jeremy-第4章

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to　listen　when　the　Jampot　suggested　that　he　should　move　forward。

He　could　see　the　diamonds　like　drops　of　water　in　the　sun；　and　the
pearls　like　drops　of　milk；　and　the　rubies　like　drops　of　blood；　but
it　was　not　of　diamonds；　pearls　or　rubies　that　he　was　thinkinghe
thought　only　of　his　village。　He　would　ring　the　church　bell；　and　then
all　the　Noah　family　should　start　out　of　the　door；　down　the　garden；
up　the　village　street。　。　。　It　did　not　matter　if　one　of　the　younger
Noahs　should　be　lazy　and　wish　to　stay　at　home　beneath　the　flowering
trees　of　the　orchard。　She　would　not　be　allowed。　。　。　He　was　as　God。　。
。　He　was　as　God。　。　。　The　butcher　should　go　（if　he　was　not　stuck　to
his　shop）；　and　even　some　of　his　cows　might　go。　。　。　。　He　was　as
God。　。　。

He　heard　Mary's　voice　in　his　ear。

〃And　after　that　they　all　ate　chocolates　with　white　cream　and　red
cream；　and　they　sucked　it　off　pins；　and　there　were　hard　bits　and
soft　bits；　and　the　Princess　（she　was　a　frog　now。　You　remember；　don't
you；　Jeremy？　The　witch　turned　her）　hotted　the　oven　like　cook　has；
with　black　doors；　and　hotted　it　and　hotted　it；　but　suddenly　there
was　a　noise〃

And；　on　the　other　side；　the　Jampot's　voice：　〃You　naughty　boy；
stoppin'　'ere　for　everyone　to　see；　just　because　it's　your　birthday；
which　I　wish　there　wasn't　no　birthdays；　nor　there　wouldn't　be　if　I
had　my　way。〃

Jeremy　turned　from　Mr。　Thompson's　window；　a　scornful　smile　on　his
face：

〃I'm　bigger'n　you；　Nurse；〃　he　said。　〃If　I　said　out　loud；　'I　won't
go；'　I　wouldn't　go；　and　no　one　could　make　me。〃

〃Well；　come　along；　then；〃　said　Nurse。

〃Don't　be　so　stupid；　Jerry；〃　said　Helen　calmly。　〃If　a　policeman　came
and　said　you　had　to　go　home　you'd　have　to　go。〃

〃No　I　wouldn't；〃　said　Jeremy。

〃Then　they'd　put　you　in　prison。〃

〃They　could。〃

〃They'd　hang　you；　perhaps。〃

〃They　could；〃　replied　Jeremy。

Farther　than　this　argument　cannot　go；　so　Helen　shrugged　her
shoulders　and　said：　〃You　are　silly。〃

And　they　all　moved　forward。

He　found　then　that　this　new　sense　or　God…like　power　detracted　a
little　from　the　excitements　of　the　Market　Place；　although　the
flower…stall　was　dazzling　with　flowers；　there　was　a　new　kind　of　pig
that　lifted　its　tail　and　lowered　it　again　on　the　toy　stall；　and　the
apple…woman　was　as　fat　as　ever　and　had　thick　clumps　of　yellow
bananas　hanging　most　richly　around　her　head。　They　ascended　the　High
Street　and　reached　the　Close。　It　was　half…past　three；　and　the
Cathedral　bells　had　begun　to　ring　for　evensong。　All　the　houses　in
the　Close　were　painted　with　a　pale　yellow　light；　across　the　long
green　Cathedral　lawn　thin　black　shadows　like　the　fingers　of　giants
pointed　to　the　Cathedral　door。　All　was　so　silent　here　that　the　bells
danced　against　the　houses　and　back　again；　the　echoes　lingering　in
the　high　elms　and　mingling　with　the　placid　cooing　of　the　rooks。

〃There's　Mrs。　Sampson；〃　said　Jeremy。　〃Aunt　Amy　says　she's　a　wicked
woman。　Do　you　think　she's　a　wicked　woman；　Nurse？〃　He　gazed　at　the
stout　figure　with　interest。　If　he　were　truly　God　he　would　turn　her
into　a　rabbit。　This　thought　amused　him；　and　he　began　to　laugh。

〃You　naughty　boy；　now　come　along；　do；〃　said　the　Jampot；　who
distrusted　laughter　in　Jerry。

〃I'll　ring　the　bells　when　I　grow　up；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　ring　them
in　the　middle　of　the　night；　so　that　everyone　will　have　to　go　to
church　when　they　don't　want　to。　I'll　be　able　to　do　what　I　like　when
I　grow　up。〃

〃No；　you　won't；〃　said　Helen。　〃Father　and　Mother　can't　do　what　they
like。〃

〃Yes　they　can；〃　said　Jeremy。

〃No　they　can't；〃　answered　Helen；　〃or　they　would。〃

〃So　they　do；〃　said　Jeremy〃silly。〃

〃Silly　yourself；〃　said　Helen　very　calmly；　because　she　knew　very　well
that　she　was　not　silly。

