Chapter XXX. Not Yet

 But ere I might question Roger Galt, I saw my uncle come swiftly out of the darkness of the corridor; remarking me holding a candle high he gave me not a word and only a malignant¹ glance, and without knocking he would have thrust open the door.  But Mr. Bradbury had turned the key; and the gentleman turning to me, his face revealing his rage, though his voice was smooth, he said, “So, nephew, though you’re heir of Craike, you permit Bradbury to lock you out in the cold!  What’s the gentleman’s business then?”

 

“Business at which he’d not have you or me disturb him,” I answered.

 

He assented², “Ay, no doubt!  But would he keep me from my father’s death-bed?”—and knocked angrily upon the door.

 

Awhile Mr. Bradbury paid no heed³; my uncle, knocking repeatedly and failing to obtain an answer, drew away from the door; and, mastering his choler, said quizzically to me, p. 234“Well for you, John, you’re telling yourself, no doubt, that Bradbury and his hinds⁴ found their way into this house to-night.  You’re bidding fair to lose your guardian⁵ and protector—eh?”

 

“Well for me,” I answered, “as you know, sir.”

 

“And does Bradbury think to keep me shivering here?”—he was beginning, but ceased, as Mr. Bradbury unlocked the door.

 

“Your pardon, Charles,” said Mr. Bradbury, smoothly⁶, “but my business with your father was private and particular.  Pray step in!  Your natural anxiety may be allayed⁷.  You’ll find Mr. Craike much easier in mind and body,”—smiling blandly⁸, and ushering⁹ my uncle into the room.  The thief-catchers coming out, he bade them await him.  “Pray step in, Mr. John,” he said to me, laying his hand upon my arm, and leading me in at my uncle’s heels.

 

My grandfather lay in his chair; though he was ghastly of look, and his body was propped¹⁰ up with cushions, his sweating had ceased; his eyes, if dull, were sane¹¹ and steady.  My uncle, looking down on him, assured him, “I’m happy to see you better, sir!  Shall I ring for Thrale?  Were there a physician within miles—”

 

“No!  When I need Thrale, I’ll ring,” the old man answered huskily.  “But hark ’ee, Charles, p. 235hark ’ee”—seeming to labour with his speech, his hands shaking on the arms of his chair.

 

“I listen, sir,” said Charles.

 

“Ay, that’s well!  You thought me broken, Charles!”

 

“I am so much relieved that—”

 

“Oh, ay!  We’re all liars¹², Charles!  I promise there was a pretty to-do, when I was taken sick.”

 

“The natural alarm of your old servants.”

 

“I picture ’em,” he croaked¹³, chuckling¹⁴, “thinking me dying.  Plotting mutiny, and robbing me of what I have; thinking to lay hands on what they’ve itched¹⁵ for all these years.”

 

“Sir, you agitate¹⁶ yourself unnecessarily,” Charles protested.  “Let me ring for Thrale to help you to bed.”

 

“No.  I’ll have the boy by me.  Richard’s son.  Hey, Bradbury, you’re going and will soon be back?”

 

“Immediately I have carried out your instructions, Mr. Craike,” said Mr. Bradbury.

 

“Ay, and you’ll be careful lest Charles or any of ’em seek to rob you by the way,”—chuckling to himself.

 

“Sir, you wrong me cruelly,” said Charles.

 

“Take a message down to ’em, Charles,” said the old man malignantly¹⁷.  “This from me—two words, ‘Not yet!’”—and chuckled¹⁸ still; and p. 236huskily went on, “Not a night in all my years of sailing they’d not have made an end of me, had they known me sick and broken as they think me now.  If I’d have died to-night, they’d have been drunk by now on the best from my cellars; they’d have been searching all over the house for what they’ll never get.  Give ’em the words from me, Charles!  Not yet!”

 

“And pray give them this from me, Mr. Charles—under authority from their master,” cried Mr. Bradbury, “that with this night there’s an end of their doings in this house.  Tell them that, though I go, I return to make an end!”

 

“You go!” my uncle repeated, smiling on Mr. Bradbury, “and you return!  Surely, Bradbury.”

 

I had a notion instantly that he contemplated¹⁹ directing attack on Mr. Bradbury, believing that the gentleman bore with him the secret of my grandfather’s hoard²⁰—if there were hoard.  Or, indeed, that my uncle had remained downstairs after us to give instructions to the stouter²¹ rogues²².

 

“I go armed and with my men armed,” said Mr. Bradbury significantly.  “Let them understand this for an obvious reason, Charles.  And that I have friends at hand.  With whom I shall return.  Come, John!”

 

p. 237“Nay, the boy stays by me,” my grandfather piped from his chair.

 

“My dear sir,” said Mr. Bradbury, taken aback.

 

“John stays by me!  Or by God, Bradbury, I’ll—I’ll—you’ll not take away—what you take!  Charles, but those words ‘Not yet!’ and there’s not a dog among ’em shall bark this night.  Am I not master yet?  Am I not, Bradbury?”

 

He grew so violent, the blood rushing to his face, the sweat starting from him, that Mr. Bradbury hastened to pacify²³ him.  “Surely, sir, surely,” he said, “Mr. John will stay, if you’ll have it so.”

 

“I’ll have it so!  Hark ’ee, John, are you afraid to watch the night through with me?”

 

“I’m not afraid,” I lied.  “To be sure I’ll stay!”—though I was shaking in my shoes, and would have given much to be out of the house with Mr. Bradbury.

