Coldstream did not at once direct his steps homewards. He went first to a kind of warehouse2 with a deep veranda3 half filled up with advertisements on placards, pieces of second-hand4 furniture too large to be stowed inside, empty packing-cases, and other articles of a heterogeneous5 nature. This was the establishment of Hersey the agent, who monopolized6 most of the custom of the European residents in Moulmein. The proprietor7, seated in the veranda, was taking his morning cup of coffee before business hours should commence.
Mr. Coldstream was well known to Hersey, who had procured8 for that gentleman most of the furniture of his house. Hersey rose, put down his cup, raised his hat, and wished Mr. Coldstream good-morning. He offered Oscar a seat, but his offer was declined. Mr. Coldstream preferred standing9.
Much astonished was Hersey when he found on what business his early visitor had come, when Coldstream informed the agent that he wished to put his dwelling10, with all its fittings, into his hands for sale in the following month.
Hersey expressed his surprise. He could hardly believe that Mr. Coldstream could really intend to dispose of the house prepared at the cost of much labour and expense, which was generally acknowledged to be the one best fitted up in the station.
“It is my wish to sell it furnished,” said Mr. Coldstream. “My wife and I are about to quit Moulmein.”
“I am sure, sir, we shall be very sorry to lose you,” said Hersey.
After settling this affair, Coldstream, with a quick step—for he wished to get over painful business as rapidly as he might—proceeded to his own office, which opened on the wharf11. Coldstream, as he expected, found Smith overlooking labourers at work in the extensive yard which adjoined the premises12. There were some repairs going on, and the sound of hammer and saw rose in the morning air. Smith respectfully greeted his chief, and made a remark on the work on which the labourers were employed.
“A fine bit of timber that, Mr. Coldstream; one does not see such every day,” he observed.
“No; the tree must have been a grand one before it fell beneath the axe,” said Oscar.—“Smith, come with me to the office; I have some matters which I wish to talk over with you there.”
The two men were soon seated in the office. Smith, a shrewd, intelligent man of business, thoroughly13 master of his work, listened with unfeigned surprise to a proposal made by his employer by which his own position in life would be entirely14 changed. The reader need not be troubled by details. Coldstream’s plan, matured during his long pedestrian journey, was to make over his whole business to a man who had twice managed it satisfactorily during his own absence. An agreement would have to be drawn15 up by a lawyer by which Smith would engage to pay a certain yearly sum to Mrs. Coldstream as interest on the capital which his former employer had sunk in the business. The offer was a liberal one, and its acceptance would at once place Smith in a position to which he had never hoped to attain16.
“But, my dear sir, Mr. Coldstream, why should you give up the business?” cried Smith. “You are in the prime of life; thoroughly master of the work. I have served you, and your respected father before you, for more than twenty years. I never looked even to partnership17; and now you would place everything in my hands! I hope that your health is not failing—nothing the matter with your heart.” The honest man looked with affectionate anxiety at the pale, worn face of his chief, that anxiety mitigating18 but not destroying the pleasure which he naturally felt at the prospect19 of his own advancement20.
“It is not want of health that takes me from Moulmein,” replied Oscar.
“But you will return, my dear sir—you will certainly return and take up the business again? I will act under your orders and in your name, as I have twice done when you were absent in England.”
Mr. Coldstream shook his head gravely. “No, Smith; I wish to make an arrangement definite—final. I shall never return to Moulmein.” Then, after a pause, he went on: “I have one other stipulation21 to make, though it cannot be put into legal form like the arrangement in favour of Mrs. Coldstream. I must add the condition that you give employment at a moderate salary to her brother, young Thorn, who has come to Moulmein in the hope of finding some means of earning his living.”
Smith raised his eyebrows22 and shrugged23 his shoulders a little. Something like a smile came to his lips.
“I willingly agree to take the young master into the business,” said he, “and give him a sufficient salary, with prospect of increase; but I cannot engage to keep him on unless he shows himself willing to work. Master Thorn is so desirous to instruct, that I find it uncommonly24 hard to get him to learn; and we can’t get into any profession by jumping over the wall—we must take the trouble of opening the gate.”
“Oh dear, no, sir! he has as much brain as most other boys; only he thinks that he has a thousand times more,” replied Smith with a grin. “Master Thorn is lazy too, he is; he ought to have been at his work here more than an hour ago.”
“I see him coming; I will go and meet him. I will tell him of our arrangement, and say that you agree to give him a trial.”
“Yes, sir, a trial. I’ll do what I can, for your sake and the lady’s; but Master Thorn should know that the result must depend on his own behaviour.”
“Young Thorn needs the spur of necessity,” observed Mr. Coldstream; “he may do better when we are away.” Then, bidding Smith good-morning, Oscar quitted the office, and went with quick step to meet Thud, who was approaching with a slow one.
