汤姆.索亚历险记-第23部分

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Poor　girl；　she　did　not　know　how　fast　she　was　nearing　trouble　herself。　The　master；　Mr。　Dobbins；　had　reached　middle　age　with　an　unsatisfied　ambition。　The　darling　of　his　desires　was；　to　be　a　doctor；　but　poverty　had　decreed　that　he　should　be　nothing　higher　than　a　village　schoolmaster。　Every　day　he　took　a　mysterious　book　out　of　his　desk　and　absorbed　himself　in　it　at　times　when　no　classes　were　reciting。　He　kept　that　book　under　lock　and　key。　There　was　not　an　urchin　in　school　but　was　perishing　to　have　a　glimpse　of　it；　but　the　chance　never　came。　Every　boy　and　girl　had　a　theory　about　the　nature　of　that　book；　but　no　two　theories　were　alike；　and　there　was　no　way　of　getting　at　the　facts　in　the　case。　Now；　as　Becky　was　passing　by　the　desk；　which　stood　near　the　door；　she　noticed　that　the　key　was　in　the　lock！　It　was　a　precious　moment。　She　glanced　around；　found　herself　alone；　and　the　next　instant　she　had　the　book　in　her　hands。　The　title…page　　Professor　Somebody's　Anatomy　　carried　no　information　to　her　mind；　so　she　began　to　turn　the　leaves。　She　came　at　once　upon　a　handsomely　engraved　and　colored　frontispiece　　a　human　figure；　stark　naked。　At　that　moment　a　shadow　fell　on　the　page　and　Tom　Sawyer　stepped　in　at　the　door　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　picture。　Becky　snatched　at　the　book　to　close　it；　and　had　the　hard　luck　to　tear　the　pictured　page　half　down　the　middle。　She　thrust　the　volume　into　the　desk；　turned　the　key；　and　burst　out　crying　with　shame　and　vexation。
〃Tom　Sawyer；　you　are　just　as　mean　as　you　can　be；　to　sneak　up　on　a　person　and　look　at　what　they're　looking　at。〃
〃How　could　I　know　you　was　looking　at　anything？〃
〃You　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself；　Tom　Sawyer；　you　know　you're　going　to　tell　on　me；　and　oh；　what　shall　I　do；　what　shall　I　do！　I'll　be　whipped；　and　I　never　was　whipped　in　school。〃
Then　she　stamped　her　little　foot　and　said：
〃Be　so　mean　if　you　want　to！　I　know　something　that's　going　to　happen。　You　just　wait　and　you'll　see！　Hateful；　hateful；　hateful！〃　　and　she　flung　out　of　the　house　with　a　new　explosion　of　crying。
Tom　stood　still；　rather　flustered　by　this　onslaught。　Presently　he　said　to　himself：
〃What　a　curious　kind　of　a　fool　a　girl　is！　Never　been　licked　in　school！　Shucks！　What's　a　licking！　That's　just　like　a　girl　　they're　so　thin…skinned　and　chicken…hearted。　Well；　of　course　I　ain't　going　to　tell　old　Dobbins　on　this　little　fool；　because　there's　other　ways　of　getting　even　on　her；　that　ain't　so　mean；　but　what　of　it？　Old　Dobbins　will　ask　who　it　was　tore　his　book。　Nobody'll　answer。　Then　he'll　do　just　the　way　he　always　does　　ask　first　one　and　then　t'other；　and　when　he　comes　to　the　right　girl　he'll　know　it；　without　any　telling。　Girls'　faces　always　tell　on　them。　They　ain't　got　any　backbone。　She'll　get　licked。　Well；　it's　a　kind　of　a　tight　place　for　Becky　Thatcher；　because　there　ain't　any　way　out　of　it。〃　Tom　conned　the　thing　a　moment　longer；　and　then　added：　〃All　right；　though；　she'd　like　to　see　me　in　just　such　a　fix　　let　her　sweat　it　out！〃
