Chapter 2

      ``Not my mother!'' he exclaimed. ``Who, then, ismy mother?''

　　``I cannot tell you, Frank. I never knew. Youwill forgive me for concealing¹ this from you for solong.''

　　``No matter who was my real mother since I haveyou. You have been a mother to me, and I shall alwaysthink of you as such.''

　　``You make me happy, Frank, when you say that.

　　And you will look upon Grace as a sister also, willyou not?''

　　``Always,'' said the boy, emphatically. ``Mother,will you tell all you know about me? I don't knowwhat to think; now that I am not your son I cannotrest till I learn who I am.''

　　``I can understand your feelings, Frank, but I mustdefer the explanation till to-morrow. I have fatiguedmyself with talking. but to-morrow you shallknow all that I can tell you.''

　　``Forgive me for not thinking of your being tired,mother,'' and he bent<sup>2</sup> over and pressed his lips uponthe cheek of the sick woman. ``But don't talk anymore. Wait till to-morrow.''

　　In the afternoon Frank had a call from Sam Pomeroy.

　　``The club is to play to-morrow afternoon againsta picked nine, Frank,'' he said. ``Will you be there?''

　　``I can't, Sam,'' he answered. ``My mother is verysick, and it is my duty to stay at home with her.''

　　``We shall miss you--that is, all of us but one.

　　Tom Pinkerton said yesterday that you ought toresign, as you can't attend to your duties. Hewouldn't object to filling your place, I fancy.''

　　``He is welcome to the place as soon as the clubfeels like electing him,'' said Frank. ``Tell the boysI am sorry I can't be on hand. They had better getyou to fill my place.''

　　``I'll mention it, but I don't think they'll see it inthat light. They're all jealous of my superior playing,''

　　said Sam, humorously. ``Well, good-bye, Frank.

　　I hope your mother'll be better soon.''

　　``Thank you, Sam,'' answered Frank, soberly. ``Ihope so, too, but she is very sick.''

　　The next day Mrs. Fowler again called Frank tothe bedside.

　　``Grace is gone out on an errand,'' she said, ``andI can find no better time for telling you what I knowabout you and the circumstances which led to myassuming the charge of you.''

　　``Are you strong enough, mother?''

　　``Yes, Frank. Thirteen years ago my husband andmyself occupied a small tenement³ in that part ofBrooklyn know as Gowanus, not far from GreenwoodCemetery. My husband was a carpenter, andthough his wages were small he was generallyemployed. We had been married three years, but hadno children of our own. Our expenses were small,and we got on comfortably, and should have continuedto do so, but that Mr. Fowler met with anaccident which partially⁴ disabled him. He fell froma high scaffold and broke his arm. This was setand he was soon able to work again, but he mustalso have met with some internal injury, for his fullstrength never returned. Half a day's work tiredhim more than a whole day's work formerly⁵ haddone. Of course our income was very much diminished,and we were obliged to economize⁶ very closely.

　　This preyed⁷ upon my husband's mind and seeing hisanxiety, I set about considering how I could helphim, and earn my share of the expenses.

　　``One day in looking over the advertising⁸ columnsof a New York paper I saw the following advertisement:

　　`` `For adoption--A healthy male infant. The parentsare able to pay liberally for the child's maintenance,but circumstances compel them to delegatethe care to another. Address for interview A. M.'

　　``I had no sooner read this advertisement than Ifelt that it was just what I wanted. A liberalcompensation was promised, and under our presentcircumstances would be welcome, as it was urgentlyneeded. I mentioned the matter to my husband, andhe was finally induced to give his consent.

　　``Accordingly, I replied to the advertisement.

　　``Three days passed in which I heard nothing fromit. But as we were sitting at the supper table atsix o'clock one afternoon, there came a knock at ourfront door. I opened it, and saw before me a tallstranger, a man of about thirty-five, of darkcomplexion, and dark whiskers. He was well dressed,and evidently a gentleman in station.

　　`` `Is this Mrs. Fowler?' he asked.

　　`` `Yes, sir,' I answered, in some surprise`` `Then may I beg permission to enter your housefor a few minutes? I have something to say to you.'

　　``Still wondering, I led the way into the sitting-room⁹, where your father--where Mr. Fowler----''

　　``Call him my father--I know no other,'' saidFrank.

　　``Where your father was seated.

　　`` `You have answered an advertisement,' said thestranger.

　　`` `Yes, sir,' I replied.

