Chapter 36 Sad Forebodings

 The day which had been so eagerly awaited by Squire¹ Carter dawned at last. The mortgage on Sterling² Grant's farm was due, and he intended to foreclose. There was a gentleman from the city who had taken a fancy to the farm and had offered him eight thousand dollars for it. The squire hoped to obtain it by foreclosure at less than five thousand. This would be taking advantage of the farmer; but, as the squire said to himself, complacently³, "Business is business!" These words are used as an excuse for a great many mean acts.

 

At supper time, the evening before, Sterling Grant looked sad and troubled.

 

"Wife," he said, "I am afraid we shall have to bid good-by to the old farm to-morrow."

 

"Do you really think the squire will foreclose, Sterling?"

 

"I know he will. I called on him to-day, and begged and pleaded with him to extend the mortgage another year, but it was all in vain."

 

"I don't see how people can be so hard-hearted," said Mrs. Grant, indignantly.

 

"It's the squire's nature. He says that business is business."

 

"I thought perhaps Andy might do something. He has five hundred dollars, and maybe a little more."

 

"It would do no good, wife. I hinted that I might be able to pay a part of the mortgage, but the squire wouldn't hear of it. He said the whole or none."

 

"I am sure Andy would help us if he could."

 

"I know that, but the mortgage is for three thousand dollars. It is quite beyond his ability to lift."

 

"I am afraid you are right, Sterling," said his wife, with a sigh. "I thought perhaps Andy would be here by this time."

 

"It would do no good to come unless he brought the money with him."

 

"He may come yet by the seven o'clock train."

 

"We had better not count on that, or we shall only be the more disappointed."

 

"What shall you do, Sterling, if the squire takes the farm?"

 

"There will be some money left, but I am afraid not much."

 

"Isn't the place worth six thousand dollars?"

 

"Yes but it won't fetch that at a forced sale. The squire told me this afternoon that it wasn't worth more than fifteen hundred dollars over and above the face of the mortgage."

 

"It would be wicked to sell for that."

 

"We must be content with what we can get."

 

After supper the farmer took his hat, and walked slowly and soberly about the farm. He felt that it was his farewell. Till now it had been his. To-morrow it would pass from his possession.

 

"It is hard," he sighed, "but it can't be helped. At any rate, we won't starve."

 

There was a small house, with half an acre of land attached on the outskirts⁴ of the village, which he could get at a moderate rental⁵. He had inquired about it, and had made up his mind to secure it.

 

"But it is humble," objected his wife.

 

"We must not be proud, wife," he said. We can make it look homelike with our furniture in it."

 

"But what will you do for an income, Sterling?"

 

"I can work out by the day. Perhaps the man who buys our farm--I hear the squire has got a purchaser for it--will employ me."

 

"To work out by the day at your age, Sterling!" said his wife, indignantly.

 

"It will be hard, but if it is necessary I can do it."

 

"But I want to help, Sterling. I can get sewing to do."

 

"No, no; I won't consent to that."

 

"Then I won't consent to your working by the day."

 

"Well, we won't discuss it to-night. We will let the future take care of itself."

 

Just then the noise of wheels was heard, and a buggy stopped at the door.

 

"I do believe it's Andy!" exclaimed Mrs. Grant, joyfully⁶.

 

It was Andy. A minute later, he was in the house.

 

"I am late," he said. "I lost the regular train, and had to get off at Stacy, six miles away; but I got a man from the stable to bring me over."

 

"I am glad to see you, Andy," said his mother.

 

"And so am I," added Sterling Grant, "though it is a sad time."

 

"Why a sad time, father?"

 

"The squire will foreclose to-morrow."

 

"No, he won't foreclose, father. I will stop it."

 

"But how can you prevent it, my son?"

 

"By paying the three thousand dollars, father."

 

"Have you got the money?" asked his father, incredulously.

 

"Yes."

 

"But how--?"

 

"Don't ask me any questions, father. Be satisfied with the knowledge that I have got it."

 

"Heaven be praised!" said the farmer, fervently⁷.

 

"I don't think Squire Carter will say that."

1 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

2 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

3 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

5 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

6 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

7 fervently   

adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地

参考例句：

• "Oh, I am glad!'she said fervently. “哦，我真高兴！”她热烈地说道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• O my dear, my dear, will you bless me as fervently to-morrow?' 啊，我亲爱的，亲爱的，你明天也愿这样热烈地为我祝福么？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记