Chapter 20

The shock left Johnny and Bessy numb¹, and, though Bessy was quicker, the change took Johnny two or three days to realise—even to understand.  His first distinct impression was one of injury and resentment².  He had been tricked—hoodwinked.  His mother—even his mother had deceived him and Bessy.  Why?  Why not tell them first?

She would have told them, he was sure; she told them everything.  Butson had persuaded her to keep them in ignorance till the thing was done, lest they should rebel, and perhaps bring her to a change of mood.  And Johnny’s guess was a good one. . . .  Forthwith his resentment became something more; hate, mere³ hate for this man who had come between him and his mother—this cadger⁴ of suppers thrusting himself into their intimate life. . . .

And yet—perhaps this was simple anger at the slight and the deception⁵; jealousy⁶ at finding a stranger as dear to his mother as himself was.  Butson might turn out none so bad a fellow.  He was very decent over the callipers, for instance. . . .  Curse the callipers!  p. 178Johnny’s anger was not to be reasoned down.  On Sunday he had his own mother.  Now there was nothing but Butson’s wife.

More, the man was his father—his stepfather; chief authority in the house, with respect and obedience⁷ due to him.  That seemed intolerable.  For a moment Johnny had mad notions of leaving home altogether, and shifting for himself—going aboard ship, abroad, anywhere.  But that would be to leave Bess alone—and his mother; his mother might need him yet.

He told Long Hicks, as they tramped to work over the locks and bridges in the bright morning, early and still; and it surprised him to see Hicks’s tacit concern at the news.  The long man reddened and stuttered, and checked himself suddenly at an imminent⁸ outburst of speech.  But that was all; he offered no opinion and made no remark; and as he was given to suppressed excitement on small occasion, Johnny presently forgot it.

As for Bessy, her distress⁹, quiet as it was, was beyond telling.  Her association with her mother had been so intimate that this change was stark¹⁰ bereavement¹¹; and for Butson and his coarse pretence¹² her feeling was sheer repulsion.

Neither boy nor girl had the habit of dissimulation¹³, and though they said little, it needed small discernment to guess something of their sentiments.  Poor Nan was p. 179dismayed to perceive that they did not take to Butson instant on the news of the novel relationship.  Indeed, it perplexed¹⁴ her.  For in her simple view he was a resplendent person of finer mould, sore hit by a cruel world, and entitled to the respectful sympathy, at least and coldest, of the merest stranger.  More, nobody could be more completely devoted¹⁵ than he to the interests of Johnny and Bessy; he had most vehemently¹⁶ assured her of it, again and again.  But after all, the thing was sudden; they must realise his true worth soon.  Though meantime she was distressed¹⁷ extremely.

Butson saw plainly enough, but for the present cared not at all.  He had won his game, and for a little time unwonted plenty and comfort satisfied him.  Though he was not insensible that this was a place wherein he must do something more to make himself absolute master.

Uncle Isaac got the news on Tuesday evening, when he came for supper.  For a week or ten days he had been little seen at Harbour Lane, because of an urgent job involving overtime¹⁸, a thing not to be neglected in these lean years.  He had suspected nothing, moreover, supposing Butson to be so often attracted to Nan’s by the mere prospect¹⁹ of supper.

Now, when he was told, he was near as astonished as Johnny had been.  He sat at random—fortunately on a chair—and opened mouth and eyes.  But ere his p. 180mouth closed he had resolved on his own course.  The thing was done, and past undoing²⁰.

He sprang to his feet, and seized one of Butson’s hands—the nearest—in both his own.  “Mr. Butson!” he said: “Butson!  Me ole friend ’Enery—me dearest ’opes an’ wishes is rewarded.  Nan, you’re done most dootiful the confidentialest o’ my intentions.  For what was my confidential²¹ intentions?  ’Ere, I says, confidential to meself, ’ere is my niece, a young woman as I wish every possible good fortun’ to, though I sez it meself: a very sootable young woman o’ some little property with two children an’ a business.  Two children an’ a business was my reflection.  What’s more, ’ere’s my very respected friend Butson—than which none more so—fash’nable by ’abit an’ connexions, with no children an’ no business.  Them considerations bein’ thus what follers?  What’s the cause an’ pediment to ’oly matrimony?  Far be it from me, sez I, to dictate²².  But I’ll take ’im in to tea, any’ow.  An’ I’ll do whatever else is ne’ssry.  Yus, I’ll do it, sez I, as is my dooty.  I’ll work it if it’s mortal possible.  Whether grateful or not I’ll do it.  An’ I done it.”

Uncle Isaac punched his left palm with his right fist, and looked from husband to wife, with the eye of the righteous defying censure²³.  Nan flushed and smiled, and indeed she was relieved.  No consideration of her unaccustomed secrecy²⁴ had given her more doubt than p. 181that it must shut her off from Uncle Isaac’s advice; loss enough in itself, and probably an offence to him.

