Chapter 12

       When John Wade¹ re-entered the library, Frankwas reading, but Mr. Wharton stopped him.

　　``That will do, Frank,'' he said. ``As I have notseen my nephew for a long time, I shall not requireyou to read any longer. You can go, if you like.''

　　Frank bowed, and bidding the two good-evening,left the room.

　　``That is an excellent boy, John.'' said the oldgentleman, as the door closed upon our hero.

　　``How did you fall in with him?'' asked John. Mr.

　　Wharton told the story with which the reader isalready familiar.

　　``You don't know anything of his antecedents, Isuppose?'' said John, carelessly.

　　``Only what he told me. His father and motherare dead, and he is obliged to support himself andhis sister. Did you notice anything familiar inFrank's expression?'' asked Mr. Wharton.

　　``I don't know. I didn't observe him very closely.''

　　``Whenever I look at Frank, I think of George. Isuppose that is why I have felt more closely drawnto the boy. I proposed to Mrs. Bradley that theboy should have a room here, but she did not favorit. I think she is prejudiced against him.''

　　``Probably she is afraid he would be some trouble,''

　　replied John.

　　``If George's boy had lived he would be aboutFrank's age. It would have been a great comfort tome to superintend his education, and watch himgrow up. I could not have wished him to be moregentlemanly or promising² than my young reader.''

　　``Decidedly, that boy is in my way,'' said JohnWade to himself. ``I must manage to get rid of him,and that speedily, or my infatuated uncle will beadopting him.''

　　``Of what disease did George's boy die, John?''

　　asked Mr. Wharton.

　　``A sudden fever.''

　　``I wish I could have seen him before he died. ButI returned only to find both son and grandson gone.

　　I had only the sad satisfaction of seeing his grave.''

　　``Yes, he was buried in the family lot at Greenwood,five days before you reached home.''

　　``When I see men of my own age, surrounded bychildren and grandchildren, it makes me almostenvious,'' said Mr. Wharton, sadly. ``I declare to you,John, since that boy has been with me, I have felthappier and more cheerful than for years.''

　　``That boy again!'' muttered John to himself. ``Ibegin to hate the young cub³, but I mustn't show it.

　　My first work will be to separate him from my uncle.

　　That will require consideration. I wonder whetherthe boy knows that he is not Fowler's son? I mustfind out. If he does, and should happen to mentionit in my uncle's presence, it might awaken⁴ suspicionsin his mind. I must interview the boy, andfind out what I can. To enlist⁵ his confidence, Imust assume a friendly manner.''

　　In furtherance of this determination, John Wadegreeted our hero very cordially the next evening,when they met, a little to Frank's surprise.

　　When the reading terminated, John Wade said,carelessly:

　　``I believe, uncle, I will go out for a walk. I thinkI shall be better for it. ln what direction are yougoing, Frank?''

　　``Down Sixth Avenue, sir.''

　　``Very good; I will walk along with you.''

　　Frank and his companion walked toward SixthAvenue.

　　``My uncle tells me you have a sister to support,''

　　said Wade, opening the conversation.

　　``Yes, sir.''

　　``Does your sister resemble you?'' asked JohnWade.

　　``No, sir! but that is not surprising, for----''

　　``Why is it not surprising?''

　　Frank hesitated.

　　``You were about to assign some reason.''

　　``It is a secret,'' said our hero, slowly; ``that is,has been a secret, but I don't know why I shouldconceal it. Grace is not my sister. She is Mrs.

　　Fowler's daughter, but I am not her son. I will tell youthe story.''

　　That story Frank told as briefly⁶ as possible. JohnWade listened to it with secret alarm.

　　``It is a strange story,'' he said. ``Do you not feela strong desire to learn your true parentage?''

　　``Yes, sir. I don't know, but I feel as if I shouldsome day meet the man who gave me into Mrs. Fowler'scharge.''

　　``You have met him, but it is lucky you don't suspectit,'' thought John Wade.

　　``I am glad you told me this story,'' said he, aloud.

　　``It is quite romantic. I may be able to help you inyour search. But let me advise you to tell no oneelse at present. No doubt there are parties interestedin keeping the secret of your birth from you.

　　You must move cautiously, and your chance of solvingthe mystery will be improved.''

　　``Thank you, sir. I will follow your advice.''

　　``I was mistaken in him,'' thought Frank. ``Idisliked him at first, but he seems inclined to be myfriend.''

　　When Frank reached his lodging⁷ he found Jasperwaiting up for him. He looked thoughtful, so muchso that Frank noticed it.

　　``You look as if you had something on your mind,'' Jasper.

　　``You have guessed right. I have read that letter.''

　　He drew from his pocket a letter, which Franktook from his hands.

　　``It is from an uncle of mine in Ohio, who isproprietor of a weekly newspaper. He is getting old,and finds the work too much for him. He offers mea thousand dollars a year if I will come out and relieve him.''

　　``That's a good offer, Jasper. I suppose you willaccept it?''

　　``It is for my interest to do so. Probably my unclewill, after a while, surrender the whole establishment to me.''

　　``I shall be sorry to part with you, Jasper. It willseem very lonely, but I think you ought to go. Itis a good chance, and if you refuse it you may notget such another.''

　　``My uncle wants me to come on at once. I thinkI will start Monday.''

　　Jasper saw no reason to change his determination,and on Monday morning he started on his journey toOhio.

　　Thus, at a critical moment in his fortunes, whentwo persons were planning to injure him, he lost thepresence and help of a valued friend.

1 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 cub   

n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人

参考例句：

• The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
• The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。

4 awaken   

vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起

参考例句：

• Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
• Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

5 enlist   

vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

参考例句：

• They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
• The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。

6 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。

7 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?