“Why—I say—you back already! I did not expect you for a fortnight!” exclaimed Thud. The lad’s heavy face showed signs of the effect of the festival of the last evening; his cheeks were more puffed26 and his eyes a little more blinking than usual.
“We met with an adventure,” replied Oscar, “and both Io and I decided27 to return at once. Besides, I have many arrangements to make. We are going to leave Moulmein.”
“Oh, I am glad of that!” cried Thud. “It’s the most stupid place under the sun; it has not so much as a club-room or a museum. When shall we start?”
“It is not a case of we,” replied Mr. Coldstream; “I am compelled to leave you behind in Moulmein.”
“I won’t stay behind when you go,” said Thud bluntly.
“I am afraid that you will hardly have a choice,” replied his brother-in-law; and Oscar explained to Thud the arrangement which he had made for his benefit, and tried to show him how much to his advantage it was to be received at once as a paid assistant, instead of being simply apprenticed28.
“I—an assistant to that low fellow Smith, the son of a London tailor!” exclaimed Thud, with intense disgust.
“No matter whose son he may be; he is a good, honest, sensible man, who has worked his own way up in the world. Mr. Smith is the only person whom I know willing to give you such a chance.”
“I’ll go with you. Where are you going?” asked Thud.
“Where we go is not the question; I have told you already that you cannot go with us.”
“Who will pay for your passage? I certainly shall not,” said Oscar. “Listen, my boy,” he continued, laying his hand in a kindly30 way on the shoulder of Thud. “I believe that the separation will be for your good. Thrown on your own resources, you will show what mettle31 is in you; you will learn to work so as to be a help to a widowed mother, and not a burden. You have an opportunity of redeeming32 the time; the ball is at your foot—”
Thud showed what he was likely to do with the symbolical33 ball by violently kicking a large stone which lay in the way, to the detriment34 of his boot and the bruising35 of the foot which it covered.
“Think over the matter,” said Oscar. “I tell you again that I have done for you the best that I possibly can. Now go to your work; I have business elsewhere.”
Thud did not go to his work; he was in a violent passion, partially36 restrained before Oscar, but about to burst in full fury on Io. Hurrying home, Thud found his sister buried in painful thought; for she felt certain that the letter of terrible import had been sent—that her husband had done what was right, facing results that might be fearful. Thud never noticed his sister’s distressed37 looks, never greeted her after her absence, but burst like a tornado38 upon her.
“I say, Oscar has behaved shamefully—disgracefully—brutally!” exclaimed the lad, his short hair appearing to bristle39 up with anger.
Io started to her feet in alarm. Was it possible that Thud knew the fatal secret—that he was speaking of Walter’s death by her husband’s hand? The next sentence sputtered40 forth41 reassured42 her on this point at least.
“He has lured43 me here to this detestable place by promising44 to find me occupation, as a rat is lured into a trap by cheese; and so he has caught me, and I cannot get out. Oscar has treated me abominably45! I—Thucydides Thorn—I an assistant to the son of a tailor! I’d sooner be sewn up in a sack and thrown into the sea!”
Io tried her utmost to soothe46 her brother. She appealed to his love for his mother, his love for herself; she tried to touch on motives47 higher still. But even her winning gentleness had little or no effect. Thud was indignant at Io’s refusing to promise to use all her influence to induce Oscar to change his mind. He called her conduct unnatural48 and unkind. The interview was to the half broken-hearted Io like vinegar on a fresh wound. She was almost relieved to see Mrs. Cottle’s short, thick figure coming bustling49 up the path, for she knew that Thud would avoid meeting one who laughed at him more mercilessly than did Dr. Pinfold himself. Mrs. Cottle had never before ventured to call before breakfast, and her company was far from congenial to Io; but it was something that her approach closed the conversation which was becoming painful almost beyond endurance. Thud went off in high dudgeon to pour out the tale of his wrongs to Pogson. The poor dog was indeed being thrown into the water to teach him to swim, and great was the splash and the struggle.
Mrs. Cottle had been too full of eager curiosity to wait for the visiting-hour. She was glad to catch Io in the veranda, giving the poor lady no time to retreat into the house.
“My dear, dear Mrs. Coldstream,” cried the visitor, taking both of Io’s hands and shaking them with unusual warmth of manner. “Goodness me, how ill you look! and one cannot wonder at it. What is it that I hear? I dropped in early at Hersey’s to look at the screen which he has for sale, and he told me—but I’m sure that it cannot be true—that Mr. Coldstream is going to carry you off, and sell this beautiful house!”
“Please sit down, Mrs. Cottle,” said poor Io, releasing her hands from her visitor’s grasp, but unable to avoid the gaze of her peering, curious eyes.
Mrs. Cottle plumped down on a chair, and made it crack with her weight. Io also seated herself, for she was hardly able to stand.