Tom　joined　the　mob　of　skylarking　scholars　outside。　In　a　few　moments　the　master　arrived　and　school　〃took　in。〃　Tom　did　not　feel　a　strong　interest　in　his　studies。　Every　time　he　stole　a　glance　at　the　girls'　side　of　the　room　Becky's　face　troubled　him。　Considering　all　things；　he　did　not　want　to　pity　her；　and　yet　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　help　it。　He　could　get　up　no　exultation　that　was　really　worthy　the　name。　Presently　the　spelling…book　discovery　was　made；　and　Tom's　mind　was　entirely　full　of　his　own　matters　for　a　while　after　that。　Becky　roused　up　from　her　lethargy　of　distress　and　showed　good　interest　in　the　proceedings。　She　did　not　expect　that　Tom　could　get　out　of　his　trouble　by　denying　that　he　spilt　the　ink　on　the　book　himself；　and　she　was　right。　The　denial　only　seemed　to　make　the　thing　worse　for　Tom。　Becky　supposed　she　would　be　glad　of　that；　and　she　tried　to　believe　she　was　glad　of　it；　but　she　found　she　was　not　certain。　When　the　worst　came　to　the　worst；　she　had　an　impulse　to　get　up　and　tell　on　Alfred　Temple；　but　she　made　an　effort　and　forced　herself　to　keep　still　　because；　said　she　to　herself；　〃he'll　tell　about　me　tearing　the　picture　sure。　I　wouldn't　say　a　word；　not　to　save　his　life！〃
Tom　took　his　whipping　and　went　back　to　his　seat　not　at　all　broken…hearted；　for　he　thought　it　was　possible　that　he　had　unknowingly　upset　the　ink　on　the　spelling…book　himself；　in　some　skylarking　bout　　he　had　denied　it　for　form's　sake　and　because　it　was　custom；　and　had　stuck　to　the　denial　from　principle。
A　whole　hour　drifted　by；　the　master　sat　nodding　in　his　throne；　the　air　was　drowsy　with　the　hum　of　study。　By　and　by；　Mr。　Dobbins　straightened　himself　up；　yawned；　then　unlocked　his　desk；　and　reached　for　his　book；　but　seemed　undecided　whether　to　take　it　out　or　leave　it。　Most　of　the　pupils　glanced　up　languidly；　but　there　were　two　among　them　that　watched　his　movements　with　intent　eyes。　Mr。　Dobbins　fingered　his　book　absently　for　a　while；　then　took　it　out　and　settled　himself　in　his　chair　to　read！　Tom　shot　a　glance　at　Becky。　He　had　seen　a　hunted　and　helpless　rabbit　look　as　she　did；　with　a　gun　levelled　at　its　head。　Instantly　he　forgot　his　quarrel　with　her。　Quick　　something　must　be　done！　done　in　a　flash；　too！　But　the　very　imminence　of　the　emergency　paralyzed　his　invention。　Good！　　he　had　an　inspiration！　He　would　run　and　snatch　the　book；　spring　through　the　door　and　fly。　But　his　resolution　shook　for　one　little　instant；　and　the　chance　was　lost　　the　master　opened　the　volume。　If　Tom　only　had　the　wasted　opportunity　back　again！　Too　late。　There　was　no　help　for　Becky　now；　he　said。　The　next　moment　the　master　faced　the　school。　Every　eye　sank　under　his　gaze。　There　was　that　in　it　which　smote　even　the　innocent　with　fear。　There　was　silence　while　one　might　count　ten　　the　master　was　gathering　his　wrath。　Then　he　spoke：　〃Who　tore　this　book？〃
There　was　not　a　sound。　One　could　have　heard　a　pin　drop。　The　stillness　continued；　the　master　searched　face　after　face　for　signs　of　guilt。
〃Benjamin　Rogers；　did　you　tear　this　book？〃
A　denial。　Another　pause。
〃Joseph　Harper；　did　you？〃
Another　denial。　Tom's　uneasiness　grew　more　and　more　intense　under　the　slow　torture　of　these　proceedings。　The　master　scanned　the　ranks　of　boys　　considered　a　while；　then　turned　to　the　girls：
〃Amy　Lawrence？〃
A　shake　of　the　head。
〃Gracie　Miller？〃
The　same　sign。
〃Susan　Harper；　did　you　do　this？〃
Another　negative。　The　next　girl　was　Becky　Thatcher。　Tom　was　trembling　from　head　to　foot　with　excitement　and　a　sense　of　the　hopelessness　of　the　situation。
〃Rebecca　Thatcher〃　＇Tom　glanced　at　her　face　　it　was　white　with　terror＇　　〃did　you　tear　　no；　look　me　in　the　face〃　＇her　hands　rose　in　appeal＇　　〃did　you　tear　this　book？〃
A　thought　shot　like　lightning　through　Tom's　brain。　He　sprang　to　his　feet　and　shouted　　〃I　done　it！〃
