father and son-第36章
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ad to tell my tale over again； this time very sadly； and with a fear that I should be reprimanded。 But on the contrary； both my Father and Miss Marks were attentive and most sympathetic； and I was much comforted。 'We must remember they are the Lord's children；' said my Father。 'Even the Lord can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear；' said Miss Marks； who was considerably ruffled。 'Alas！ alas！' replied my Father； waving his hand with a deprecating gesture。 'The dear child！' said Miss Marks； bristling with indignation； and patting my hand across the tea…table。 The Lord will reward your zealous loving care of his poor； even if they have neither the grace nor the knowledge to thank you；' said my Father； and rested his brown eyes meltingly upon me。 'Brutes！' said Miss Marks； thinking of John and Ann Brooks。 'Oh no！ no！' replied my Father； 'but hewers of wood and drawers of water！ We must bear with the limited intelligence。' All this was an emollient to my wounds； and I became consoled。 But the springs of benevolence were dried up within me； and to this day I have never entirely recovered from the shock of John Brooks's coarse leer and his 'I know'd the Lord would provide。' The infant plant of philanthropy was burned in my bosom as if by quick…lime。
In the course of the summer； a young schoolmaster called on my Father to announce to him that he had just opened a day…school for the sons of gentlemen in our vicinity； and he begged for the favour of a visit。 My Father returned his call； he lived in one of the small white villas； buried in laurels； which gave a discreet animation to our neighbourhood。 Mr。 M。 was frank and modest； deferential to my Father's opinions and yet capable of defending his own。 His school and he produced an excellent impression； and in August I began to be one of his pupils。 The school was very informal； it was held in the two principal dwelling…rooms on the ground…floor of the villa； and I do not remember that Mr。 M。 had any help from an usher。
There were perhaps twenty boys in the school at most； and often fewer。 I made the excursion between home and school four times a day； if I walked fast； the transit might take five minutes； and； as there were several objects of interest in the way； it might be spread over an hour。 In fine weather the going to and from school was very delightful； and small as the scope of it was； it could be varied almost indefinitely。 I would sometimes meet with a schoolfellow proceeding in the same direction； and my Father； observing us over the wall one morning； was amused to notice that I always progressed by dancing along the curbstone sideways； my face turned inwards and my arms beating against my legs； conversing loudly all the time。 This was a case of pure heredity； for so he used to go to his school； forty years before； along the streets of Poole。
One day when fortunately I was alone； I was accosted by an old gentleman； dressed as a dissenting minister。 He was pleased with my replies； and he presently made it a habit to be taking his constitutional when I was likely to be on the high road。 We became great friends； and he took me at last to his house； a very modest place； where to my great amazement； there hung in the dining…room； two large portraits； one of a man； the other of a woman； in extravagant fancy…dress。 My old friend told me that the former was a picture of himself as he had appeared； 'long ago； in my unconverted days； on the stage'。
I was so ignorant as not to have the slightest conception of what was meant by the stage； and he explained to me that he' had been an actor and a poet； before the Lord had opened his eyes to better things。 I knew nothing about actors； but poets were already the objects of my veneration。 My friend was the first poet I had ever seen。 He was no less a person than James Sheridan Knowles； the famous author of Virginius and The Hunchback； who had become a Baptist minister in his old age。 When； at home； I mentioned this acquaintance； it awakened no interest。 I believe that my Father had never heard； or never noticed； the name of one who had been by far the most eminent English playwright of that age。
It was from Sheridan Knowles' lips that I first heard fall the name of Shakespeare。 He was surprised； I fancy； to find me so curiously advanced in some branches of knowledge； and so utterly ignorant of others。 He could hardly credit that the names of Hamlet and Falstaff and Prospero meant nothing to a little boy who knew so much theology and geography as I did。 Mr。 Knowles suggested that I should ask my schoolmaster to read some of the plays of Shakespeare with the boys； and he proposed The Merchant of Venice as particularly wellsuited for this purpose。 I repeated what my aged friend （Mr Sheridan Knowles must have been nearly eighty at that time） had said； and Mr。 M。 accepted the idea with promptitude。 （All my memories of this my earliest schoolmaster present him to me as intelligent； amiable and quick； although I think not very soundly prepared for his profession。）
Accordingly； it was announced that the reading of Shakespeare would be one of our lessons； and on the following afternoon we began The Merchant of Venice。 There was one large volume； and it was handed about the class； I was permitted to read the part of Bassanio； and I set forth； with ecstatic pipe； how
In Belmont is a lady richly left； And she is fair； and fairer than that word！
Mr。 M。 must have had some fondness for the stage himself； his pleasure in the Shakespeare scenes was obvious； and nothing else that he taught me made so much impression on me as what he said about a proper emphasis in reading aloud。 I was in the seventh heaven of delight； but alas！ we had only reached the second act of the play； when the readings mysteriously stopped。 I never knew the cause； but I suspect that it was at my Father's desire。 He prided himself on never having read a page of Shakespeare； and on never having entered a theatre but once。 I think I must have spoken at home about the readings； and that he must have given the schoolmaster a hint to return to the ordinary school curriculum。
The fact that I was 'a believer'； as it was our custom to call one who had been admitted to the arcana of our religion； and that therefore； in all commerce with 'unbelievers'； it was my duty to be 'testifying for my Lord； in season and out of season'this prevented my forming any intimate friendships at my first school。 I shrank from the toilsome and embarrassing act of button…holing a schoolfellow as he rushed out of class； and of pressing upon him the probably unintelligible question 'Have you found Jesus？' It was simpler to avoid him； to slip like a lizard though the laurels and emerge into solitude。
The boys had a way of plunging out into the road in front of the school…villa when afternoon school was over； it was a pleasant rural road lined with high hedges and shadowed by elmtrees。 Here； especially towards the summer twilight； they used to linger and play vague games； swooping and whirling in the declining sunshine； and I was glad to join these bat…like sports。 But my company； though not avoided； was not greatly sought for。 I think that something of my curious history was known； and that I was； not unkindly but instinctively； avoided； as an animal of a different species； not allied to the herd。 The conventionality of little boys is constant； the colour of their traditions is uniform。 At the same time； although I made no friends； I found no enemies。 In class； except in my extraordinary aptitude for geography； which was looked upon as incomprehensible and almost uncanny； I was rather behind than in front of the others。 I； therefore； awakened no jealousies； and； intent on my own dreams； I think my little shadowy presence escaped the notice of most of my schoolfellows。
By the side of the road I have mentioned； between the school and my home； there was a large horse…pond。 The hedge folded around three sides of it； while ancient pollard elms bent over it； and chequered with their foliage in it the reflection of the sky。 The roadside edge of this pond was my favourite station； it consisted of a hard clay which could be moulded into fairly tenacious forms。 Here I created a maritime empireislands； a
