jeremy-第20章

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〃No；　Aunt　Amy。〃

〃They　grow　into　cross；　bad…tempered　men　whom　nobody　likes　and　nobody
trusts。　Do　you　want　to　be　like　that　when　you're　a　man　？〃

〃I　don't　care。〃

〃You　know　what　happened　to　'Don't　Care。'　I　shall　have　to　punish　you
if　you're　rude　to　me。〃

〃What　have　I　done　that's　rude？〃

〃You　mustn't　speak　to　me　like　that。　Is　that　the　way　you　speak　to
your　mother？〃

〃No；　Aunt　Amy。〃

〃Well；　then；　if　you　don't　speak　to　your　mother　like　that；　you
mustn't　speak　to　me　like　that；　either。〃

〃No；　Aunt　Amy。〃

〃Well；　then　。　。　。〃

This　hatred　was　quite　new　to　him。　He　had　once；　years　ago；　hated　a
black…faced　doll　that　had　been　given　to　him。　He　had　not　known　why　he
hated　it；　but　there　it　had　been。　He　had　thrown　it　out　of　the　window；
and　the　gardener　had　found　it　and　brought　it　into　the　house　again；
battered　and　bruised；　but　still　alive；　with　its　horrid　red　smile；
and　this　had　terrified　him。　。　。　He　had　begun　to　burn　it；　and　the
nurse　had　caught　him　and　slapped　him。　He　had　begun　to　cut　it　with
scissors；　and　when　the　sawdust　flowed　he　was　more　terrified　than
ever。　But　that　doll　was　quite　different　from　Aunt　Amy。　He　was　not
terrified　of　her　at　all。　He　hated　her。　Hated　the　fringe　of　her　black
hair；　the　heavy　eyelashes；　the　thin　down　on　her　upper　lip；　the　way
that　the　gold　cross　fell　up　and　down　on　her　breast；　her　thin；　blue…
veined　hands；　her　black　shoes。　She　was　his　first　enemy；　and　he
waited；　as　an　ambush　hides　and　watches；　for　his　opportunity。　。　。




II


One　of　our　nicest　old　maids；　Miss　Maddison；　gave　every　year　what　she
called　her　〃early　summer　party。〃　This　was　different　from　all　our
other　parties；　because　it　occurred　neither　in　the　summer　nor　in　the
winter；　but　always　during　those　wonderful　days　when　the　spring　first
began　to　fade　into　the　high　bright　colours；　the　dry　warmth；　the　deep
green　shadows　of　the　heat　of　the　year。　It　was　early　in　May　that　Miss
Maddison　had　her　party；　and　we　played　games　on　her　little　sloping
green　lawn；　and　peered　over　her　pink…　brick　wall　down　on　to　the
brown　roofs　of　the　houses　below　the　Close；　and　had　a　tremendous　tea
of　every　kind　of　cake　and　every　kind　of　jam　in　her　wainscoted
dining…room　that　looked　out　through　its　tall　open　windows　on　to　the
garden。　Those　old　houses　that　run　in　a　half…moon　round　the　Close；
and　face　the　green　sward　and　the　great　western　door　of　the
Cathedral；　are　the　very　heart　of　Polchester。　Walking　down　the
cobbled　street；　one　may　still　to…day　look　through　the　open　door；
down　the　dusky　line　of　the　little　hall；　out　into　the　swimming　colour
of　the　garden　beyond。　In　these　little　gardens；　what　did　not　grow？
Hollyhocks；　pinks；　tulips；　nasturtiums；　pansies；　lilies　of　the
valley；　roses；　honeysuckle；　sweet…williams；　stocksI　remember　them
all　at　their　different　seasons　in　that　muddled；　absurd　profusion。　I
can　smell　them　now；　can　see　them　in　their　fluttering　colours；　the
great　grey　wall　of　the　Cathedral；　with　its　high　carved　door　and
watching　saints　behind　me；　the　sun　beating　on　to　the　cobbles；　the
muffled　beat　of　the　summer　day；　the　sleepy　noises　of　the　town；　the
pigeons　cutting　the　thin；　papery　blue　into　arcs　and　curves　and
circles；　the　little　lattice…windowed　houses；　with　crooked　chimneys
and　shining　doors；　smiling　down　upon　me。　I　can　smell；　too；　that
especial　smell　that　belonged　to　those　summer　hours；　a　smell　of　dried
blotting…paper；　of　corn　and　poppies　from　the　fields；　of　cobble…
stones　and　new…baked　bread　and　lemonade；　and　behind　the　warmth　and
colour　the　cool　note　of　the　Cathedral　bell　echoed　through　the　town；
down　the　High　Street；　over　the　meads；　across　the　river；　out　into　the
heart　of　the　dark　woods　and　the　long　spaces　of　the　summer　fields。　I
can　see　myself；　too；　toiling　up　the　High　Street；　my　cap　on　the　back
of　my　head；　little　beads　of　perspiration　on　my　forehead；　and　my　eyes
always　gazing　into　the　air；　so　that　I　stumbled　over　the　cobbles　and
knocked　against　doorsteps。　All　these　things　had　to　do　with　Miss
Maddison's　parly；　and　it　was　always　her　party　that　marked　the
beginning　of　them　for　us；　she　waited　for　the　fine　weather；　and　so
soon　as　it　came　the　invitations　were　sent　out；　the　flower…beds　were
trimmed；　the　little　green　wooden　seats　under　the　mulberry　tree　were
cleaned；　and　Poupee；　the　black　poodle；　was　clipped。