The　school　stared　in　perplexity　at　this　incredible　folly。　Tom　stood　a　moment；　to　gather　his　dismembered　faculties；　and　when　he　stepped　forward　to　go　to　his　punishment　the　surprise；　the　gratitude；　the　adoration　that　shone　upon　him　out　of　poor　Becky's　eyes　seemed　pay　enough　for　a　hundred　floggings。　Inspired　by　the　splendor　of　his　own　act；　he　took　without　an　outcry　the　most　merciless　flaying　that　even　Mr。　Dobbins　had　ever　administered；　and　also　received　with　indifference　the　added　cruelty　of　a　command　to　remain　two　hours　after　school　should　be　dismissed　　for　he　knew　who　would　wait　for　him　outside　till　his　captivity　was　done；　and　not　count　the　tedious　time　as　loss；　either。
Tom　went　to　bed　that　night　planning　vengeance　against　Alfred　Temple；　for　with　shame　and　repentance　Becky　had　told　him　all；　not　forgetting　her　own　treachery；　but　even　the　longing　for　vengeance　had　to　give　way；　soon；　to　pleasanter　musings；　and　he　fell　asleep　at　last　with　Becky's　latest　words　lingering　dreamily　in　his　ear　
〃Tom；　how　could　you　be　so　noble！〃　
CHAPTER　XXI
VACATION　was　approaching。　The　schoolmaster；　always　severe；　grew　severer　and　more　exacting　than　ever；　for　he　wanted　the　school　to　make　a　good　showing　on　〃Examination〃　day。　His　rod　and　his　ferule　were　seldom　idle　now　　at　least　among　the　smaller　pupils。　Only　the　biggest　boys；　and　young　ladies　of　eighteen　and　twenty；　escaped　lashing。　Mr。　Dobbins'　lashings　were　very　vigorous　ones；　too；　for　although　he　carried；　under　his　wig；　a　perfectly　bald　and　shiny　head；　he　had　only　reached　middle　age；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　feebleness　in　his　muscle。　As　the　great　day　approached；　all　the　tyranny　that　was　in　him　came　to　the　surface；　he　seemed　to　take　a　vindictive　pleasure　in　punishing　the　least　shortcomings。　The　consequence　was；　that　the　smaller　boys　spent　their　days　in　terror　and　suffering　and　their　nights　in　plotting　revenge。　They　threw　away　no　opportunity　to　do　the　master　a　mischief。　But　he　kept　ahead　all　the　time。　The　retribution　that　followed　every　vengeful　success　was　so　sweeping　and　majestic　that　the　boys　always　retired　from　the　field　badly　worsted。　At　last　they　conspired　together　and　hit　upon　a　plan　that　promised　a　dazzling　victory。　They　swore　in　the　sign…painter's　boy；　told　him　the　scheme；　and　asked　his　help。　He　had　his　own　reasons　for　being　delighted；　for　the　master　boarded　in　his　father's　family　and　had　given　the　boy　ample　cause　to　hate　him。　The　master's　wife　would　go　on　a　visit　to　the　country　in　a　few　days；　and　there　would　be　nothing　to　interfere　with　the　plan；　the　master　always　prepared　himself　for　great　occasions　by　getting　pretty　well　fuddled；　and　the　sign…painter's　boy　said　that　when　the　dominie　had　reached　the　proper　condition　on　Examination　Evening　he　would　〃manage　the　thing〃　while　he　napped　in　his　chair；　then　he　would　have　him　awakened　at　the　right　time　and　hurried　away　to　school。
In　the　fulness　of　time　the　interesting　occasion　arrived。　At　eight　in　the　evening　the　schoolhouse　was　brilliantly　lighted；　and　adorned　with　wreaths　and　festoons　of　foliage　and　flowers。　The　master　sat　throned　in　his　great　chair　upon　a　raised　platform；　with　his　blackboard　behind　him。　He　was　looking　tolerably　mellow。　Three　rows　of　benches　on　each　side　and　six　rows　in　front　of　him　were　occupied　by　the　dignitaries　of　the　town　and　by　the　parents　of　the　pupils。　To　his　left；　back　of　the　rows　of　citizens；　was　a　spacious　temporary　platform　upon　which　were　seated　the　scholars　who　were　to　take　part　in　the　exercises　of　the　evening；　rows　of　small　boys；　washed　and　dressed　to　an　intolerable　state　of　discomfort；