fault with him
willingly。
That the first inflammatory discourse had been made by Anderson did
not appear to be knownhe only came in for the general reprimand
given to the school。
It was reported the following evening； just as the town boys turned
out to go to their homes； that 〃old Tomkins had his fence up five
times higher than before。〃
〃Have at him again； say I！〃 exclaimed Axworthy。 〃What business has
he coming stopping up ways that were made before he was born？〃
〃We shall catch it from the doctor if we do；〃 said Edward Anderson；
〃He looked in no end of a rage yesterday when he talked about the
credit of the school。〃
〃Who cares for the credit of the school？〃 said the elder Anderson；
〃we are out of the school nowwe are townsmenStoneborough boys
citizens not bound to submit to injustice。 No； no； the old rogue
knew it would not stand if it was brought into court； so he brings
down old Hoxton on us insteada dirty trick he deserves to be
punished for。〃
And there was a general shout and yell in reply。
〃Anderson；〃 said Norman； 〃you had better not excite them again； they
are ripe for mischief。 It will go further than it did yesterday
don't you see？〃
Anderson could not afford to get into a scrape without May to stand
before him； and rather sulkily he assented。
〃It is of no use to rave about old Tomkins；〃 proceeded Norman； in his
style of popular oratory。 〃If it is illegal； some one will go to law
about it； and we shall have our alley again。 We have shown him our
mind once； and that is enough； if we let him alone now； he will see
'tis only because we are ordered； not for his sake。 It would be just
putting him in the right； and maybe winning his cause for him； to use
any more violence。 There's law for you； Anderson。 So now no more
about itlet us all go home like rational fellows。 August； where's
August？〃
Tom was not visiblehe generally avoided going home with his
brother； and Norman having seen the boys divide into two or three
little parties； as their roads lay homewards； found he had an hour of
light for an expedition of his own； along the bank of the river。 He
had taken up botany with much ardour； and sharing the study with
Margaret was a great delight to both。 There was a report that the
rare yellow bog…bean grew in a meadow about a mile and a half up the
river； and thither he was bound； extremely enjoying the summer
evening walk； as the fresh dewy coolness sunk on all around； and the
noises of the town were mellowed by distance； and the sun's last
beams slanted on the green meadows； and the May…flies danced； and
dragon…flies darted； and fish rose or leaped high in the air； or
showed their spotted sides； and opened and shut their gills； as they
rested in the clear water； and the evening breeze rustled in the tall
reeds； and brought fragrance from the fresh…mown hay。
It was complete enjoyment to Norman after his day's study and the
rule and watch over the unruly crowd of boys； and he walked and
wandered and collected plants for Margaret till the sun was down； and
the grasshoppers chirped clamorously； while the fern…owl purred； and
the beetle hummed； and the skimming swallows had given place to the
soft…winged bat； and the large white owl floating over the fields as
it moused in the long grass。
The summer twilight was sobering every tint； when； as Norman crossed
the cricket…field； he heard； in the distance； a loud shout。 He
looked up； and it seemed to him that he saw some black specks dancing
in the forbidden field； and something like the waving of a flag； but
it was not light enough to be certain； and he walked quickly home。
The front door was fastened； and； while he was waiting to be let in；
Mr。 Harrison walked by； and called out； 〃You are late at home to…
nightit is half…past nine。〃
〃I have been taking a walk； sir。〃
A good…night was the answer； as he was admitted。 Every one in the
drawing…room looked up； and exclaimed as he entered； 〃Where's Tom？〃
〃What！ he is not come home？〃
〃No！ Was he not with you？〃
〃I missed him after school。 I was persuaded he was come home。 I
have been to look for the yellow bog…bean。 There； Margaret。 Had not
I better go and look for him？〃
〃Yes； do；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃The boy is never off one's mind。〃
A sort of instinctive dread directed Norman's steps down the open
portion of Randall's Alley； and； voices growing louder as he came
nearer； confirmed his suspicions。 The fence at this end was down；
and； on entering the field； a gleam of light met his eye on the
grounda cloud of smoke； black figures were flitting round it；
pushing brands into red places； and feeding the bonfire。
〃What have you been doing？〃 exclaimed Norman。 〃You have got
yourselves into a tremendous scrape！〃
A peal of laughter； and shout of 〃Randall and Stoneborough for ever！〃
was the reply。
〃August！ May junior！ Tom！ answer me！ Is he here？〃 asked Norman；
not solicitous to identify any one。
But gruff voices broke in upon them。 〃There they are； nothing like
'em for mischief。〃
〃Come； young gentlemen；〃 said a policeman； 〃be off； if you please。
We don't want to have none of you at the station to…night。〃
A general hurry…skurry ensued。 Norman alone； strong in innocence；
walked quietly away； and； as he came forth from the darkness of the
alley； beheld something scouring away before him； in the direction of
home。 It popped in at the front door before him； but was not in the
drawing…room。 He strode upstairs； called； but was not answered； and
found； under the bedclothes； a quivering mass； consisting of Tom；
with all his clothes on； fully persuaded that it was the policeman
who was pursuing him。
CHAPTER XXII。
Oh Life； without thy chequered scene；
Of right and wrong； of weal and woe；
Success and failure； could a ground
For magnanimity be found？
WORDSWORTH。
Dr。 May was called for late the next day； Friday； and spent some time
in one of the houses near the river。 It