第28章 The Teacher and Sick Scholar 老师和生病的学生

Shortly after the schoolmaster had arranged the forms and taken his seat behind his desk, a small white-headed boy with a sunburnt face appeared at the door, and, stopping there to make a rustic bow, came in and took his seat upon one of the forms. He then put an open book, astonishingly dog's-eared, upon his knees, and, thrusting his hands into his pockets, began counting the marbles with which they were filled; displaying, in the expression of his face, a remarkable capacity of totally abstracting his mind from the spelling on which his eyes were fixed.

Soon afterward, another white-headed little boy came straggling in, and after him, a red-headed lad, and then one with a flaxen poll, until the forms were occupied by a dozen boys, or thereabouts, with heads of every color but gray, and ranging in their ages from four years old to fourteen years or more; for the legs of the youngest were a long way from the floor, when he sat upon the form; and the eldest was a heavy, good-tempered fellow, about half a head taller than the schoolmaster.

At the top of the first form—the post of honor in the school—was the vacant place of the little sick scholar; and, at the head of the row of pegs, on which those who wore hats or caps were wont to hang them, one was empty. No boy attempted to violate the sanctity of seat or peg, but many a one looked from the empty spaces to the schoolmaster, and whispered to his idle neighbor, behind his hand.

Then began the hum of conning over lessons and getting them by heart, the whispered jest and stealthy game, and all the noise and drawl of school; and in the midst of the din, sat the poor schoolmaster, vainly attempting to fix his mind upon the duties of the day, and to forget his little sick friend. But the tedium of his office reminded him more strongly of the willing scholar, and his thoughts were rambling from his pupils—it was plain.

None knew this better than the idlest boys, who, growing bolder with impunity, waxed louder and more daring; playing "odd or even" under the master's eye; eating apples openly and without rebuke; pinching each other in sport or malice, without the least reserve; and cutting their initials in the very legs of his desk. The puzzled dunce, who stood beside it to say his Lesson"off the book, " looked no longer at the ceiling for forgotten words, but drew closer to the master's elbow, and boldly cast his eye upon the page; the wag of the little troop squinted and made grimaces (at the smallest boy, of course), holding no book before his face, and his approving companions knew no constraint in their delight. If the master did chance to rouse himself, and seem alive to what was going on, the noise subsided for a moment, and no eye met his but wore a studious and deeply humble look; but the instant he relapsed again, it broke out afresh, and ten times louder than before.

Oh! how some of those idle fellows longed to be outside, and how they looked at the open door and window, as if they half meditated rushing violently out, plunging into the woods, and being wild boys and savages from that time forth. What rebellious thoughts of the cool river, and some shady bathing place, beneath willow trees with branches dipping in the water, kept tempting and urging that sturdy boy, who, with his shirt collar unbuttoned, and flung back as far as it could go, sat fanning his flushed face with a spelling book, wishing himself a whale, or a minnow, or a fly, or anything but a boy at school, on that hot, broiling day.

Heat! ask that other boy, whose seat being nearest to the door, gave him opportunities of gliding out into the garden, and driving his companions to madness, by dipping his face into the bucket of the well, and then rolling on the grass, —ask him if there was ever such a day as that, when even the bees were diving deep down into the cups of the flowers, and stopping there, as if they had made up their minds to retire from business, and be manufacturers of honey no more. The day was made for laziness, and lying on one's back in green places, and staring at the sky, till its brightness forced the gazer to shut his eyes and go to sleep. And was this a time to be poring over musty books in a dark room, slighted by the very sun itself? Monstrous!

The lessons over, writing time began. This was a more quiet time; for the master would come and look over the writer's shoulder, and mildly tell him to observe how such a letter was turned up, in such a copy on the wall, which had been written by their sick companion, and bid him take it as a model. Then he would stop and tell them what the sick child had said last night, and how he had longed to be among them once again; and such was the poor schoolmaster's gentle and affectionate manner, that the boys seemed quite remorseful that they had worried him so much, and were absolutely quiet; eating no apples, cutting no names, and making no grimaces for full two minutes afterward.

"I think, boys, " said the schoolmaster, when the clock struck twelve, "that I shall give you an extra half holiday this afternoon." At this intelligence, the boys, led on and headed by the tall boy, raised a great shout, in the midst of which the master was seen to speak, but could not be heard. As he held up his hand, however, in token of his wish that they should be silent, they were considerate enough to leave off, as soon as the longest-winded among them were quite out of breath. "You must promise me, first, " said the schoolmaster,"that you'll not be noisy, or at least, if you are, that you'll go away first, out of the village, I mean. I'm sure you wouldn't disturb your old playmate and companion."