〃Now；　children；　stop　it；　do；〃　said　the　Jampot。

Jeremy's　sense　of　newly　received　power　reached　its　climax　when　they
walked　round　the　Close　and　reached　the　back　of　the　Cathedral。　I　know
that　now；　both　for　Jeremy　and　me；　that　prospect　has　dwindled　into
its　proper　grown…　up　proportions；　but　how　can　a　man；　be　he　come　to
threescore　and　ten　and　more；　ever　forget　the　size；　the　splendour；
the　stupendous　extravagance　of　that　early　vision？

Jeremy　saw　that　day　the　old　fragment　of　castle　wall；　the　green
expanse　falling　like　a　sheeted　waterfall　from　the　Cathedral　heights；
the　blue　line　of　river　flashing　in　the　evening　sun　between　the　bare…
boughed　trees；　the　long　spaces　of　black　shadow　spreading　slowly　over
the　colour；　as　though　it　were　all　being　rolled　up　and　laid　away　for
another　day；　the　brown　frosty　path　of　the　Rope　Walk；　the　farther
bank　climbing　into　fields　and　hedges；　ending　in　the　ridge　of　wood；
black　against　the　golden　sky。　And　all　so　still！　As　the　children
stood　there　they　could　catch　nestlings'　faint　cries；　stirrings　of
dead　leaves　and　twigs；　as　birds　and　beasts　moved　to　their　homes；　the
cooing　of　the　rooks　about　the　black　branches　seemed　to　promise　that
this　world　should　be　for　ever　tranquil；　for　ever　cloistered　and
removed；　the　sun；　red　and　flaming　above　the　dark　wood；　flung　white
mists　hither　and　thither　to　veil　its　departure。　The　silence
deepened；　the　last　light　flamed　on　the　river　and　died　upon　the　hill。

〃Now；　children；　come　along　do；〃　said　the　Jampot　who　had　been　held　in
spite　of　herself；　and　would　pay　for　it；　she　knew；　in　rheumatism　to…
morrow。　It　was　then　that　Jeremy's　God…flung　sense　of　power；　born
from　that　moment　early　in　the　day　when　he　had　sat　in　the　wicker
chair；　reached　its　climax。　He　stood　there；　his　legs　apart；　looking
upon　the　darkening　world　and　felt　that　he　could　do　anything
anything。　。　。

At　any　rate；　there　was　one　thing　that　he　could　do；　disobey　the
Jampot。

〃I'm　not　coming；〃　he　said；　〃till　I　choose。〃

〃You　wicked　boy！〃　she　cried；　her　temper　rising　with　the　evening
chills；　her　desire　for　a　cup　of　hot　tea；　and　an　aching　longing　for　a
comfortable　chair。　〃When　everyone's　been　so　good　to　you　to…day　and
the　things　you've　been　given　and　allwhy；　it's　a　wicked　shame。〃

The　Jampot；　who　was　a　woman　happily　without　imagination；　saw　a
naughty　small　boy　spoiled　and　needing　the　slipper。

A　rook；　taking　a　last　look　at　the　world　before　retiring　to　rest；
watching　from　his　leafless　bough；　saw　a　mortal　spirit　defying　the
universe；　and　sympathised　with　it。

〃I　shall　tell　your　mother；〃　said　the　Jampot。　〃Now　come；　Master
Jeremy；　be　a　good　boy。〃

〃Oh；　don't　bother；　Nurse；〃　he　answered　impatiently。　〃You're　such　a
fuss。〃

She　realised　in　that　moment　that　he　was　suddenly　beyond　her　power；
that　he　would　never　be　within　it　again。　She　had　nursed　him　for　eight
years；　she　had　loved　him　in　her　own　way；　she；　dull　perhaps　in　the
ways　of　the　world；　but　wise　in　the　ways　of　nurses；　ways　that　are
built　up　of　surrender　and　surrender；　gave　him；　then　and　there；　to
the　larger　life。　。　。

〃You　may　behave　as　you　like；　Master　Jeremy；〃　she　said。　〃It　won't　be
for　long　that　I'll　have　the　dealing　with　you；　praise　be。　You'll　be
going　to　school　next　September；　and　then　we'll　see　what'll　happen　to
your　wicked　pride。〃

〃School！〃　he　turned　upon　her；　his　eyes　wide　and　staring。

〃School！〃　he　stared　at　them　all。

The　world　tumbled　from　him。　In　his　soul　was　a　confusion　of　triumph
and　dismay；　of　excitement　and　loneliness；　of　the　sudden　falling　from
him　of　all　old　standards；　old　horizons；　of　pride　and　humility。　。　。
How　little　now　was　the　Village　to　him。　He　looked　at　them　to　see
whether　they　could　understand。　They　could　not。