　　`` `I am A. M.,' was his next announcement. `Ofcourse I have received many letters, but on the wholeI was led to consider yours most favorably. I havemade inquiries¹⁰ about you in the neighborhood, andthe answers have been satisfactory. You have nochildren of your own?'

　　`` `No, sir.'

　　`` `All the better. You would be able to give moreattention to this child.'

　　`` `Is it yours, sir?' I asked`` `Ye-es,' he answered, with hesitation¹¹.

　　`Circumstances,' he continued, `circumstances which I neednot state, compel me to separate from it. Five hundreddollars a year will be paid for its maintenance.'

　　``Five hundred dollars! I heard this with joy, forit was considerably¹² more than my husband was ableto earn since his accident. It would make uscomfortable at once, and your father might work whenhe pleased, without feeling any anxiety about ourcoming to want.

　　`` `Will that sum be satisfactory?' asked thestranger.

　　`` `It is very liberal,' I answered.

　　`` `I intended it to be so,' he said. `Since there isno difficulty on this score, I am inclined to trust youwith the care of the child. But I must make twoconditions.'

　　`` `What are they, sir?'

　　`` `In the first place, you must not try to find outthe friends of the child. They do not desire to beknown. Another thing, you must move from Brooklyn.'

　　`` `Move from Brooklyn?' I repeated.

　　`` `Yes,' he answered, firmly. `I do not think itnecessary to give you a reason for this condition.

　　Enough that it is imperative¹³. If you decline, ournegotiations are at an end.'

　　``I looked at my husband. He seemed as muchsurprised as I was.

　　`` `Perhaps you will wish to consult together,'

　　suggested our visitor. `If so, I can give you twentyminutes. I will remain in this room while you goout and talk it over.'

　　``We acted on this hint, and went into the kitchen.

　　We decided¹⁴ that though we should prefer to live inBrooklyn, it would be worth our while to make thesacrifice for the sake of the addition to our income.

　　We came in at the end of ten minutes, and announcedour decision. Our visitor seemed to be very muchpleased.

　　`` `Where would you wish us to move?' asked yourfather.

　　`` `I do not care to designate any particular place.

　　I should prefer some small country town, from fiftyto a hundred miles distant. I suppose you will beable to move soon?'

　　`` `Yes, sir; we will make it a point to do so. Howsoon will the child be placed in our hands? Shallwe send for it?'

　　`` `No, no,' he said, hastily. `I cannot tell youexactly when, but it will be brought here probably inthe course of a day or two. I myself shall bring it,and if at that time you wish to say anything additionalyou can do so.'

　　``He went away, leaving us surprised and somewhatexcited at the change that was to take place inour lives. The next evening the sound of wheels washeard, and a hack¹⁵ stopped at our gate. The samegentleman descended¹⁶ hurriedly with a child in hisarms--you were the child, Frank--and entered thehouse.

　　`` `This is the child,' he said, placing it in my arms,`and here is the first quarterly installment¹⁷ of yourpay. Three months hence you will receive the samesum from my agent in New York. Here is his address,'

　　and he placed a card in my hands. `Haveyou anything to ask?'

　　`` `Suppose I wish to communicate with you respectingthe child? Suppose he is sick?'

　　`` `Then write to A. M., care of Giles Warner, No.

　　---- Nassau Street. By the way, it will be necessaryfor you to send him your postoffice address afteryour removal in order that he may send you yourquarterly dues.'

　　``With this he left us, entered the hack, and droveoff. I have never seen him since.''

1 concealing   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善，我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定，还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产

2 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

3 tenement   

n.公寓；房屋

参考例句：

• They live in a tenement.他们住在廉价公寓里。
• She felt very smug in a tenement yard like this.就是在个这样的杂院里，她觉得很得意。

4 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

5 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

6 economize   

v.节约，节省

参考例句：

• We're going to have to economize from now on. 从现在开始，我们不得不节约开支。
• We have to economize on water during the dry season. 我们在旱季不得不节约用水。

7 preyed   

v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生

参考例句：

• Remorse preyed upon his mind. 悔恨使他内心痛苦。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He had been unwise and it preyed on his conscience. 他做得不太明智，这一直让他良心不安。 来自辞典例句

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

9 sitting-room   

n.（BrE）客厅，起居室

参考例句：

• The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
• Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

10 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

12 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

13 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 hack   

n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳

参考例句：

• He made a hack at the log.他朝圆木上砍了一下。
• Early settlers had to hack out a clearing in the forest where they could grow crops.早期移民不得不在森林里劈出空地种庄稼。

16 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

17 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。