When George returned from Winnipeg, Edgar took him to the granary.
"You may as well look at the seed Grant sent you, and then you'll be able to thank him for it," he said. "It's in here; I turned out the common northern stuff you bought to make room."
"Why didn't you put it into the empty place in the barn?" George asked.
"I wasn't sure it would go in; there's rather a lot of it," Edgar explained, with a smile.
George entered the granary and stopped, astonished, when he saw the great pile of bags.
"Is all of that the new seed?" he asked incredulously.
"Every bag," said Edgar, watching him.
George's face reddened. He was stirred by mixed emotions: relief, gratitude1, and a feeling of confusion he could not analyze2.
"Grant must have sent the whole carload!" he broke out.
"As a matter of fact, he sent most of it. Grierson and I hauled it in; and a tough job we had of it."
"And you took it all, without protesting or sending me word?"
"Yes," said Edgar coolly; "that's precisely3 what I did. You need the stuff; Grant meant you to have it, and I didn't want to offend him."
"I suppose you have some idea what that seed is worth?"
"I dare say I could guess. Our people at home once experimented with some American seed potatoes at three shillings each. But aren't you putting the matter on a rather low plane?"
George sat down and felt for his pipe.
"I feel that you have played a trick on me. If you had only let me know, I could have objected."
"Just so; that's why I kept quiet," Edgar laughed. "The seed's here and you ought to be thankful. Anyway, Grant won't take it back."
"What have I done that I should get this favor?" George said half aloud.
"That's so characteristic!" Edgar exclaimed. "Why must you always be doing things? Do you imagine that whatever one receives is the result of so much exertion4?"
"I don't feel the least interest in such quibbles."
"I can't believe it," Edgar rejoined. "You're more at home when you have a fence to put up, or a strip of new land to break." Then he dropped his bantering5 tone. "There's nothing to be distressed6 about. Grant has been pretty generous, and I think he and Flora7 need thanking."
"That's true; they've made me feel half ashamed. I never expected this."
"In my opinion, the sensation's quite unnecessary. You have given a few people a lift in your time, and I've an optimistic notion that actions of the kind recoil8 on one, even though it's a different person who makes you some return."
"I wish you would stop talking!" George exclaimed impatiently.
Edgar mentally compared Flora Grant with Sylvia, in whom he disbelieved, and found it hard to restrain himself. It was, he felt, a great misfortune that George could not be made to see.
"Oh, well!" he acquiesced9. "I could say a good deal more, if I thought it would do any good, but as that doesn't seem likely I'll dry up."
"That's a comfort," George said shortly.
He left the granary in a thoughtful mood, and on the following evening drove over to the Grant homestead. Its owner was busy somewhere outside when he reached it, but Flora received him and he sat down with satisfaction to talk to her. It had become a pleasure to visit the Grants; he felt at home in their house. The absence of all ceremony, the simple Canadian life, had a growing attraction for him. One could get to know these people, which was a different thing from merely meeting them, and George thought this was to some extent the effect of their surroundings. He had always been conscious of a closer and more intimate contact with his friends upon the mountain-side or the banks of some salmon10 river than he had ever experienced in a club or drawing-room. For all that, Flora sometimes slightly puzzled him. She was free from the affectations and restraints of artificial conventionality, but there was a reserve about her which he failed to penetrate11. He wondered what lay behind it and had a curious feeling that Edgar either guessed or knew.
"Did you enjoy your visit to Winnipeg?" she asked.
"It was a pleasant change and I got through my business satisfactorily.
Of course, I didn't go for amusement."
Flora laughed.
"So I supposed; you're growing more Canadian every day. But you meant to make a visit to England, which couldn't have had any connection with business, last winter, didn't you?"
George's face grew serious. He had, she thought, not got over his disappointment.
"Yes," he said. "But there was nothing to be done here then."
"So the things that should be done invariably come first with you?"
"In this case—I mean as far as they concern the farm—it's necessary."
Flora considered his answer, studying him quietly, though she had some sewing in her hands. Supposing, as she had once thought, there was some English girl he had longed to see, he could have made the journey later, when his crop had been sown, even though this entailed12 some neglect of minor13 operations that required his care. He received, as she had learned with interest, few English letters, so there was nobody to whom he wrote regularly; and yet his disappointment when forced to abandon his visit had obviously been keen. There was, Flora thought, a mystery here.