“It is true that we must quit Moulmein,” said Io sadly; “and of course Mr. Coldstream will part with the house.”
“Such a beauty! green poplin furniture—curtains to match—pictures, mirrors!” cried Mrs. Cottle, glancing around, the idea of auction-sale and cheap bargains flitting through her mind. “My dear, you must make a stand—you must persuade; and if persuasion51 won’t do, must resist.”
“I never resist my husband’s will,” replied Io, an indignant flush giving a brief colour to her pale cheek.
“That’s it,” said Mrs. Cottle; “you’re much too soft. Men love to play the tyrant52 and lord it over the meek53 Griseldas. We all see what you suffer.”
“Mrs. Cottle, I am not accustomed to such language, and I will not bear it!” cried Io, rising from her seat. “I have the best, the kindest of husbands, and would willingly go with him to the end of the world!” Unable to bear the conversation longer, Io made a hasty apology to her visitor, and retreated into the house.
“Ah, that’s what always happens,” said Mrs. Cottle to herself, as she went on her way. “You can’t come between a man and his wife. If he were beating her to death, and you interfered54, she would tell you to go about your business. But I’m sorry for that poor, silly girl! I always said that she had made a dreadful mistake in marrying a gloomy tyrant like Coldstream.”
Mrs. Cottle went to comfort herself for the briefness of her interview with Io by talking over the miseries55 of a woman wedded56 to a Bluebeard with every gossip in the station.
Even in her home, shut up in her own room to be more safe from intrusion, Io was not to be left to herself. Presently Dr. Pinfold’s loud voice resounded57 through the dwelling.
“Io, my dear, where are you? I’ve come to see you,” cried the doctor, the visitor who could never be shut out. Even had his god-daughter been ill in her bed, that would not have excluded the medical man. Io screwed up her courage as best she might, and came forth to greet her old friend, heartily58 wishing herself back in the solitude59 of the woods.
“Bless me, my child, what’s the matter?” exclaimed Pinfold, with real concern, when his favourite made her appearance. “You look like a criminal going to be hanged!” Io winced60 at the terrible word. “You are trembling like an aspen, my girl. What on earth has pulled you down thus?”
Io made a desperate effort to smile and assume a cheerful manner, as she made her old friend sit down on the sofa beside her. “Dear Dr. Pinny, shall I relate some of our adventures?” she said. “First, poor Thud fell from the tat—”
“And lost his teeth and his beauty,” laughed Pinfold. “He wanted me to put the teeth in again; but I told him that they could only be put into a museum.”
Io was well pleased at having diverted attention from her own looks. She then, with a desperate energy which surprised herself, went on to give a description of the alarming night-adventure—Oscar knocked down, seized, and bound to a tree; she herself in the hands of the Shans. Her vivid description elicited61 many an exclamation62 from the old doctor.
“I thought that a pleasure-trip would do you good,” cried the kind-hearted man; “but it seems that I was pouring vitriol down my patient’s throat to serve as a tonic63! I never bargained for savages64 and robbers. I hope that Coldstream gave the fellow who saved you a handsome present. And now you must try to forget your fright—or write a novel about it; and you must be well nourished up—àpropos to which the savoury scent65 from the dining-room tells me that our breakfast is ready.”
Io was not sorry, under the circumstances, that business had delayed Oscar’s return, and that he, at least, would not have to eat his breakfast under the eye of the doctor.
“By-the-by,” said Pinfold, as he poured the hot milk on the suji, “what means this nonsensical report about your and your husband’s leaving Moulmein?”
How often had the Coldstreams to endure the ordeal66 of such questions during the next few days! They almost dreaded67 the sight of a European visitor, except that of the chaplain, who had too much consideration to show curiosity. Had there not been so much business to be settled, so many arrangements to make, the Coldstreams would have tried to escape from daily annoyance68 by making a second excursion.
“One comfort is that to-morrow the English ship comes in,” thought Io, after a day of peculiar69 vexation. “I shall have the luxury of a nice long letter from my darling mother, who knows nothing yet of our trouble. It will contain some loving token for Christmas, which is now so near, and interesting particulars of dear Jane’s engagement, only briefly70 mentioned in the last letters. In news from my loved English home I shall find some comfort still.”
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1
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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heterogeneous
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| adj.庞杂的；异类的 | |
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monopolized
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| v.垄断( monopolize的过去式和过去分词 )；独占；专卖；专营 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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mitigating
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的现在分词 ) | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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stipulation
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| n.契约，规定，条文；条款说明 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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apprenticed
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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growled
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| 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 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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symbolical
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| a.象征性的 | |
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detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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bruising
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| adj.殊死的；十分激烈的v.擦伤(bruise的现在分词形式) | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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tornado
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| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
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bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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abominably
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| adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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54
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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55
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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56
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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60
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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65
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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66
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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67
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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68
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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69
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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70
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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