CHAPTER I. A NEW ARRIVAL IN LAKEVILLE.

 Slowly through the village street walked an elderly man, with bronzed features and thin gray hair, supporting his somewhat uncertain steps by a stout¹ cane². He was apparently³ tired, for, seeing a slight natural elevation⁴ under a branching elm tree, he sat down, and looked thoughtfully about him.

 

"Well," he said, "Lakeville hasn't changed much since I left it, twenty years since. Has there been any change among those who are near to me? I don't know, but I shall soon find out. Shall I receive a welcome or not? There ought to be two families to greet me, but——"

 

Here a boy appeared on the scene, a boy of4 fifteen, with a sturdy figure and a pleasant face, whose coarse suit indicated narrow means, if not poverty. Seeing the old man, with instinctive⁵ politeness he doffed⁶ his hat and with a pleasant smile bade him good-morning.

 

"Good-morning," returned the traveller, won by the boy's pleasant face and manner. "If you are not in a hurry won't you sit down by me and answer a few questions?"

 

"With pleasure, sir; my business isn't driving."

 

"This is Lakeville, isn't it?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"I used to know the place—a good many years since. It hasn't grown much."

 

"No, sir; it's rather quiet."

 

"Chiefly a farming region, isn't it?"

 

"Yes, sir; but there is a large shoe manufactory here, employing a hundred hands."

 

"Who is the owner?"

 

"Squire⁷ Marlowe."

 

"Ha!" ejaculated the old man, evidently interested. "Albert Marlowe, isn't it?"

 

"Yes, sir; do you know him?"

 

"I haven't met him for twenty years, but we are acquainted. I suppose he is prosperous."

 

"He is considered a rich man, sir. He is a relation of mine."5

 

"Indeed! What then is your name?" asked the old man, eagerly.

 

"Herbert Barton—most people call me Bert Barton."

 

Bert was surprised at the keen scrutiny⁸ which he received from the traveller.

 

"Was your mother Mary Marlowe?" the latter asked.

 

"Yes, sir," returned Bert. "Did you know her, too?"

 

"I ought to; she is my niece, as the man you call Squire Marlowe is my nephew."

 

"Then you must be Uncle Jacob, who has lived so many years in California?" said Bert, excitedly.

 

"The same."

 

"Mother will be very glad to see you," added Bert, cordially.

 

"Thank you, my boy. Your kind welcome does me good. I hope your mother is well and happy."

 

"She is a widow," answered Bert soberly.

 

"When did your father die?"

 

"Two years ago."

 

"I hope he left your mother in comfortable circumstances."

 

Bert shook his head.

 

"He only left the small house we live in, and that is mortgaged for half its value."6

 

"Then how do you live?"

 

"Mother covers base-balls for a firm in the next town, and I am working in the big shoe shop."

 

"Doesn't Squire Marlowe do anything for your mother?"

 

"He gave me a place in the shop—that is all."

 

"Yet he is rich," said the old man, thoughtfully.

 

"Yes, he lives in a fine house. You can see it down the street on the other side that large one with a broad piazza⁹. He keeps two horses and two handsome carriages, and I am sure he must have plenty of money."

 

"I am glad to hear it. I have been a long time among strangers. It will be pleasant to come to anchor at the house of a rich relation. Where does your mother live?"

 

"In a small cottage at the other end of the street. Won't you come home with me, Uncle Jacob? Mother will be glad to see you."

 

"I must call at Albert Marlowe's first. What family has he?"

 

"He has one boy about my own age."

 

"I suppose you are very intimate—being cousins."

 

Bert laughed.

 

"He wouldn't thank you for calling us7 cousins," he answered. "Percy Marlowe is a boy who thinks a good deal of himself. He puts on no end of airs."

 

"Like his father before him. Is he a smart boy?"

 

"Do you mean in his studies?"

 

"Yes."

 

"I don't know what he could do if he tried, but he doesn't exert himself much. He says it isn't necessary for him, as his father is a rich man."

 

"How is it with you?"