"After all," she said, "the feeling you have indicated is pretty common in the Canadian wheat-belt."
"Then why should you expect me to be an exception? As a matter of fact, I'm at least as anxious as my neighbors to be successful. That's partly why I've come over to-night." His voice grew deeper and softer as he continued. "I want to thank you and your father for your surprising generosity14."
"Surprising?" responded Flora lightly, though she was stirred by the signs of feeling he displayed. "Do you know you're not altogether complimentary15?"
He smiled.
"You'll forgive the slip; when one feels strongly, it's difficult to choose one's words. Anyway, to get that seed, and so much of it, is an immense relief. I'm deeply grateful; the more so because your action was so spontaneous. I haven't a shadow of a claim on you."
Flora put down her sewing and looked at him directly.
"I don't think you ought to say that—do you wish to be considered a stranger?"
"No," George declared impulsively16. "It's the last thing I want.
Still, you see—"
She was pleased with his eagerness, but she checked him.
"Then, as you have a gift of making friends, you must take the consequences."
"I didn't know I had the gift. My real friends aren't plentiful17."
"If you begin to count, you may find them more numerous than you think."
"Those I have made in Canada head the list."
The girl felt a thrill of satisfaction. This was not a compliment; he had spoken from his heart.
"After all, I don't see why you should insist on thanking me as well as my father, who really sent you the seed." She paused. "You didn't do so on the last occasion; I mean at the time when it was promised to you."
This was correct, and George was conscious of some embarrassment18.
"Well," he said firmly, "I think I'm justified19."
Flora could not contradict him, and she was glad he felt as he did. She liked his way of sticking to the point; indeed, she was sensible of a strong liking20 for the man.
During the next minute or two her father came in. He cut short
George's thanks, and then took out his pipe.
"I was in at the Butte yesterday," he said. "The police have got the men who knocked Farren out, and Flett says they mean to press for a smart penalty. It's about time they made an example of somebody. When I was in, I fixed21 it up to turn Langside off his holding."
Flora looked up with interest.
"But how had you the power?" George asked.
"The man owes me four hundred dollars for a horse and some second-hand22 implements23 I let him have nearly three years ago."
"But he has broken a big strip of his land; it's worth a good deal more than you lent him."
"Just so. He owes everybody money round the Butte. I saw Taunton of the store and the implement24 man and told them Langside had to quit."
"You seem to have found them willing to agree."
Grant broke into a grim smile.
"What I say to those men goes. Then I've got security; they know I could pull Langside down."
George looked at Flora and was slightly surprised at her acquiescent25 manner.
"It sounds a little harsh; a good harvest might have set him straight," he said. "However, I suppose you have a reason for what you're doing."
"That's so. Langside's the kind of man I've no use for; he takes no interest in his place. After he has put in half a crop, he goes off and spends his time doing a little railroad work and slouching round the saloons along the line."
"It doesn't seem sufficient to justify26 your ruining him."
"I've got a little more against the man. Has it struck you that somebody round here, who knows the trails and the farmers' movements, is standing27 in with the liquor boys."
A light broke in upon George. Now that the matter had been put before him, he could recollect28 a number of points that seemed to prove the fanner right. When cattle had been killed, their owners had been absent; horses had disappeared at a time which prevented the discovery of their loss from being promptly29 made. It looked as if the offenses30 could only have been committed with the connivance32 of somebody in the neighborhood who had supplied their perpetrators with information.
"I believe you've got at the truth," he replied. "Still, it must be largely a matter of suspicion."
Grant leaned forward on the table and his face grew stern.
"You'll remember what Flett said about our system of justice sometimes breaking down. In this matter, I'm the jury, and I've thought the thing over for the last six months, weighing up all that could be said for Langside, though it isn't much. What's more, I've talked to the man and watched him; giving him every chance. He has had his trial and he has to go; there's no appeal."
George could imagine the thoroughness with which his host had undertaken his task. Grant would be just, deciding nothing without the closest test. George felt that the man he meant to punish must be guilty. For all that, he looked at Flora.
"Have you been consulted?" he asked.
