下载辰思小说免费APP
“Now，Jeremy，wipeyourmouth，“saidAuntAmy。
Heobeyedatonce。
III
Teaover，theyalltroopedoutintothegardenagain。Theeveninglightnowpainteduponthelittlegreenlawnstrangetremblingshadowsofpurpleandgrey；theoldredgardenwallseemedtohavecreptforwards，asthoughitwouldprotectthehouseandthegardenfromthenight；andaskyofthefaintestblueseemed，withgentleapproval，toblessthequiettownfadingintoduskbeneathit。Overthecentreofthelawnthesunwasstillshining，andthereitwaswarmandlight。Butfromeverysidetheshadowsstealthilycreptforward。Agroupofchildrenplayedagainstthegoldencolour，theirwhitedressespatternsthatformedfiguresandbrokeandformedagain。TheCathedralbellwasringingforevensong，anditsnotesstoleaboutthegarden，andinandoutamongstthechildren，asthoughsomeguardianspiritwatchingovertheirsafetycountedtheirnumbers。
Jeremy，feelingratherneglectedandmiserable，stoodintheshadowneartheoakonthefarthersideofthelawn。Hedidnotwanttoplaywiththoselittlegirls，andyethewashurtbecausehehadnotbeenasked。Thepartyhadbeenamostmiserablefailure，andayearagoitwouldhavebeensuchasuccess。Hedidnotknowthathewasstandingnow，inthemiddleofhiseighthyear，atthepartingoftheways；thatonlyyesterdayhehadbeenababy，andthathewouldneverbeababyagain。Hedidnotfeelhisindependence——hefeltonlyinclinedtotearsandalonging，thathewouldnever，neverconfess，eventohimself，thatsomeoneshouldcomeandcomforthim！
Nevertheless，evenatthisverymoment，althoughhedidnotknowit，he，afree，independentman，wasfacingtheworldforthefirsttimeonhisownlegs。Hismothermighthaverealisedithadshebeenthere——butshewasnot。Mary，however，wasthere，andintheverymiddleofhergame，searchingforhim，asshewasalwaysdoing，shefoundhimdesolateundertheshadowoftheoak。Sheslippedaway，and，cominguptohimwiththeshynessandfearthatshealwayshadwhensheapproachedhim，becauseshelovedhimsomuchandhecouldsoeasilyhurther，said：
“Aren’tyoucomingtoplay，Jeremy？“
“Idon’tcare，“heansweredgruffly。
“Itisn’tanyfunwithoutyou。“Shepaused，andadded：“WouldyoumindifIstayedheretoo？“
“I’dratheryouplayed，“hesaid；andyethewascomfortedbyher，determined，ashewas，thatsheshouldneverknowit！
“I’dratherstay，“shesaid，andthengazed，withthatmelancholystarethroughherlargespectaclesthatalwaysirritatedJeremy，outacrossthegarden。
“I’mallright，“hesaidagain；“onlymystockingtickles，andI
can’tgetatit——it’sthebackofmyleg。Isay，Mary，don’tyouhatetheDean’sErnest？“
“Yes，Ido，“sheansweredfervently，althoughshehadnotthoughtabouthimatall——enoughforherthatJeremyshouldhatehim！Thenshegasped：“Herehecomes——“
HewaswalkingtowardsthemwithaswaggerofhislongyellowneckandhisthinleggybodythatJeremyfoundespeciallyoffensive。
Jeremy“bristled，“andMarywasconsciousofthatbristling。
“Hallo！“saidErnest。
“Hallo！“saidJeremy。
“Whatrotthesesillygamesare！“saidErnest。“Whycan’ttheyhavesomethingdecent，likecricket？“
Jeremyhadneverplayedcricket，sohesaidnothing。“Atourschool，“saidErnest，“we’reverygoodatcricket。Wewinallourmatchesalways——“
“Idon’tcareaboutyourschool，“saidJeremy，breathingthroughhisnose。
TheDean’sErnestwasobviouslysurprisedbythis；hehadnotexpe