There was a general murmur (and perhaps a very sincere one, for they were but boys) in the negative; and the tall boy, perhaps as sincerely as any of them, called those about him to witness, that he had only shouted in a whisper. "Then pray don't forget, there's my dear scholars, " said the schoolmaster, "what I have asked you, and do it as a favor to me. Be as happy as you can, and don't be unmindful that you are blessed with health. Good-by, all.""Thank 'ee, sir, " and "Good-by, sir, " were said a great many times in a great variety of voices, and the boys went out very slowly and softly. But there was the sun shining and there were birds singing, as the sun only shines and the birds only sing on holidays and half holidays; there were the trees waving to all free boys to climb, and nestle among their leafy branches; the hay, entreating them to come and scatter it to the pure air; the green corn, gently beckoning toward wood and stream; the smooth ground, rendered smoother still by blending lights and shadows, inviting to runs and leaps, and long walks, nobody knows whither. It was more than boy could bear, and with a joyous whoop, the whole cluster took to their heels, and spread themselves about, shouting and laughing as they went. "T is natural, thank Heaven! " said the poor schoolmaster, looking after them, "I am very glad they didn't mind me."

Toward night, the schoolmaster walked over to the cottage where his little friend lay sick. Knocking gently at the cottage door, it was opened without loss of time. He entered a room where a group of women were gathered about one who was wringing her hands and crying bitterly. "O dame! " said the schoolmaster, drawing near her chair, "is it so bad as this? " Without replying, she pointed to another room, which the schoolmaster immediately entered; and there lay his little friend, half-dressed, stretched upon a bed.

He was a very young boy; quite a little child. His hair still hung in curls about his face, and his eyes were very bright; but their light was of heaven, not of earth. The schoolmaster took a seat beside him, and, stooping over the pillow whispered his name. The boy sprung up, stroked his face with his hand, and threw his wasted arms around his neck, crying, that he was his dear, kind friend. "I hope I always was. I meant to be, God knows, " said the poor schoolmaster. "You remember my garden, Henry? " whispered the old man, anxious to rouse him, for dullness seemed gathering upon the child, "and how pleasant it used to be in the evening time? You must make haste to visit it again, for I think the very flowers have missed you, and are less gay than they used to be. You will come soon, very soon now, won't you? "

The boy smiled faintly—so very, very faintly—and put his hand upon his friend's gray head. He moved his lips too, but no voice came from them, —no, not a sound. In the silence that ensued, the hum of distant voices, borne upon the evening air, came floating through the open window. "What's that? " said the sick child, opening his eyes. "The boys at play, upon the green." He took a handkerchief from his pillow, and tried to wave it above his head. But the feeble arm dropped powerless down. "Shall I do it? " said the schoolmaster."Please wave it at the window, " was the faint reply. "Tie it to the lattice. Some of them may see it there. Perhaps they'll think of me, and look this way."

He raised his head and glanced from the fluttering signal to his idle bat, that lay, with slate, and book, and other boyish property, upon the table in the room. And then he laid him softly down once more, and again clasped his little arms around the old man's neck. The two old friends and companions—for such they were, though they were man and child—held each other in a long embrace, and then the little scholar turned his face to the wall and fell asleep.

The poor schoolmaster sat in the same place, holding the small, cold hand in his, and chafing it. It was but the hand of a dead child. He felt that; and yet he chafed it still, and could not lay it down.

From "The Old Curiosity Shop, " by Dickens.

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就在老师安排好各年级座位，在讲台后面的椅子上坐下不久时，一个头发淡黄、脸色黝黑的小男孩来到了门前，他在门口停下来，鞠了一躬，然后走进来坐下了。随后，他翻开一本相当破旧的书，把它放在自己的膝盖上，他把手插进口袋里，开始数里面装了多少弹珠。尽管他目不转睛地盯着拼写本，其实从他的表情可以看出，他正在心里玩着数弹珠的游戏。

很快，又有一个浅色头发的小男孩跑了进来，在他之后，又跑进来一个红头发的小男孩。随后，是一个提着淡黄色投票箱的小男孩，直到屋子里挤满了孩子。除了灰色之外，孩子们头发的颜色应有尽有，他们的年龄从四岁到十四岁，甚至还有年龄更大的孩子。最小的孩子坐在自己座位上时，他的双脚和地面之间还有很大一段距离。最年长的男孩个头很大，脾气温和，他甚至比老师高出半个脑袋。