“This,” Uncle Isaac went on, taking his chair once more and drawing it up to the table: “this is a great an’ ’appy occasion, an’ as sich it should be kep’ up.  Nan, is there sich a thing as a drop o’ sperrits in the ’ouse?”

There was most of a small jar of whisky—the first purchase Mr. Butson had caused on his change of condition.  It was brought, with tumblers, and Uncle Isaac celebrated²⁵ the occasion with full honours and much fragmentary declamation²⁶.  He drank the health of bride and bridegroom, first separately and then together.  He drank the health of the family, completed and adorned²⁷ by the addition of Butson.  He drank success to the shop; long life to all the parties concerned; happiness to each of them.  And a certain forgetfulness ensuing, he began his toast-list afresh, in conscientious²⁸ precaution lest something had been omitted.

“See there, Bess; see there, me gal,” he exclaimed, with some thickness of utterance²⁹, turning to Bessy (whose one desire was to remain unnoticed), and making a semicircular swing of the arm in Butson’s direction.  “Yer father!  Noo s-stepfather!  Local p’rentis!  As a cripple an’ a burden it’s your dooty to be grateful for the c-circumstance.  Bein’ a widderer o’ long ex-experience p. 182meself I’m grateful for s-surroundin’ priv’leges, which it is your dooty t’ respeck.  See?  Dooty t’ respeck an’ obey; likewise honour.  ’C-cos if shillun don’ ’speck an’ ’bey whash good C-catechism?  Eh?”  Uncle Isaac’s voice grew loud and fierce.  “Whash become C-catechishm I say?  Nullavoid.  Ca’chishm’s nullavoid.” . . .  Here, pausing to look round at Mr. and Mrs. Butson, he lost his argument altogether, and stared owlishly at the wall. . . .  “’Owsomedever, the ’casion bein’ the state an’ pediment o’ ’oly matrimony, ’cordin’ to confidential ’tentions, nothin’ remains³⁰ but ashk you all join me ’n drinkin’—d-drinkin’—er—er—lil’ drop more.”

Uncle Isaac subsided³¹ with his face on the table, and his eyes closed.  So that it grew necessary for Mr. Butson to shake him and bring him to a perpendicular³².  Whereupon, being duly invested with his hat, he was safely set in his way on the narrow pavement of Harbour Lane.

1 numb   

adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木

参考例句：

• His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
• Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵，催着疲惫的马继续往前走。

2 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

3 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

4 cadger   

n.乞丐；二流子；小的油容量；小型注油器

参考例句：

• You are to remember that I knew no more of my descent than any cadger's dog. 你们可记得我对于自己的家世，不见得比流浪汉的一头狗知道的更多。 来自辞典例句

5 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。

6 jealousy   

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

• Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
• I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

7 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

8 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

9 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

10 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

11 bereavement   

n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛

参考例句：

• the pain of an emotional crisis such as divorce or bereavement 诸如离婚或痛失亲人等情感危机的痛苦
• I sympathize with you in your bereavement. 我对你痛失亲人表示同情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 pretence   

n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰

参考例句：

• The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。
• He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。

13 dissimulation   

n.掩饰，虚伪，装糊涂

参考例句：

• A habit of dissimulation is a hindrance, and a poorness to him. 在他这样的一个人，一种掩饰的习惯是一种阻挠，一个弱点。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Still we have our limits beyond which we call dissimulation treachery. 不过我们仍然有自己的限度，超过这个界限，就是虚伪与背信弃义。 来自辞典例句

14 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

15 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

16 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

17 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

18 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

19 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

20 undoing   

n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭

参考例句：

• That one mistake was his undoing. 他一失足即成千古恨。
• This hard attitude may have led to his undoing. 可能就是这种强硬的态度导致了他的垮台。

21 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

22 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

23 censure   

v./n.责备；非难；责难

参考例句：

• You must not censure him until you know the whole story.在弄清全部事实真相前不要谴责他。
• His dishonest behaviour came under severe censure.他的不诚实行为受到了严厉指责。

24 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

25 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

26 declamation   

n. 雄辩，高调

参考例句：

• Declamation is a traditional Chinese teaching method.诵读教学是我国传统的语文教学方法。
• Were you present at the declamation contest of Freshmen?大一的朗诵比赛你参加了没有？

27 adorned   

[计]被修饰的

参考例句：

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

28 conscientious   

adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的

参考例句：

• He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。
• He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。

29 utterance   

n.用言语表达，话语，言语

参考例句：

• This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
• My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。

30 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

31 subsided   

v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上

参考例句：

• After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后，部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚， 暴风雨已经过去，四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

32 perpendicular   

adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置

参考例句：

• The two lines of bones are set perpendicular to one another.这两排骨头相互垂直。
• The wall is out of the perpendicular.这墙有些倾斜。