Very　quietly　he　followed　them　home。　His　birthday　had　achieved　its
climax。　。　。




CHAPTER　II

THE　FAMILY　DOG


I


That　winter　of　Jeremy's　eighth　birthday　was　famous　for　its　snow。
Glebeshire　has　never　yielded　to　the　wishes　of　its　children　in　the
matter　of　snowy　Christmases；　and　Polchester　has　the　reputation　of
muggy　warmth　and　foggy　mists；　but　here　was　a　year　when　traditions
were　fulfilled　in　the　most　reckless　manner；　and　all　the　1892　babies
were　treated　to　a　present　of　snow　on　so　fine　a　scale　that　certainly
for　the　rest　of　their　days　they　will　go　about　saying：　〃Ah；　you
should　see　the　winters　we　used　to　have　when　we　were　children。　。　。〃

The　snow　began　on　the　very　day　after　Jeremy's　birthday；　coming　down
doubtfully；　slowly；　little　grey　flakes　against　a　grey　sky；　then
sparkling　white；　then　vanishing　flashes　of　moisture　on　a　wet；
unsympathetic　soil。　That　day　the　snow　did　not　lie；　and　for　a　week　it
did　not　come　again；　then　with　a　whirl　it　seized　the　land；　and　for
two　days　and　nights　did　not　loosen　its　grip。　From　the　nursery
windows　the　children　watched　it；　their　noses　making　little　rings　on
the　window…pane；　their　delighted　eyes　snatching　fascinating　glimpses
of　figures　tossed　through　the　storm；　cabs　beating　their　way；　the
rabbit…skin　man；　the　milkman；　the　postman；　brave　adventurers　all；
fighting；　as　it　seemed；　for　their　very　lives。

For　two　days　the　children　did　not　leave　the　house；　and　the　natural
result　of　that　was　that　on　the　second　afternoon　tempers　were；　like
so　many　dogs；　straining；　tugging；　pulling　at　their　chains。

It　could　not　be　denied　that　Jeremy　had　been　tiresome　to　everyone
since　the　afternoon　when　he　had　heard　the　news　of　his　going　to
school　next　September。　It　had　seemed　to　him　a　tremendous　event；　the
Beginning　of　the　End。　To　the　others；　who　lived　in　the　immediate
present；　it　was　a　crisis　so　remote　as　scarcely　to　count　at　all。　Mary
would　have　liked　to　be　sentimental　about　it；　but　from　this　she　was
sternly　prevented。　There　was　then　nothing　more　to　be　said。　。　。

Jeremy　was　suddenly　isolated　from　them　all。　His　destiny　was
peculiar。　They　were　girls；　he　was　a　boy。　They　understood　neither　his
fears　nor　his　ambitions；　he　needed　terribly　a　companion。　The　snow；
shutting　them　in；　laughed　at　their　struggles　against　monotony。　The
nursery　clock　struck　three　and　they　realised　that　two　whole　hours
must　pass　before　the　next　meal。　Mary；　her　nose　red　from　pressing　on
the　window…pane；　her　eyes　gazing　through　her　huge　spectacles
wistfully　at　Jeremy；　longed　to　suggest　that　she　should　read　aloud　to
him。　She　knew　that　he　hated　it；　she　pretended　to　herself　that　she
did　not　know。

Jeremy　stared　desperately　at　Helen　who　was　sitting；　dignified　and
collected；　in　the　wicker　chair　hemming　a　minute　handkerchief。

〃We　might　play　Pirates；〃　Jeremy　said　with　a　little　cough；　the　better
to　secure　her　attention。　There　was　no　answer。

〃Or　there's　the　hut　in　the　woodif　anyone　likes　it　better；〃　he
added　politely。　He　did　not　know　what　was　the　matter。　Had　the　Jampot
not　told　him　about　school　he　would　at　this　very　moment　be　playing
most　happily　with　his　village。　It　spread　out　there　before　him　on　the
nursery　floor；　the　Noah　family　engaged　upon　tea　in　the　orchard；　the
butcher　staring　with　fixed　gaze　from　the　door　of　his　shop；　three
cows　and　a　sheep　absorbed　in　the　architecture　of　the　church。

He　sighed；　then　said　again：　〃Perhaps　Pirates　would　be　better。〃

Still　Helen　did　not　reply。　He　abandoned　the　attempted　control　of　his
passions。

〃It's　very　rude；〃　he　said；　〃not　to　answer　when　gentlemen　speak　to
you。〃

〃I　don't　see　any　gentlemen；〃　answered　Helen　quietly；　without　raising
her　eyes；　which　was；　as　she　knew；　a　provoking　habit。

〃Yes；　you　do；〃　almost　screamed　Jeremy。　〃I'm　one。〃

〃You're　not；〃　continued　Helen；　〃you're　only　eight。　Gentlemen　must　be
over　twenty　like　Father　or