在一年级最前面的座位——那是学校的荣誉座位——属于一个得病的学生。在高年级那排座位的排头，坐着那些戴着帽子或习惯戴鸭舌帽的孩子，有一个座位空着。没有哪个孩子试图触犯座位或顺序的圣洁，但是其中有一个孩子偷偷摸摸地瞧着老师，并且同相邻的闲得无聊的伙伴轻声说起话来。

开始上课了，学生们开始背诵课文，他们有的小声地开着玩笑，有的玩起游戏，喧闹声和拉长声调朗读课文的声音交汇在一起。这位可怜的老师在吵闹声中绞尽了脑汁，以尽到自己应尽的责任，强迫自己忘记那个得病的孩子。但是教室里的单调乏味使他更想念那个生病的学生，他的心思早就不在这些学生身上了——他的脑海里一片空白。

再也没有人比这些懒惰的孩子会钻空子了。当他们知道老师不会惩罚他们时，他们就更胆大、更喧闹了，行为也更不计后果。他们在老师眼皮底下玩猜拳的游戏；有的甚至吃起苹果来，而且不怕受到责备；他们用恶意的动作互相推搡，嬉戏打闹，没有任何防护；还有人在老师的书桌腿上刻上每个学生名字的首字母。那个让老师大伤脑筋的笨学生，则站在老师的桌子旁边说：“上课的时候完全没必要看书。”此时他也不再因为忘词而看向天花板，而是凑在老师的眼皮底下，大胆地看向那一页。这个捣蛋鬼斜着眼做起各种鬼脸（当然是冲向那个最小的孩子），而且他也没有拿起书遮挡，看到他“表演”的人大加赞赏，整个教室一片欢乐的海洋。如果老师突然醒悟过来，看到眼前所发生的一切时，喧闹就会停止，他所接触到的目光都是拼命学习和无比谦逊的。但是，当他再次陷入沉思之后，吵闹声会比之前大十倍。

噢！那些偷懒的孩子多么想跑到外面去啊！他们用充满渴望的眼神看向敞开的窗户，就好像他们在思考着逃离这里，钻进树林里，之后就好像变成了一群野孩子和野人似的。凉爽的小河、树荫映到水面的池塘，都在诱惑着孩子们，尤其是那个强壮的孩子，他的衬衫领子都没扣好，领子向后敞开，仿佛立刻就要脱掉衣服的样子，他坐在那儿不停地用拼音手册给那通红的脸扇风，他希望自己是一条鲸鱼，或者一条小鱼，即便是一只苍蝇也行——什么都好，只要不这样一动不动地待在教室，忍受那酷热难耐的天气就行。

真热呀！可以问问那个离门口最近的孩子。他的位置离门口最近，这给了他溜到花园的机会，他把脸扎进水桶里，然后开始在草地上惬意地翻滚。这让他的同学们近乎疯狂。如此炎热的天气，就连蜜蜂也会扎进花朵的深处藏起来，就好像它们决心隐退，不再采蜜了一样。一个注定让人变得慵懒的天气，躺在绿草地上，凝视着蓝天，直到明亮的光线迫使观察者想要闭上眼睛，昏昏欲睡，难道该让人憋屈在阳光照射不到的阴暗的屋子里，读那些无聊透顶的书吗？真是太荒谬了！

正课结束了，接下来该是写作的时间。这是更寂静的时刻，老师来回走动，在孩子们的背后观察，并且温和地告诉他看看那张字母表是如何写出来的，这张字母表是那个得病的男孩的临摹作品，将它当作范本挂在墙上。然后，他会停下来跟大家说，昨天晚上那个得病的孩子说了些什么话，他是多么想再次回到他们中间。那些孩子都被可怜的老师那既温柔又充满爱意的态度所感化，他们好像对让老师为自己如此操劳而感到懊悔，因此他们变得安静下来：都不再吃苹果了，没有人再刻名字了，也不再做鬼脸了，就这样一直持续了两分钟。

“我想，孩子们，”老师说，此时已经十二点了，“今天下午，我给你们额外放半天假。”听到这话之后，以那个高个儿孩子为首的孩子们大声欢呼起来。老师又说了些话，但是大家听不清楚。然而，他举起了手，示意大家安静下来，孩子们非常配合，等到拖得最长的声音消失，教室便安静下来。老师说：“首先，你们必须向我保证，你们不要大声喧闹。就算是大声喧闹，也要去远一点的地方吵闹，我的意思是你们要去村子的外面。我相信你们肯定不会打扰到和自己玩耍的孩子吧。”

