Chapter 4

      ``The Widder Fowler is dead,'' remarked DeaconPinkerton, at the supper table. ``She died this afternoon.''

　　``I suppose she won't leave anything,'' said Mrs.

　　Pinkerton.

　　``No. I hold a mortgage on her furniture, and thatis all she has.''

　　``What will become of the children?''

　　``As I observed, day before yesterday, they will beconstrained to find a refuge in the poorhouse.''

　　``What do you think Sam Pomeroy told me,father?''

　　``I am not able to conjecture² what Samuel wouldbe likely to observe, my son.''

　　``He observed that Frank Fowler said he wouldn'tgo to the poorhouse.''

　　``Ahem!'' coughed the deacon. ``The boy will notbe consulted.''

　　``That's what I say, father,'' said Tom, who desiredto obtain his father's co-operation. ``You'll makehim go to the poorhouse, won't you?''

　　``I shall undoubtedly³ exercise my authority, if itshould be necessary, my son.''

　　``He told Sam Pomeroy that all the Deacon Pinkertonsin the world couldn't make him go to the poorhouse.''

　　``I will constrain¹ him,'' said the deacon.

　　``I would if I were you, father,'' said Tom, elatedat the effect of his words. ``Just teach him a lesson.''

　　``Really, deacon, you mustn't be too hard upon thepoor boy,'' said his better-hearted wife. ``He's gottrouble enough on him.''

　　``I will only constrain him for his good, Jane. Inthe poorhouse he will be well provided for.''

　　Meanwhile another conversation respecting ourhero and his fortunes was held at Sam Pomeroy'shome. It was not as handsome as the deacon's, forMr. Pomeroy was a poor man, but it was a happyone, nevertheless, and Mr. Pomeroy, limited as werehis means, was far more liberal than the deacon.

　　``I pity Frank Fowler,'' said Sam, who was warm-hearted and sympathetic, and a strong friend ofFrank. ``I don't know what he will do.''

　　``I suppose his mother left nothing.''

　　``I understood,'' said Mr. Pomeroy, ``that DeaconPinkerton holds a mortgage on her furniture.''

　　``The deacon wants to send Frank and his sisterto the poorhouse.''

　　``That would be a pity.''

　　``I should think so; but Frank positively⁴ says hewon't go.''

　　``I am afraid there isn't anything else for him.

　　To be sure, he may get a chance to work in a shopor on a farm, but Grace can't support herself.''

　　``Father, I want to ask you a favor.''

　　``What is it, Sam?''

　　``Won't you invite Frank and his sister to comeand stay here a week?''

　　``Just as your mother says.''

　　``I say yes. The poor children will be quitewelcome. If we were rich enough they might stay withus all the time.''

　　``When Frank comes here I will talk over hisaffairs with him,'' said Mr. Pomeroy. ``Perhaps wecan think of some plan for him.''

　　``I wish you could, father.''

　　``In the meantime, you can invite him and Graceto come and stay with us a week, or a fortnight.

　　Shall we say a fortnight, wife?''

　　``With all my heart.''

　　``All right, father. Thank you.''

　　Sam delivered the invitation in a way that showedhow strongly his own feelings were enlisted⁵ in favorof its acceptance. Frank grasped his hand.

　　``Thank you, Sam, you are a true friend,'' he said.

　　``I hadn't begun to think of what we were to do,Grace and I.''

　　``You'll come, won't you?''

　　``You are sure that it won't trouble your mother,Sam?''

　　``She is anxious to have you come.''

　　``Then I'll come. I haven't formed any plans yet,but I must as soon--as soon as mother is buried.

　　I think I can earn my living somehow. One thingI am determined⁶ about--I won't go to the poorhouse.''

　　The funeral was over. Frank and Grace walkedback to the little house, now their home no longer.

　　They were to pack up a little bundle of clothes andgo over to Mr. Pomeroy's in time for supper.

　　When Frank had made up his bundle, urged bysome impulse, he opened a drawer in his mother'sbureau. His mind was full of the story she hadtold him, and he thought it just possible that hemight find something to throw additional light uponhis past history. While exploring the contents ofthe drawer he came to a letter directed to him inhis mother's well-known handwriting. He openedit hastily, and with a feeling of solemnity, read asfollows:

　　``My Dear Frank: In the lower drawer, wrappedin a piece of brown paper, you will find two goldeagles, worth twenty dollars. You will need themwhen I am gone. Use them for Grace and yourself.

