【英文原著类】tomsawyer,detective(大

TOMSAWYER,DETECTIVE1TOMSAWYER,DETECTIVEbyMARKTWAINTOMSAWYER,DETECTIVE2CHAPTERI.ANINVITATIONFORTOMANDHUCK[Footnote:Strangeastheincidentsofthisstoryare,theyarenotinventions,butfacts--eventothepublicconfessionoftheaccused.Itakethemfromanold-timeSwedishcriminaltrial,changetheactors,andtransferthescenestoAmerica.Ihaveaddedsomedetails,butonlyacoupleofthemareimportantones.--M.T.]WELL,itwasthenextspringaftermeandTomSawyersetouroldniggerJimfree,thetimehewaschainedupforarunawayslavedownthereonTom'suncleSilas'sfarminArkansaw.Thefrostwasworkingoutoftheground,andoutoftheair,too,anditwasgettingcloserandcloserontobarefoottimeeveryday;andnextitwouldbemarbletime,andnextmumbletypeg,andnexttopsandhoops,andnextkites,andthenrightawayitwouldbesummerandgoingina-swimming.Itjustmakesaboyhomesicktolookaheadlikethatandseehowfaroffsummeris.Yes,anditsetshimtosighingandsaddeningaround,andthere'ssomethingthematterwithhim,hedon'tknowwhat.Butanyway,hegetsoutbyhimselfandmopesandthinks;andmostlyhehuntsforalonesomeplacehighuponthehillintheedgeofthewoods,andsetsthereandlooksawayoffonthebigMississippidowntherea-reachingmilesandmilesaroundthepointswherethetimberlookssmokyanddimit'ssofaroffandstill,andeverything'ssosolemnitseemslikeeverybodyyou'velovedisdeadandgone,andyou'mostwishyouwasdeadandgonetoo,anddonewithitall.Don'tyouknowwhatthatis?It'sspringfever.Thatiswhatthenameofitis.Andwhenyou'vegotit,youwant--oh,youdon'tquiteknowwhatitisyouDOwant,butitjustfairlymakesyourheartache,youwantitso!Itseemstoyouthatmainlywhatyouwantistogetaway;getawayfromthesameoldtediousthingsyou'resousedtoseeingandsotiredof,andsetsomethingnew.Thatistheidea;youwanttogoandbeawanderer;youwanttogowanderingfarawaytostrangecountrieswhereeverythingismysteriousandwonderfulandromantic.Andifyoucan'tTOMSAWYER,DETECTIVE3dothat,you'llputupwithconsiderableless;you'llgoanywhereyouCANgo,justsoastogetaway,andbethankfulofthechance,too.Well,meandTomSawyerhadthespringfever,andhaditbad,too;butitwarn'tanyusetothinkaboutTomtryingtogetaway,because,ashesaid,hisAuntPollywouldn'tlethimquitschoolandgotraipsingoffsomerswastingtime;sowewasprettyblue.Wewassettingonthefrontstepsonedayaboutsundowntalkingthisway,whenoutcomeshisauntPollywithaletterinherhandandsays:Tom,Ireckonyou'vegottopackupandgodowntoArkansaw--yourauntSallywantsyou.I'mostjumpedoutofmyskinforjoy.IreckonedTomwouldflyathisauntandhugherheadoff;butifyoubelievemehesettherelikearock,andneversaidaword.Itmademefittocrytoseehimactsofoolish,withsuchanoblechanceasthisopeningup.Why,wemightloseitifhedidn'tspeakupandshowhewasthankfulandgrateful.ButhesetthereandstudiedandstudiedtillIwasthatdistressedIdidn'tknowwhattodo;thenhesays,veryca'm,andIcouldashothimforit:Well,hesays,I'mrightdownsorry,AuntPolly,butIreckonIgottobeexcused--forthepresent.HisauntPollywasknockedsostupidandsomadatthecoldimpudenceofitthatshecouldn'tsayawordforasmuchasahalfaminute,andthisgavemeachancetonudgeTomandwhisper:Ain'tyougotanysense?Sp'ilingsuchanoblechanceasthisandthrowingitaway?Buthewarn'tdisturbed.Hemumbledback:HuckFinn,doyouwantmetoletherSEEhowbadIwanttogo?Why,she'dbegintodoubt,rightaway,andimaginealotofsicknessesanddangersandobjections,andfirstyouknowshe'dtakeitallback.Youlemmealone;IreckonIknowhowtoworkher.NowIneverwould'a'thoughtofthat.Buthewasright.TomSawyerwasalwaysright--thelevelestheadIeversee,andalwaysAThimselfandreadyforanythingyoumightspringonhim.BythistimehisauntPollywasallstraightagain,andsheletfly.Shesays:You'llbeexcused!YOUwill!Well,IneverheardthelikeofitinallTOMSAWYER,DETECTIVE4mydays!TheideaofyoutalkinglikethattoME!Nowtakeyourselfoffandpackyourtraps;andifIhearanotherwordoutofyouaboutwhatyou'llbeexcusedfromandwhatyouwon't,IlayI'LLexcuseyou--withahickory!Shehithisheadathumpwithherthimbleaswedodgedby,andheletontobewhimperingaswestruckforthestairs.Upinhisroomhehuggedme,hewassooutofhisheadforgladnessbecausehewasgoingtraveling.Andhesays:Beforewegetawayshe'llwishshehadn'tletmego,butshewon'tknowanywaytogetarounditnow.Afterwhatshe'ssaid,herpridewon'tlethertakeitback.Tomwaspackedintenminutes,allexceptwhathisauntandMarywouldfinishupforhim;thenwewaitedtenmoreforhertogetcooleddownandsweetandgentleagain;forTomsaidittookhertenminutestounruffleintimeswhenhalfofherfeatherswasup,buttwentywhentheywasallup,andthiswasoneofthetimeswhentheywasallup.Thenwewentdown,beinginasweattoknowwhatthelettersaid.Shewassettingthereinabrownstudy,withitlayinginherlap.Wesetdown,andshesays:They'reinconsiderabletroubledownthere,andtheythinkyouandHuck'llbeakindofdiversionforthem--'comfort,'theysay.Muchofthatthey'llgetoutofyouandHuckFinn,Ireckon.There'saneighbornamedBraceDunlapthat'sbeenwantingtomarrytheirBennyforthreemonths,andatlasttheytoldhimpointblankandonceforall,heCOULDN'T;sohehassouredonthem,andthey'reworriedaboutit.Ireckonhe'ssomebodytheythinktheybetterbeonthegoodsideof,forthey'vetriedtopleasehimbyhiringhisno-accountbrothertohelponthefarmwhentheycan'thardlyaffordit,anddon'twanthimaroundanyhow.WhoaretheDunlaps?TheyliveaboutamilefromUncleSilas'splace,AuntPolly--allthefarmersliveaboutamileapartdownt