 

"I only wish I had his chance," said Bert, warmly. "I am fond of study, but I am poor, and must work for a living."

 

"You have the right idea, and he has not," said the old man, sententiously.

 

At this moment a light buggy was driven swiftly by. Seated in it was a boy about the age of Bert, apparently, but of slighter figure. The horse, suddenly spying the old man, shied, and in a trice the buggy was upset, and the young dude went sprawling¹⁰ on the ground.

 

Bert grasped the situation, and sprang to the rescue. He seized the terrified horse, while the old man helped reverse the carriage, which fortunately had not met with any material damage. The same may be said of the young driver who, with mortified¹¹ face, strug8gled to his feet, and surveyed ruefully the muddy stains on his handsome suit.

 

"I hope you're not hurt, Percy," said Bert, with solicitude¹².

 

"I've spoiled my suit, that's all," returned Percy, shortly. "What made you scare my horse?"

 

"I didn't," answered Bert, with spirit. "What right have you to charge me with such a thing?"

 

"Then if it wasn't you, it was that old tramp you were talking with," persisted Percy, sullenly¹³.

 

"Hush¹⁴, Percy!" said Bert, apprehensive¹⁵ lest the old man's feelings might be hurt. "You don't know who this gentleman is."

 

"I never met the gentleman before," rejoined Percy, with ironical¹⁶ deference¹⁷.

 

"Then let me introduce him as your uncle, Jacob Marlowe, from California!"

 

Percy's face betrayed much more surprise than pleasure as he stammered¹⁸, "Is that true?"

 

"Yes," answered the old man, smiling calmly; "I have the honor to be related to you, young gentleman."

 

"Does father know you are here?"

 

"No; I am going to call upon him."

 

Percy hardly knew what to think. He had9 heard his father speak of "Uncle Jacob" and indulge in the hope that he had accumulated a fortune in California. His shabby attire¹⁹ did not suggest wealth, certainly, but Percy was wise enough to know that appearances are not always to be relied upon. If this old man were wealthy, he would be worth propitiating²⁰. At any rate, till he knew to the contrary he had better be polite.

 

"Will you ride to the house with me, sir?" he asked, considerably²¹ to Bert's surprise.

 

"No, thank you. There might be another upset. Jump into the buggy, and I'll walk along after you."

 

Percy was relieved by this decision, for he had no wish to be seen with such a companion.

 

"All right, sir," he said. "I'll see you at the house."

 

Without a word of acknowledgment to Bert, Percy sprang into the buggy and drove rapidly away.

 

"Shall I go with you, Uncle Jacob?" asked Bert.

 

"No, thank you. I can find the way. Tell your mother that I will call on her very soon."

2 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

5 instinctive   

adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的

参考例句：

• He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。
• Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。

6 doffed   

v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He doffed his hat. 他脱掉帽子。 来自互联网
• The teacher is forced to help her pull next pulling again mouth, unlock button, doffed jacket. 老师只好再帮她拉下拉口，解开扣子，将外套脱了下来。 来自互联网

7 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

8 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

9 piazza   

n.广场；走廊

参考例句：

• Siena's main piazza was one of the sights of Italy.锡耶纳的主要广场是意大利的名胜之一。
• They walked out of the cafeteria,and across the piazzadj.他们走出自助餐厅,穿过广场。

10 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

11 mortified   

v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等）

参考例句：

• She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了，直羞得无地自容。
• The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 solicitude   

n.焦虑

参考例句：

• Your solicitude was a great consolation to me.你对我的关怀给了我莫大的安慰。
• He is full of tender solicitude towards my sister.他对我妹妹满心牵挂。

13 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

14 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

15 apprehensive   

adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的

参考例句：

• She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
• He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。

16 ironical   

adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironical end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• From his general demeanour I didn't get the impression that he was being ironical.从他整体的行为来看，我不觉得他是在讲反话。

17 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

18 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

19 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

20 propitiating   

v.劝解，抚慰，使息怒( propitiate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

21 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。