"I understood," said Flora. "And I agreed."
Her face was as hard as her father's and George was puzzled.
"I should have thought you would have been inclined to mercy."
Flora colored a little, but she looked at him steadily33.
"Langside deserves the punishment he has so far escaped. He's guilty of what my father thinks, but there's another offense31 that I'm afraid will never be brought home to him."
George admired her courage as he remembered a very unpleasant story he had heard about a pretty waitress at the settlement. As a matter of fact, he had doubted it.
"Flora went to see the girl at Regina. They found her there pretty near dying," Grant explained quietly.
Recollecting34 a scene outside the Sachem, when Flora had accompanied Mrs. Nelson, George realized that he had rather overlooked one side of her character. She could face unpleasant things and strive to put them right, and she could be sternly just without shrinking when occasion demanded it. This, however, was not an aspect of hers that struck one forcibly; he had generally seen her compassionate35, cheerful, and considerate. Then he told himself that there was no reason why he should take any interest in Flora Grant's qualities.
"I suppose Langside will be sold up," he said.
"Open auction36, though I guess there won't be much bidding. Folks round here don't know the man as I do, but they've good reason to believe the money will go to his creditors37, and there'll be nothing left for him."
"The foreclosure won't meet with general favor," George said pointedly38.
"That doesn't count. It strikes one as curious that people should be ready to sympathize with the slouch who lets his place go to ruin out of laziness, and never think of the storekeepers' just claim on the money he's wasted. Anyway, there's nothing to stop people from bidding; but, in case they hold off, we have fixed up how we'll divide the property."
It was obvious to George that the position of Grant's associates was unassailable. If any friends of Langside's attempted to run prices up, they would only put the money into his creditor's pockets; if, as seemed more probable, they discouraged the bidding, the creditors would secure his possessions at a low figure and recoup themselves by selling later at the proper value. George realized that Grant had carefully thought out his plans.
"I don't think you have left him any way of escape," he said.
"No," replied Grant; "we have got him tight. You had better come along to the auction—you'll get notice of it—and see how the thing goes."
George said that he would do so, and shortly afterward39 drove away. On reaching home he told Edgar what he had heard, and the lad listened with a thoughtful expression.
"One can't doubt that Grant knows what he's doing, but I'm not sure he's wise," he said. "Though Langside's a regular slacker, he has a good many friends, and as a rule nobody has much sympathy with exacting40 creditors. Then it's bound to come out that it was Grant who set the other fellows after Langside; and if he buys up much of the property at a low figure, the thing will look suspicious."
"I tried to point that out."
"And found you had wasted words? Grant would see it before you did, and it wouldn't have the least effect on him. You wouldn't expect that man to yield to popular opinion. Still, the thing will make trouble, though I shall not be sorry if it forces on a crisis."
George nodded.
"I'm getting tired of these continual petty worries, and keeping a ceaseless lookout41. I want to hit back."
"You'll no doubt get your chance. What about Miss Grant's attitude?"
"She agreed with her father completely; I was a little surprised."
"That was quite uncalled for," said Edgar with a smile. "It looks as if you didn't know the girl yet. These Westerners are a pretty grim people."
George frowned at this, though he felt that there was some truth in what his companion said. On the whole, he was of the same mind as Grant; there were situations in which one must fearlessly take a drastic course.
"The sooner the trouble begins, the sooner it will be over," he said.
"One has now and then to run the risk of getting hurt."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
analyze
|
|
| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
exertion
|
|
| n.尽力，努力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
bantering
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
flora
|
|
| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
recoil
|
|
| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
acquiesced
|
|
| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
salmon
|
|
| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
entailed
|
|
| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
complimentary
|
|
| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
impulsively
|
|
| adv.冲动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
plentiful
|
|
| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
liking
|
|
| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
second-hand
|
|
| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
implements
|
|
| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
implement
|
|
| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
acquiescent
|
|
| adj.默许的，默认的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
recollect
|
|
| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
offenses
|
|
| n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
offense
|
|
| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
connivance
|
|
| n.纵容；默许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
recollecting
|
|
| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
compassionate
|
|
| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
auction
|
|
| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
creditors
|
|
| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
pointedly
|
|
| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
exacting
|
|
| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
lookout
|
|
| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |