Jack And Jill - Chapter 11
时间：2014-01-09 03:02:18
（单词翻译:单击）
"Down Brakes"
The greatest people have their weak points, and the best-behaved boys now and then yield to temptation and get into trouble, as everybody knows. Frank was considered a remarkably1 well-bred and proper lad, and rather prided himself on his good reputation, for he never got into scrapes like the other fellows. Well, hardly ever, for we must confess that at rare intervals2 his besetting3 sin overcame his prudence4, and he proved himself an erring5, human boy. Steam-engines had been his idols6 for years, and they alone could lure7 him from the path of virtue8. Once, in trying to investigate the mechanism9 of a toy specimen10, which had its little boiler11 and ran about whistling and puffing13 in the most delightful14 way, he nearly set the house afire by the sparks that dropped on the straw carpet. Another time, in trying experiments with the kitchen tea-kettle, he blew himself up, and the scars of that explosion he still carried on his hands.
He was long past such childish amusements now, but his favorite haunt was the engine-house of the new railroad, where he observed the habits of his pets with never-failing interest, and cultivated the good-will of stokers and brakemen till they allowed him many liberties, and were rather flattered by the admiration15 expressed for their iron horses by a young gentleman who liked them better even than his Greek and Latin.
There was not much business doing on this road as yet, and the two cars of the passenger-trains were often nearly empty, though full freight-trains rolled from the factory to the main road, of which this was only a branch. So things went on in a leisurely16 manner, which gave Frank many opportunities of pursuing his favorite pastime. He soon knew all about No. 11, his pet engine, and had several rides on it with Bill, the engineer, so that he felt at home there, and privately17 resolved that when he was a rich man he would have a road of his own, and run trains as often as he liked.
Gus took less interest than his friend in the study of steam, but usually accompanied him when he went over after school to disport18（娱乐，玩耍） himself in the engine-house, interview the stoker, or see if there was anything new in the way of brakes.
One afternoon they found No. 11 on the side-track, puffing away as if enjoying a quiet smoke before starting. No cars were attached, and no driver was to be seen, for Bill was off with the other men behind the station-house, helping19 the expressman, whose horse had backed down a bank and upset the wagon20.
"Good chance for a look at the old lady," said Frank, speaking of the engine as Bill did, and jumping aboard with great satisfaction, followed by Gus.
"I'd give ten dollars if I could run her up to the bend and back," he added, fondly touching21 the bright brass22 knobs and glancing at the fire with a critical eye.
"You couldn't do it alone," answered Gus, sitting down on the grimy little perch23, willing to indulge his mate's amiable24（亲切的） weakness.
"Give me leave to try? Steam is up, and I could do it as easy as not;" and Frank put his hand on the throttle-valve, as if daring Gus to give the word.
"Fire up and make her hum!" laughed Gus, quoting Bill's frequent order to his mate, but with no idea of being obeyed.
"All right; I'll just roll her up to the switch and back again. I've often done it with Bill;" and Frank cautiously opened the throttle-valve, threw back the lever, and the great thing moved with a throb25 and a puff12.
"Steady, old fellow, or you'll come to grief. Here, don't open that!" shouted Gus, for just at that moment Joe appeared at the switch, looking ready for mischief26.
"Wish he would; no train for twenty minutes, and we could run up to the bend as well as not," said Frank, getting excited with the sense of power, as the monster obeyed his hand so entirely27 that it was impossible to resist prolonging the delight.
"By George, he has! Stop her! Back her! Hold on, Frank!" cried Gus, as Joe, only catching28 the words "Open that!" obeyed, without the least idea that they would dare to leave the siding.
But they did, for Frank rather lost his head for a minute, and out upon the main track rolled No. 11 as quietly as a well-trained horse taking a familiar road.
"Now you've done it! I'll give you a good thrashing when I get back!" roared Gus, shaking his fist at Joe, who stood staring, half-pleased, half-scared, at what he had done.
"Are you really going to try it?" asked Gus, as they glided29 on with increasing speed, and he, too, felt the charm of such a novel adventure, though the consequences bid fair to be serious.
"Yes, I am," answered Frank, with the grim look he always wore when his strong will got the upper hand. "Bill will give it to us, any way, so we may as well have our fun out. If you are afraid, I'll slow down and you can jump off," and his brown eyes sparkled with the double delight of getting his heart's desire and astonishing his friend at the same time by his skill and coolness.
"Go ahead. I'll jump when you do;" and Gus calmly sat down again, bound in honor to stand by his mate till the smash came, though rather dismayed at the audacity30（厚颜无耻） of the prank31.
"Don't you call this just splendid?" exclaimed Frank, as they rolled along over the crossing, past the bridge, toward the curve, a mile from the station.
"Not bad. They are yelling like mad after us. Better go back, if you can," said Gus, who was anxiously peering out, and, in spite of his efforts to seem at ease, not enjoying the trip a particle.
"Let them yell. I started to go to the curve, and I'll do it if it costs me a hundred dollars. No danger; there's no train under twenty minutes, I tell you," and Frank pulled out his watch. But the sun was in his eyes, and he did not see clearly, or he would have discovered that it was later than he thought.
On they went, and were just rounding the bend when a shrill32 whistle in front startled both boys, and drove the color out of their cheeks.
"It's the factory train!" cried Gus, in a husky tone, as he sprang to his feet.
"No; it's the five-forty on the other road," answered Frank, with a queer thrill all through him at the thought of what might happen if it was not. Both looked straight ahead as the last tree glided by, and the long track lay before them, with the freight train slowly coming down. For an instant, the boys stood as if paralyzed.
"Jump!" said Gus, looking at the steep bank on one side and the river on the other, undecided which to try.
"Sit still!" commanded Frank, collecting his wits, as he gave a warning whistle to retard33 the on-coming train, while he reversed the engine and went back faster than he came.
A crowd of angry men was waiting for them, and Bill stood at the open switch in a towering passion as No. 11 returned to her place unharmed, but bearing two pale and frightened boys, who stepped slowly and silently down, without a word to say for themselves, while the freight train rumbled34 by on the main track.
Frank and Gus never had a very clear idea as to what occurred during the next few minutes, but vaguely35 remembered being well shaken, sworn at, questioned, threatened with direful penalties, and finally ordered off the premises36 forever by the wrathful depot-master. Joe was nowhere to be seen, and as the two culprits walked away, trying to go steadily38, while their heads spun39 round, and all the strength seemed to have departed from their legs, Frank said, in an exhausted40 tone, -
"Come down to the boat-house and rest a minute."
Both were glad to get out of sight, and dropped upon the steps red, rumpled41, and breathless, after the late exciting scene. Gus generously forebore to speak, though he felt that he was the least to blame; and Frank, after eating a bit of snow to moisten his dry lips, said, handsomely, -
"Now, don't you worry, old man. I'll pay the damages, for it was my fault. Joe will dodge42, but I won't, so make your mind easy.
"We sha'n't hear the last of this in a hurry," responded Gus, relieved, yet anxious, as he thought of the reprimand（训斥） his father would give him.
"I hope mother won't hear of it till I tell her quietly myself. She will be so frightened, and think I'm surely smashed up, if she is told in a hurry;" and Frank gave a shiver, as all the danger he had run came over him suddenly.
"I thought we were done for when we saw that train. Guess we should have been if you had not had your wits about you. I always said you were a cool one;" and Gus patted Frank's back with a look of great admiration, for, now that it was all over, he considered it a very remarkable43 performance.
"Which do you suppose it will be, fine or imprisonment44?" asked Frank, after sitting in a despondent45（沮丧的） attitude for a moment.
"Shouldn't wonder if it was both. Running off with an engine is no joke, you know."
"What did possess me to be such a fool?" groaned46 Frank, repenting47, all too late, of yielding to the temptation which assailed48 him.
"Bear up, old fellow, I'll stand by you; and if the worst comes, I'll call as often as the rules of the prison allow," said Gus, consolingly, as he gave his afflicted49 friend an arm, and they walked away, both feeling that they were marked men from that day forth50.
Meantime, Joe, as soon as he recovered from the shock of seeing the boys actually go off, ran away, as fast as his legs could carry him, to prepare Mrs. Minot for the loss of her son; for the idea of their coming safely back never occurred to him, his knowledge of engines being limited. A loud ring at the bell brought Mrs. Pecq, who was guarding the house, while Mrs. Minot entertained a parlor51 full of company.
"Frank's run off with No. 11, and he'll be killed sure. Thought I'd come up and tell you," stammered52（口吃，结巴） Joe, all out of breath and looking wild.
He got no further, for Mrs. Pecq clapped one hand over his mouth, caught him by the collar with the other, and hustled53 him into the ante-room before any one else could hear the bad news.
"Tell me all about it, and don't shout. What's come to the boy?" she demanded, in a tone that reduced Joe to a whisper at once.
"Go right back and see what has happened to him, then come and tell me quietly. I'll wait for you here. I wouldn't have his mother startled for the world," said the good soul, when she knew all.
"Oh, I dar'sn't! I opened the switch as they told me to, and Bill will half kill me when he knows it!" cried Joe, in a panic, as the awful consequences of his deed rose before him, showing both boys mortally injured and several trains wrecked55.
"Then take yourself off home and hold your tongue. I'll watch the door, for I won't have any more ridiculous boys tearing in to disturb my lady."
Mrs. Pecq often called this good neighbor "my lady" when speaking of her, for Mrs. Minot was a true gentlewoman, and much pleasanter to live with than the titled mistress had been.
Joe scudded56 away as if the constable57 was after him, and presently Frank was seen slowly approaching with an unusually sober face and a pair of very dirty hands.
"Thank heaven, he's safe!" and, softly opening the door, Mrs. Pecq actually hustled the young master into the ante-room as unceremoniously（随便地） as she had hustled Joe.
"I beg pardon, but the parlor is full of company, and that fool of a Joe came roaring in with a cock-and-bull story that gave me quite a turn. What is it, Mr. Frank?" she asked eagerly, seeing that something was amiss（有毛病的）.
He told her in a few words, and she was much relieved to find that no harm had been done.
"Ah, the danger is to come," said Frank, darkly, as be went away to wash his hands and prepare to relate his misdeeds.
It was a very bad quarter of an hour for the poor fellow, who so seldom had any grave faults to confess; but he did it manfully, and his mother was so grateful for the safety of her boy that she found it difficult to be severe enough, and contented58 herself with forbidding any more visits to the too charming No. 11.
"What do you suppose will be done to me?" asked Frank, on whom the idea of imprisonment had made a deep impression.
"I don't know, dear, but I shall go over to see Mr. Burton right after tea. He will tell us what to do and what to expect. Gus must not suffer for your fault."
"He'll come off clear enough, but Joe must take his share, for if he hadn't opened that confounded switch, no harm would have been done. But when I saw the way clear, I actually couldn't resist going ahead," said Frank, getting excited again at the memory of that blissful moment when he started the engine.
Here Jack59 came hurrying in, having heard the news, and refused to believe it from any lips but Frank's. When he could no longer doubt, he was so much impressed with the daring of the deed that he had nothing but admiration for his brother, till a sudden thought made him clap his hands and exclaim exultingly60, -
"His runaway61 beats mine all hollow, and now he can't crow over me! Won't that be a comfort? The good boy has got into a scrape. Hooray!"
This was such a droll62 way of taking it, that they had to laugh; and Frank took his humiliation63 so meekly64 that Jack soon fell to comforting him, instead of crowing over him.
Jill thought it a most interesting event; and, when Frank and his mother went over to consult Mr. Burton, she and Jack planned out for the dear culprit a dramatic trial which would have convulsed the soberest of judges. His sentence was ten years' imprisonment, and such heavy fines that the family would have been reduced to beggary but for the sums made by Jill's fancy work and Jack's success as a champion pedestrian.
They found such comfort and amusement in this sensational65 programme that they were rather disappointed when Frank returned, reporting that a fine would probably be all the penalty exacted, as no harm had been done, and he and Gus were such respectable boys. What would happen to Joe, he could not tell, but he thought a good whipping ought to be added to his share.
Of course, the affair made a stir in the little world of children; and when Frank went to school, feeling that his character for good behavior was forever damaged, he found himself a lion, and was in danger of being spoiled by the admiration of his comrades, who pointed66 him out with pride as "the fellow who ran off with a steam-engine."
But an interview with Judge Kemble, a fine of twenty-five dollars, and lectures from all the grown people of his acquaintance, prevented him from regarding his escapade as a feat67 to boast of. He discovered, also, how fickle68 a thing is public favor, for very soon those who had praised began to tease, and it took all his courage, patience, and pride to carry him through the next week or two. The lads were never tired of alluding69 to No. 11, giving shrill whistles in his ear, asking if his watch was right, and drawing locomotives（火车头） on the blackboard whenever they got a chance.
The girls, too, had sly nods and smiles, hints and jokes of a milder sort, which made him color and fume70, and once lose his dignity entirely. Molly Loo, who dearly loved to torment71 the big boys, and dared attack even solemn Frank, left one of Boo's old tin trains on the door-step, directed to "Conductor Minot," who, I regret to say, could not refrain from kicking it into the street, and slamming the door with a bang that shook the house. Shrieks72 of laughter from wicked Molly and her coadjutor, Grif, greeted this explosion of wrath37, which did no good, however, for half an hour later the same cars, all in a heap, were on the steps again, with two headless dolls tumbling out of the cab, and the dilapidated engine labelled, "No. 11 after the collision."
No one ever saw that ruin again, and for days Frank was utterly73 unconscious of Molly's existence, as propriety74 forbade his having it out with her as he had with Grif. Then Annette made peace between them, and the approach of the Twenty-second gave the wags something else to think of.
But it was long before Frank forgot that costly75 prank; for he was a thoughtful boy, who honestly wanted to be good; so he remembered this episode humbly76, and whenever he felt the approach of temptation he made the strong will master it, saying to himself "Down brakes!" thus saving the precious freight he carried from many of the accidents which befall us when we try to run our trains without orders, and so often wreck54 ourselves as well as others.
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收听单词发音
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1
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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besetting
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| adj.不断攻击的v.困扰( beset的现在分词 )；不断围攻；镶；嵌 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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disport
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| v.嬉戏，玩 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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scudded
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| v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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exultingly
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| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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63
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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64
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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65
sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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66
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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67
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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68
fickle
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| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
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69
alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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70
fume
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| n.(usu pl.)(浓烈或难闻的)烟，气，汽 | |
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71
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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72
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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73
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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74
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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75
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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76
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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