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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Adrift in New York » CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE CLOSING SCENE.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE CLOSING SCENE.
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 The next day Tim Bolton, dressed in a jaunty1 style, walked up the steps of the Linden mansion2.
 
“Is Mr. Waring at home?” he asked.
 
“No, sir; he has gone downtown.”
 
“I’ll step in and wait for him. Please show me to the library.”
 
Jane, who had been taken into confidence by the nurse, showed him at once into the room mentioned.
 
Half an hour later Curtis entered.
 
“How long have you been here, Bolton?”
 
“But a short time. You sent for me?”
 
“I did.”
 
“On business?”
 
“Well, yes.”
 
“Is there anything new?”
 
“Yes, my uncle is failing fast.”
 
“Is he likely to die soon?”
 
“I shouldn’t be surprised if he died within a week.”
 
“I suspect Curtis means to help him! Well, what has that to do with me?” he asked. “You will step into the property, of course?”
 
“There is a little difficulty in the way which I can overcome with your help.”
 
“What is it?”
 
“I can’t get him to give up the foolish notion that the boy he lost is still alive.”
 
“It happens to be true.”
 
“Yes; but he must not know it. Before he dies I want him to make a new will, revoking3 all others, leaving all the property to me.”
 
“Will he do it?”
 
“I don’t know. As long as he thinks the boy is living, I don’t believe he will. You see what a drawback that is.”
 
“I see. What can I do to improve the situation?”
 
“I want you to sign a paper confessing that you abducted4 the boy——”
 
“At your instigation?”
 
“That must not be mentioned. You will go on to say that a year or two later—the time is not material—he died of typhoid fever. You can say that you did not dare to reveal this before, but do so now, impelled5 by remorse6.”
 
“Have you got it written out? I can’t remember all them words.”
 
“Yes; here it is.”
 
“All right,” said Bolton, taking the paper and tucking it into an inside pocket. “I’ll copy it out in my own handwriting. How much are you going to give me for doing this?”
 
“A thousand dollars.”
 
“Cash?”
 
“I can’t do that. I have met with losses at the gaming table, and I don’t dare ask money from my uncle at this time. He thinks I am thoroughly7 steady.”
 
“At how much do you value the estate?”
 
“At four hundred thousand dollars. I wormed it out of my uncle’s lawyer the other day.”
 
“And you expect me to help you to that amount for only a thousand dollars?”
 
“A thousand dollars is a good deal of money.”
 
“And so is four hundred thousand. After all, your uncle may not die.”
 
“He is sure to.”
 
“You seem very confident.”
 
“And with good reason. Leave that to me. I promise you, on my honor, to pay you two thousand dollars when I get the estate.”
 
“But what is going to happen to poor Dodger8, the rightful heir?”
 
“Well, let it be three hundred dollars a year, then.”
 
“Where is he now?”
 
“I don’t mind telling you, as it can do no harm. He is in California.”
 
“Whew! That was smart. How did you get him there?”
 
“I drugged him, and had him sent on board a ship bound for San Francisco, around Cape9 Horn. The fact is, I was getting a little suspicious of you, and I wanted to put you beyond the reach of temptation.”
 
“You are a clever rascal10, Curtis. After all, suppose the prize should slip through your fingers?”
 
“It won’t. I have taken every precaution.”
 
“When do you want this document?”
 
“Bring it back to me this afternoon, copied and signed. That is all you have to do; I will attend to the rest.”
 
While this conversation was going on there were unseen listeners.
 
Behind a portière Mrs. Barnes, the nurse, and John Linden heard every word that was said.
 
“And what do you think now, sir?” whispered Mrs. O’Keefe (to give her real name).
 
“It is terrible. I would not have believed Curtis capable of such a crime. But is it really true, Mrs. Barnes? Is my lost boy alive?”
 
“To be sure he is.”
 
“Have you seen him?”
 
“I know him as well as I know you, sir, and better, too.”
 
“Is he—tell me, is he a good boy? Curtis told me that he might be a criminal.”
 
“He might, but he isn’t. He’s as dacent and honest a boy as iver trod shoe leather. You’ll be proud of him, sir.”
 
“But he’s in California.”
 
“He was; but he’s got back. You shall see him to-day, and Florence, too. Hark! I hear the door bell. They’re here now. I think you had better go in and confront Curtis.”
 
“I feel weak, Mrs. Barnes. Let me lean on you.”
 
“You can do that, and welcome, sir.”
 
The nurse pushed aside the portière, and the two entered the library—Mrs. Barnes rotund and smiling, Mr. Linden gaunt and spectral11 looking, like one risen from the grave.
 
Curtis eyed the pair with a startled look.
 
“Mrs. Barnes,” he said, angrily, “what do you mean by taking my uncle from his bed and bringing him down here? It is as much as his life is worth. You seem unfit for your duties as nurse. You will leave the house to-morrow, and I will engage a substitute.”
 
“I shall lave whin I git ready, Mr. Curtis Waring,” said the nurse, her arms akimbo. “Maybe somebody else will lave the house. Me and Mr. Linden have been behind the curtain for twenty minutes, and he has heard every word you said.”
 
Curtis turned livid, and his heart sank.
 
“It’s true, Curtis,” said John Linden’s hollow voice. “I have heard all. It was you who abducted my boy, and have made my life a lonely one all these years. Oh, man! man! how could you have the heart to do it?”
 
Curtis stared at him with parched12 lips, unable to speak.
 
“Not content with this, you drove from the house my dear niece, Florence. You made me act cruelly toward her. I fear she will not forgive me.”
 
But just then the door opened, and Florence, rushing into the room, sank at her uncle’s feet.
 