 

He nodded approval.  He muttered, “Bradbury, I’ve thought to die on a night like this!  To go out on the storm.  Hark to the wind and the voices in it!  And the wind blows from the sea.  Oh, God, there’s many a soul of the dead men out of the sea rides with the wind to-night!”

 

“Sir,” cried Mr. Bradbury, shuddering²⁴, “the p. 238dead shall not rise from the sea till the last trump²⁵ sound!”

 

“I’ll have the boy by me,” the old man whispered.  “I’ll have him watch.  I’ll lie upon my bed; I’ll rest—if he’ll watch by me.”

 

“Surely, sir,” said Charles, “I am willing to sit with you!”

 

“I’ll have the boy,” he growled²⁶.  “Not you—John here!”

 

Mr. Bradbury, securing his cloak about him, said in a clear voice, though he looked uneasily at me, “Then, sir, I take my leave of you.  Mr. John Craike shall stay by you.  But, Charles, let this be known among the folk of this house—it’s no time to mince²⁷ words: if any harm come to him, I’ll have the reckoning.  Gentlemen, I go, and I’ll return with all the speed I may.  Good night!  Charles, pray, will you light me down the stair?”

1 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

2 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

3 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

4 hinds   

n.（常指动物腿）后面的( hind的名词复数 )；在后的；（通常与can或could连用）唠叨不停；滔滔不绝

参考例句：

• He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 诗18:33他使我的脚快如母鹿的蹄、使我在高处安稳。 来自互联网
• He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 33他使我的脚快如母鹿的蹄，又使我在高处安稳。 来自互联网

5 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

6 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

7 allayed   

v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His fever is allayed, but his appetite is still flatted. 他发烧减轻了，但食欲仍然不振。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• His fever was allayed by the medicine. 这药剂使他退烧了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 blandly   

adv.温和地，殷勤地

参考例句：

• There is a class of men in Bristol monstrously prejudiced against Blandly. 布里斯托尔有那么一帮人为此恨透了布兰德利。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• \"Maybe you could get something in the stage line?\" he blandly suggested. “也许你能在戏剧这一行里找些事做，\"他和蔼地提议道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

9 ushering   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They were right where the coach-caller was swinging open a coach-door and ushering in two ladies. "他们走到外面时，叫马车的服务员正打开车门，请两位小姐上车。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Immediately the two of them approached others, thanking them, ushering them out one by one. 他们俩马上走到其他人面前，向他们道谢，一个个送走了他们。 来自辞典例句

10 propped   

支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
• This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。

11 sane   

adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的

参考例句：

• He was sane at the time of the murder.在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。
• He is a very sane person.他是一个很有头脑的人。

12 liars   

说谎者( liar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The greatest liars talk most of themselves. 最爱自吹自擂的人是最大的说谎者。
• Honest boys despise lies and liars. 诚实的孩子鄙视谎言和说谎者。

13 croaked   

v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说

参考例句：

• The crow croaked disaster. 乌鸦呱呱叫预报灾难。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• 'she has a fine head for it," croaked Jacques Three. “她有一个漂亮的脑袋跟着去呢，”雅克三号低沉地说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

14 chuckling   

轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时，我能听见他的轻声发笑。
• He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

15 itched   

v.发痒( itch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Seeing the children playing ping-pong, he itched to have a go. 他看到孩子们打乒乓，不觉技痒。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He could hardly sIt'still and itched to have a go. 他再也坐不住了，心里跃跃欲试。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16 agitate   

vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动

参考例句：

• They sent agents to agitate the local people.他们派遣情报人员煽动当地的民众。
• All you need to do is gently agitate the water with a finger or paintbrush.你只需要用手指或刷子轻轻地搅动水。

17 malignantly   

怀恶意地； 恶毒地； 有害地； 恶性地

参考例句：

• It was as if Osmond deliberately, almost malignantly, had put the lights out one by one. 仿佛奥斯蒙德怀着幸灾乐祸的心情，在有意识地把灯一盏一盏吹灭。
• Neck of uterus can live after scalelike cell cancer performs an operation malignantly successfully how long? 宫颈鳞状细胞癌恶性做手术成功后能活多久？

18 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

19 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

20 hoard   

n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积

参考例句：

• They have a hoard of food in the basement.地下室里有他们贮藏的食物。
• How many curios do you hoard in your study?你在你书房里聚藏了多少古玩？

21 stouter   

粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的

参考例句：

• Freddie was much stouter, more benevolent-looking, cheerful, and far more dandified. 弗烈特显得更魁伟，更善良、更快活，尤其更像花花公子。 来自教父部分
• Why hadn't she thought of putting on stouter shoes last night? 她昨天晚上怎么没想起换上一双硬些的鞋呢？

22 rogues   

n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽

参考例句：

• 'I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道，我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑，但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

23 pacify   

vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰

参考例句：

• He tried to pacify the protesters with promises of reform.他试图以改革的承诺安抚抗议者。
• He tried to pacify his creditors by repaying part of the money.他为安抚债权人偿还了部分借款。

24 shuddering   

v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动

参考例句：

• 'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕，”她发着抖，说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤，深深吸了口气。 来自飘（部分）

25 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

26 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 mince   

n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说

参考例句：

• Would you like me to mince the meat for you?你要我替你把肉切碎吗？
• Don't mince matters,but speak plainly.不要含糊其词，有话就直说吧。