It　happened　this　year　that　Miss　Maddison　gave　her　party　during　the
very　week　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Cole　went　to　Drymouth。　She　sent　out　her
invitations　only　three　days　before　the　great　event；　because　the
summer　had　come　with　so　fine　a　rush。　〃Master　Jeremy　and　the　Misses
Cole。　。　。　Would　they　give　Miss　Maddison　the　pleasure　。　。　。　？〃　Yes；
of　course　they　would。　Aunt　Amy　would　take　them。

On　the　morning　of　the　great　day　Jeremy　poured　the　contents　of　his
watering…can　upon　Aunt　Amy's　head。　It　was　a　most　unfortunate
accident；　arranged　obviously　by　a　malignant　fate。　Jeremy　had　been
presented　with　a　pot　of　pinks；　and　these；　every　morning；　he　most
faithfully　watered。　He　had　a　bright…red　watering…can；　bought　with
his　own　money；　and；　because　it　held　more　water　than　the　pinks
needed；　he　was　in　the　daily　habit　of　emptying　the　remnant　in　a
glittering　shower　out　of　the　pantry　window　on　to　the　bed　nearest　the
garden　wall。　Upon　this　morning　someone　called　him；　he　turned　his
head；　the　water　still　flowed；　and　Aunt　Amy；　hatless　and　defenceless；
received　it　as　it　tumbled　with　that　sudden　rush　which　always　seizes
a　watering…can　at　its　last　gasp。　Jeremy　was　banished　into　his
bedroom；　where　he　employed　the　sunny　morning　in　drawing　pictures　of
Aunt　Amy　as　a　witch　upon　the　wallpaper。　For　doing　this　he　was　caned
by　Aunt　Amy　herself　with　a　ruler；　and　at　the　end　of　the　operation　he
laughed　and　said　she　hadn't　hurt　him　at　all。　In　return　for　this
impertinence　he　was　robbed；　at　luncheon；　of　his　puddingwhich　was；
of　course；　on　that　very　day；　marmalade　puddingand　then；　Mary
being　discovered　putting　some　of　hers　into　a　piece　of　paper；　to　be
delivered　to　him　in　due　course；　they　were　both　stood　in　different
corners　of　the　room　〃until　you　say　you're　sorry。〃

When　the　jingle　arrived　at　three　o'clock　they　had　still　not　made
this　acknowledgment；　and　Jeremy　said　he　never　would；　〃not　if　he
lived　till　he　was　ninety…nine。〃　At　quarter　past　three　Jeremy　might
have　been　seen　sitting　up　very　straight　in　the　jingle；　his　face
crimson　from　washing　and　temper。　He　was　wearing　his　new　sailor　suit；
which　tickled　him　and　was　hot　and　sticky；　he　sat　there　devoting　the
whole　of　his　energies　to　the　business　of　hating　Aunt　Amy。

As　I　have　said；　he　had　never　hated　anyone　before；　and　he　was
surprised　at　the　glow　of　virtuous　triumph　that　this　new　emotion
spread　over　his　body。　He　positively　loved　to　hate　Aunt　Amy；　and　as
Parkes；　the　pony；　slowly　toiled　up　the　hill　to　the　Cathedral；　he　sat
stiff　and　proud　with　an　almost　humorous　anger。　Then；　as　they　turned
over　the　hot　shining　cobbles　into　the　Close　and　saw　the　green　trees
swimming　in　the　sun；　he　turned　his　mind　to　the　party。　What　games
would　they　play？　Who　would　be　there？　What　would　there　be　for　tea　？
He　felt　creeping　over　him　the　stiff　shyness　that　always　comes　when
one　is　approaching　a　party；　and　he　wished　that　the　first　handshaking
and　the　first　plunge　into　the　stares　of　the　critical　guests　might　be
over。　But　he　did　not　really　care。　His　hatred　of　Aunt　Amy　braced　him
up；　when　one　was　capable　of　so　fine　and　manly　an　emotion　as　this
hatred；　one　need　not　bother　about　fellow…guests。　Then　the　jingle
stopped　outside　a　house　immediately　opposite　the　great　west…end　door
of　the　Cathedral；　in　the　little　hall　Miss　Maddison　was　standing；　and
from　the　glittering　garden　behind　her　the　sun　struck　through　the
house　into　the　shadowed　street。