大家小声嘟囔着（或许很真诚，因为他们还只是孩子）。那个高个子学生，或许和其他人一样真诚，让其他人作证，他只是低声地抱怨。“请不要忘记，那才是我喜欢的好孩子，”他们的老师说道，“记住并且履行我说的话。尽量开心地玩，但是不要忘记，一切以安全为重。再见，同学们！”

“谢谢你，先生！”“再见，先生！”大家用不同的腔调回答着。之后，孩子们慢慢地离开了教室。太阳投下灿烂的阳光，小鸟在枝头歌唱。只有在假期太阳才会这么灿烂，鸟儿只有在假期才会这么歌唱。小树迎风招展，示意孩子们爬上去，依偎在宽大的树枝上；干草渴望他们来到跟前，将它们在纯净的空中散开，玉米叶向木头和小溪招手；被光照和阴影覆盖的大地显得更加光滑，大地邀请他们在上面奔跑、跳跃和漫步。没人知道自己到底要去哪里。既然这样，有谁还可以强忍喜悦呢？随着一声快乐的叫喊，大家四散开来，一边叫喊着，一边飞奔。“这是再正常不过的事情，感谢上帝！”可怜的老师说，看着他们离他而去，“我很高兴，他们没有在意我说的话。”

快到晚上时，老师来到那个生病的孩子所在的农舍前，他轻轻地敲了敲农舍的门，门开了。他走进一间屋子，里面有一群女人围坐在一个年龄稍大的女人身边，她在大声地哭泣，坐在椅子上亲吻自己的手，来回地摆动着：“噢，婆婆！”老师走到椅子边说：“怎么变得这么糟糕？”老妇人没有回答，她用手指向了另一个房间，老师毫不犹豫地走进了那个房间，他看到那个小孩半穿着衣服，躺在一张床上。

他的年龄还很小，非常小。他的头发在脸上卷曲着，他的眼睛非常明亮，那是来自天堂的光芒，并非来自人间。老师在他身边的椅子上坐下，把头伏在小男孩的枕头边，小声地叫着他的名字。小男孩猛地直起身子，用手摸起他的脸，之后伸出纤细的胳膊抱着他的脖子，哭喊着说，老师是他敬爱的、仁慈的朋友。“我希望我一直都是。我是说，我要做你的好朋友，上帝知道！”可怜的老师说道，“你还能想起那个花园吗，亨利？”老师低声说道，急切地想要唤醒他，因为一种压抑正在逐渐包围他。“傍晚时分真让人感到愉快啊！你应该抓紧时间再去那里看一次，我认为，那些花朵都很想念你，它们没有之前那样艳丽了。你很快就会去看的，亲爱的，你很快就会去的，对吗？”

男孩虚弱地笑了笑，非常虚弱，并且把手放在他朋友灰白的头发上。男孩蠕动着嘴唇，但是什么也没说，一点声音都没有。一切又归于寂静，远处的声音随着晚风从开着的窗户飘了进来，打破了夜晚空气的沉寂。“什么声音？”虚弱的小男孩睁开眼睛说。“是男孩们在草地上踢球的声音。”老师说。男孩从枕头下拿出了一块手绢，想在头顶挥舞，但是他虚弱的手臂无力地垂了下来。“要我帮你吗？”老师说。“请在窗户边挥舞这块手绢，”男孩虚弱地答道，“把它绑在窗户的栅格上，这样他们就能看到它了。或许他们能够想到我，然后看向这边。”

他抬起头，从迎风飘动的手绢看向和石板、书以及其他玩具放在一起的球棒，这球棒现在没人玩，放在屋内的桌子上。随后，老师又一次把男孩轻轻地放躺下去，把那双小手绕在自己的脖子上。这两个老朋友和老伙伴——虽然一个是大人，一个是小孩，但他们确实是老朋友——久久地抱在一起，然后，男孩把脸转过来冲着墙壁，进入了梦乡。

但是，可怜的老师还在原来的位置，紧握着那只冰冷的小手，摩擦着。那是一只去世的孩子的手。他能感觉到。不过他还在不停地摩擦，迟迟不肯放下。

选自狄更斯《老古玩店》