“Oh, uncle,” she said, “will you take me back?”
 
“Yes, Florence, never again to leave me. And who is this?” he asked, fixing his eyes on Dodger, who stood shyly in the doorway13.
 
“I’ll tell you, sir,” said Tim Bolton. “That is your own son, whom I stole away from you when he was a kid, being hired to do it by Curtis Waring.”
 
“It’s a lie,” said Curtis, hoarsely14.
 
“Come to me, my boy,” said Mr. Linden, with a glad light in his eyes.
 
“At last Heaven has heard my prayers,” he ejaculated. “We will never be separated. I was ready to die, but now I hope to live for many years. I feel that I have a new lease of life.”
 
With a baffled growl15 Curtis Waring darted16 a furious look at the three.
 
“That boy is an impostor,” he said. “They are deceiving you.”
 
“He is my son. I see his mother’s look in his face. As for you, Curtis Waring, my eyes are open at last to your villainy. You deserve nothing at my hands; but I will make some provision for you.”
 
There was another surprise.
 
Curtis Waring’s deserted17 wife, brought from California by Dodger, entered the room, leading by the hand a young child.
 
“Oh, Curtis,” she said, reproachfully. “How could you leave me? I have come to you, my husband, with our little child.”
 
“Begone! woman!” said Curtis, furiously. “I will never receive or recognize you!”
 
“Oh, sir!” she said, turning to Mr. Linden, “what shall I do?”
 
“Curtis Waring,” said Mr. Linden, sternly, “unless you receive this woman and treat her properly, you shall receive nothing from me.”
 
“And if I do?”
 
“You will receive an income of two thousand dollars a year, payable18 quarterly. Mrs. Waring, you will remain here with your child till your husband provides another home for you.”
 
Curtis slunk out of the room, but he was too wise to refuse his uncle’s offer.
 
He and his wife are living in Chicago, and he treats her fairly well, fearing that, otherwise, he will lose his income.
 
Mr. Linden looks ten years younger than he did at the opening of the story.
 
Florence and Dodger—now known as Harvey Linden—live with him.
 
Dodger, under a competent private tutor, is making up the deficiencies in his education.
 
It is early yet to speak of marriage, but it is possible that Florence may marry a cousin, after all.
 
Tim Bolton has turned over a new leaf, given up his saloon, and is carrying on a country hotel within fifty miles of New York.
 
He has five thousand dollars in the bank, presented by Dodger, with his father’s sanction, and is considered quite a reputable citizen.
 
As for Mrs. O’Keefe, she still keeps the apple-stand, being unwilling19 to give it up; but she, too, has a handsome sum in the bank, and calls often upon her two children, as she calls them.
 
In the midst of their prosperity Florence and Dodger will never forget the time when they were adrift in New York.

The End
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 jaunty x3kyn     
adj.愉快的,满足的;adv.心满意足地,洋洋得意地;n.心满意足;洋洋得意
参考例句:
  • She cocked her hat at a jaunty angle.她把帽子歪戴成俏皮的样子。
  • The happy boy walked with jaunty steps.这个快乐的孩子以轻快活泼的步子走着。
2 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦,大楼;宅第
参考例句:
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
3 revoking c5cf44ec85cbce0961d4576b6e70bec0     
v.撤销,取消,废除( revoke的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • There are no provisions for revoking the prize. 没有撤销获奖的规定。 来自互联网
  • The decision revoking the patent right shall be registered and announced by the Patent Office. 撤销专利权的决定,由专利局登记和公告。 来自互联网
4 abducted 73ee11a839b49a2cf5305f1c0af4ca6a     
劫持,诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(肢体等)外展
参考例句:
  • Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
  • The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。
5 impelled 8b9a928e37b947d87712c1a46c607ee7     
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
  • I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 remorse lBrzo     
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责
参考例句:
  • She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
  • He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。
7 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
8 dodger Ku9z0c     
n.躲避者;躲闪者;广告单
参考例句:
  • They are tax dodgers who hide their interest earnings.他们是隐瞒利息收入的逃税者。
  • Make sure she pays her share she's a bit of a dodger.她自己的一份一定要她付清--她可是有点能赖就赖。
9 cape ITEy6     
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风
参考例句:
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
10 rascal mAIzd     
n.流氓;不诚实的人
参考例句:
  • If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做,我就认为他是个恶棍。
  • The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
11 spectral fvbwg     
adj.幽灵的,鬼魂的
参考例句:
  • At times he seems rather ordinary.At other times ethereal,perhaps even spectral.有时他好像很正常,有时又难以捉摸,甚至像个幽灵。
  • She is compelling,spectral fascinating,an unforgettably unique performer.她极具吸引力,清幽如鬼魅,令人着迷,令人难忘,是个独具特色的演员。
12 parched 2mbzMK     
adj.焦干的;极渴的;v.(使)焦干
参考例句:
  • Hot winds parched the crops.热风使庄稼干透了。
  • The land in this region is rather dry and parched.这片土地十分干燥。
13 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
14 hoarsely hoarsely     
adv.嘶哑地
参考例句:
  • "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
  • Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
15 growl VeHzE     
v.(狗等)嗥叫,(炮等)轰鸣;n.嗥叫,轰鸣
参考例句:
  • The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫,尾巴也跟着摇摆。
  • The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。
16 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
18 payable EmdzUR     
adj.可付的,应付的,有利益的
参考例句:
  • This check is payable on demand.这是一张见票即付的支票。
  • No tax is payable on these earnings.这些收入不须交税。
19 unwilling CjpwB     
adj.不情愿的
参考例句:
  • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
  • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。


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