CHAPTER XLI. DAN IS ADOPTED.

 The morning papers contained an account of John Hartley's arrest, and the crime with which he was charged.

 

Harriet Vernon read it at the breakfast-table with an interest which may be imagined.

 

"I don't like to rejoice in any man's misfortune," she said to herself, "but now I can have a few years of peace. My precious brother-in-law will doubtless pass the next few years in enforced seclusion¹, and I can have a settled home."

 

Directly after breakfast, she set out for the humble² home of her niece. She found all at home, for Dan was not to go back to business till Monday.

 

"Well, my good friend," she said, "I have news for you."

 

"Good news, I hope," said Dan.

 

"Yes, good news. Henceforth I can have Althea with me. The obstacle that separated us is removed."

 

Mrs. Mordaunt's countenance³ fell, and Dan looked[Pg 287] sober. It was plain that Althea was to be taken from them, and they had learned to love her.

 

"I am very glad," faltered⁴ Mrs. Mordaunt.

 

"You don't look glad," returned Mrs. Vernon.

 

"You see we don't like to part with Althea," explained Dan, who understood his mother's feelings.

 

"Who said you were to part with the child?" asked Mrs. Vernon, bluntly.

 

"I thought you meant to take her from us."

 

"Oh, I see. Your mistake is a natural one, for I have not told you my plans. I mean to take a house up town, install Mrs. Mordaunt as my housekeeper⁵ and friend, and adopt this young man (indicating Dan), provided he has no objection."

 

"How kind you are, Mrs. Vernon," ejaculated Mrs. Mordaunt.

 

"No, I am selfish. I have plenty of money, and no one to care for, or to care for me. I have taken a fancy to you all, and I am quite sure that we can all live happily together. Althea is my niece, and you, Dan, may call me aunt, too, if you like. Is it a bargain?"

 

Dan offered her his hand in a frank, cordial way, which she liked.

 

"So it is settled, then," she said, in a pleased voice. "I ought to warn you," she added, "that I have the[Pg 288] reputation of being ill-tempered. You may get tired of living with me."

 

"We'll take the risk," said Dan, smiling.

 

Mrs. Vernon, whose habit it was to act promptly⁶, engaged a house on Madison avenue, furnished it without regard to expense, and in less than a fortnight, installed her friends in it. Then she had a talk with Dan about his plans.

 

"Do you wish to remain in your place," she asked, "or would you like to obtain a better education first?"

 

"To obtain an education," said Dan, promptly.

 

"Then give notice to your employer of your intention."

 

Dan did so.

 

Mrs. Vernon in a second interview informed him that besides defraying his school expenses, she should give him an allowance of fifty dollars a month for his own personal needs.

 

"May I give a part of it to my mother?" asked Dan.

 

"No."

 

His countenance fell, but Mrs. Vernon smiled.

 

"You don't ask why I refuse," she said.

 

"I suppose you have a good reason," said Dan, dubiously⁷.

 

"My reason is that I shall pay your mother double[Pg 289] this sum. Unless she is very extravagant⁸ it ought to be enough to defray her expenses."

 

"How liberal you are, Mrs. Vernon!" exclaimed Dan, in fresh astonishment⁹.

 

"Mrs. Vernon!"

 

"Aunt Harriet, I mean."

 

"That is better."

 

All these important changes in the position of the Mordaunts were unknown to their old friends, who, since their loss of property, had given them the cold shoulder.

 

One day Tom Carver, in passing the house, saw Dan coming down the steps quite as handsomely dressed as himself. His surprise and curiosity were aroused.

 

"Are you running errands?" he asked.

 

"No. What makes you think so?" returned Dan, smiling.

 

"I didn't know what else could carry you to such a house."

 

"Oh, that's easily explained," said Dan. "I live here."

 

"You live there!" ejaculated Tom.

 

"Yes."

 

"Oh, I see. You are in the employ of the family."

 

[Pg 290]

 

"Not exactly," said Dan. "I have nothing to do."

 

"Does your mother live there?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You don't mean to say she boards there?"

 

"We are living with my aunt."

 

"Is your aunt rich?" asked Tom, in a more deferential¹⁰ tone.

 

"I believe she is. At any rate she gives me a handsome allowance."

 

"You don't say so! How much does she give you?"

 

"Fifty dollars a month."

 

"And you don't have anything to do?"

 

"Only to study. I am going back to school."

 

"What a lucky fellow!" exclaimed Tom, enviously¹¹. "Why, my father only allows me three dollars a week."

 

"I could get along on that. I don't need as much as my aunt allows me."

 

"I say, Dan," said Tom, in the most friendly terms, "I'm awfully¹² hard up. Could you lend me five dollars?"

 

"Yes," said Dan, secretly amused with the change in Tom's manner.

 

"You always were a good fellow!" said Tom, [Pg 291]linking his arm in Dan's. "I'm very glad you're rich again. You must come to see me often."

 

"Thank you," said Dan, smiling, "but I'm afraid you have forgotten something."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"You know I used to be a newsboy in front of the Astor House."

 

"That don't matter."

 

"And you might not care to associate with a newsboy."

 

"Well, you are all right now," said Tom, magnanimously.

 

"You didn't always think so, Tom."

 

"I always thought you were a gentleman, Dan. I am coming to see you soon. You must introduce me to your aunt."

 

"I suppose it's the way of the world," thought Dan. "It is lucky that there are some true friends who stick by us through thick and thin."

 

Mrs. Mordaunt had an experience similar to Dan's. Her old acquaintances, who, during her poverty never seemed to recognize her when they met, gradually awoke to the consciousness of her continued existence, and left cards. She received them politely, but rated their professions of friendship at their true value. They had not been "friends in need," and she could not count them "friends indeed."

1 seclusion   

n.隐遁，隔离

参考例句：

• She liked to sunbathe in the seclusion of her own garden.她喜欢在自己僻静的花园里晒日光浴。
• I live very much in seclusion these days.这些天我过着几乎与世隔绝的生活。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

4 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

5 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

6 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

7 dubiously   

adv.可疑地，怀疑地

参考例句：

• "What does he have to do?" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事？”琴向觉民问道，她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• He walked out fast, leaving the head waiter staring dubiously at the flimsy blue paper. 他很快地走出去，撇下侍者头儿半信半疑地瞪着这张薄薄的蓝纸。 来自辞典例句

8 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

9 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

10 deferential   

adj. 敬意的，恭敬的

参考例句：

• They like five-star hotels and deferential treatment.他们喜欢五星级的宾馆和毕恭毕敬的接待。
• I am deferential and respectful in the presence of artists.我一向恭敬、尊重艺术家。

11 enviously   

adv.满怀嫉妒地

参考例句：

• Yet again, they were looking for their way home blindly, enviously. 然而，它们又一次盲目地、忌妒地寻找着归途。 来自辞典例句
• Tanya thought enviously, he must go a long way south. 坦妮亚歆羡不置，心里在想，他准是去那遥远的南方的。 来自辞典例句

12 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。