　　I saved these for my children. Take them, Frank,for I have nothing else to give you. The furniturewill pay the debt I owe Deacon Pinkerton. Thereought to be something over, but I think he will takeall. I wish I had more to leave you, dear Frank,but the God of the Fatherless will watch over you--to Him I commit you and Grace. Your affectionatemother, RUTH FOWLER.''

　　Frank, following the instructions of the letter,found the gold pieces and put them carefully intohis pocketbook. He did not mention the letter toGrace at present, for he knew not but Deacon Pinkertonmight lay claim to the money to satisfy his debtif he knew it.

　　``I am ready, Frank,'' said Grace, entering theroom. ``Shall we go?''

　　``Yes, Grace. There is no use in stopping here anylonger.''

　　As he spoke⁷ he heard the outer door open, and aminute later Deacon Pinkerton entered the room.

　　None of the deacon's pompousness⁸ was abated⁹ ashe entered the house and the room.

　　``Will you take a seat?'' said our hero, with theair of master of the house.

　　``I intended to,'' said the deacon, not acknowledginghis claim. ``So your poor mother is gone?''

　　``Yes, sir,'' said Frank, briefly¹⁰.

　　``We must all die,'' said the deacon, feeling that itwas incumbent¹¹ on him to say something religious.

　　``Ahem! your mother died poor? She left no property?''

　　``It was not her fault.''

　　``Of course not. Did she mention that I hadadvanced her money on the furniture?''

　　``My mother told me all about it, sir.''

　　``Ahem! You are in a sad condition. But you willbe taken care of. You ought to be thankful thatthere is a home provided for those who have nomeans.''

　　``What home do you refer to, Deacon Pinkerton?''

　　asked Frank, looking steadily¹² in the face of his visitor.

　　``I mean the poorhouse, which the town generouslyprovides for those who cannot support themselves.''

　　This was the first intimation Grace had receivedof the possibility that they would be sent to such ahome, and it frightened her.

　　``Oh, Frank!'' she exclaimed, ``must we go to thepoorhouse?''

　　``No, Grace; don't be frightened,'' said Frank,soothingly. ``We will not go.''

　　``Frank Fowler,'' said the deacon, sternly, ``ceaseto mislead your sister.''

　　``I am not misleading her, sir.''

　　``Did you not tell her that she would not be obligedto go to the poorhouse?''

　　``Yes, sir.''

　　``Then what do you mean by resisting my authority?''

　　``You have no authority over us. We are not paupers¹³,''

　　and Frank lifted his head proudly, and lookedsteadily in the face of the deacon.

　　``You are paupers, whether you admit it or not.''

　　``We are not,'' said the boy, indignantly.

　　``Where is your money? Where is your property?''

　　``Here, sir,'' said our hero, holding out his hands.

　　``I have two strong hands, and they will help memake a living for my sister and myself.''

　　``May I ask whether you expect to live here anduse my furniture?''

　　``I do not intend to, sir. I shall ask no favors ofyou, neither for Grace nor myself. I am going toleave the house. I only came back to get a fewclothes. Mr. Pomeroy has invited Grace and me tostay at his house for a few days. I haven't decidedwhat I shall do afterward¹⁴.''

　　``You will have to go to the poorhouse, then. Ihave no objection to your making this visit first. Itwill be a saving to the town.''

　　``Then, sir, we will bid you good-day. Grace, letus go.''

1 constrain   

vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制

参考例句：

• She tried to constrain herself from a cough in class.上课时她竭力忍住不咳嗽。
• The study will examine the factors which constrain local economic growth.这项研究将考查抑制当地经济发展的因素。

2 conjecture   

n./v.推测，猜测

参考例句：

• She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
• This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

3 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

4 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

5 enlisted   

adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
• He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 pompousness   

豪华；傲慢

参考例句：

9 abated   

减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼）

参考例句：

• The worker's concern about cuts in the welfare funding has not abated. 工人们对削减福利基金的关心并没有减少。
• The heat has abated. 温度降低了。

10 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

13 paupers   

n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷

参考例句：

• The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵，你这穷鬼根本买不起！ 来自互联网
• Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索，马拉维，这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网

14 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。