Jeremy's　public　manners　were；　when　he　pleased；　quite　beautiful〃the
true；　old…fashioned　courtesy；〃　gushing　friends　of　the　Cole　family
used　to　say。　He　was　preparing　to　be　very　polite　now；　when　suddenly
the　voice　of　the　Dean's　Ernest　ordering　people　about　in　the　garden
struck　upon　his　ear。　He　had　not　seen　the　Dean's　Ernest　for　nearly
three　months；　for　the　very　good　reason　that　that　gentleman　had　been
experiencing　his　first　term　at　his　private　school。　Last　year　young
Ernest　and　Jeremy　had　been；　on　the　whole；　friendly；　although　Ernest；
who　was　nine；　and　strong　for　his　age；　had　always　patronised。　And
now？　Jeremy　longed　to　inform　his　friend　that　he　also　shortly　would
proceed　to　school；　that　in　another　six　months'　time　there　would　be
practically　no　difference　between　them。　Nevertheless；　at　the　present
moment　there　was　a　difference。　。　。　Ernest　had　a　whole　term　to　his
credit。

New　arrivals　gently　insinuated　the　Cole　family　into　the　garden。
Helen；　proud　and　cold；　Mary；　blinking　and　nervous；　stood　pressed
close　together　whilst　other　little　girls　stared　and　giggled；　moved
forward　and　then　backward　again；　until　suddenly　Canon　Lasker's
Emily；　who　was　fifteen　and　had　such　long　legs　that　she　was　known　as
〃the　Giraffe；〃　came　up　and　said：　〃Isn't　it　hot！　Do　you　play　croquet？
Please…do！　I'll　havetheblue　ball。　。　。〃　And　the　Coles　were
initiated。

Meanwhile；　Aunt　Amy　had　said：　〃Now；　Jeremy；　dear；　run　about　and　make
friends。〃　Which　so　deeply　infuriated　him　that　he　choked。　Oh！
supposing　the　Dean's　Ernest　had　heard　her！　。　。　。

And　he　had！　A　mocking　voice　behind　him　said：　〃Now；　Jeremy；　dear〃

Jeremy　turned　round　and　beheld　the　Dean's　Ernest　mockingly　waiting
his　retort。　And　he　could　not　retort。　No　words　would　come；　and　he
could　only　stand　there；　his　cheeks　flushed；　aware　that　Ernest　had
grown　and　grown　during　those　three　months；　that　he　wore　a　straw　hat
with　a　black…and…red　ribbon　upon　it；　that　round　his　long　ugly　neck
was　a　stiff　white　collar；　and　across　his　waistcoat　a　thick　silver
watch…chain。

〃Hallo！〃　said　Jeremy。

〃Hallo！〃　said　the　new　Ernest　scornfully。

A　long　pause。

Then　Ernest；　turning　on　his　heel；　said　to　someone　behind　him：　〃Let's
get　away　from　all　these　girls！〃　The　tears　burnt　in　Jeremy's　eyes；
hot　and　salt。　He　clenched　his　fists　and　gazed　upon　a　garden　that
swam　in　a　mist　of　tears　and　sunlight。　He　felt　a　sudden　strange
impulse　of　family　affection。　He　would　like　to　have　gathered　behind
him　his　father　and　mother；　Mary；　Helen；　Hamlet；　Uncle　Samuelyes；
and　even　Aunt　Amy；　arid　to　have　advanced　not　only　upon　Ernest；　but
upon　the　whole　Dean's　family。　It　would　have　given　him　great　pleasure
to　have　set　his　teeth　into　the　fat　legs　of　the　Dean　himself；　he
would　gladly　have　torn　the　hat　from　the　head　of　Mrs。　Dean。　。　。　Upon
Ernest　there　was　no　torture　he　would　not　employ。

He　would　get　even；　he　resolved　that　before　he　left　that　house　he
would　have　his　revenge。

Kind　Miss　Maddison；　tripping　along　and　seeing　him　as　a　pathetic
little　boy　in　a　sailor　suit　without　guile　or　malice；　swept　him　into
an　〃I　spy〃　party　composed　for　the　most　part　of　small　girls　who　fell
down　and　cried　and　said　they　would　go　home。

Jeremy；　hiding　behind　a　tree；　watched　the　thin　back　of　Ernest　as　it
lifted　itself　autocratically　above　two　small　boys　who　looked　up　to
him　with　saucer…eyes。　Ernest　was　obviously　talking　about　his　school。
Jeremy；　lost　in　the　contemplation　of　his　vengeance；　forgot　his　game；
and　was　taken　prisoner　with　the　greatest　of　ease。　He　did　not　care。
The　afternoon　was　spoilt　for　him。　He　was　not　even　hungry。　Why　could
he　not　go