CHAPTER VI SQUIRE MARLOWE IS SURPRISED.

 Mrs. Barton was washing the breakfast dishes, and was alone, Bert having gone to his daily work at the shoe shop, when the outer door opened and Uncle Jacob entered the cottage, valise in hand.

 

"I've accepted your offer sooner than you expected, Mary," he said.

 

"You are heartily¹ welcome, Uncle Jacob," responded his niece, with evident sincerity². "If you can put up with our poor accommodations after being entertained in Albert's luxurious³ home——"

 

"Don't trouble yourself about that, Mary," interrupted the old man. "Albert doesn't want me. He civilly asked me to find another stopping place."

 

"You don't mean it!" exclaimed Mrs. Barton indignantly.

 

"You see," explained Uncle Jacob, with a quiet smile, "his wife was taken suddenly indisposed—after she found I wasn't as rich as she expected."

 

"I hope you won't take it too much to heart, Uncle Jacob," observed Mary Barton, in a tone of solicitude⁴.40

 

Uncle Jacob's amused laugh reassured⁵ her.

 

"It is just what I expected, Mary," he said, "and I shan't grieve over it much. You ought to have seen how they all looked when I asked Albert's advice about opening a small cigar and candy store in the village. You can imagine what a mortification⁶ it would be to my high-toned nephew to have my sign out,

 

JACOB MARLOWE,

 

Candy and Cigars.

 

over a small seven by nine store, when our relationship was known."

 

"I hope that won't prevent your carrying out the plan, Uncle Jacob. If your gains are small, you can make your home with us and pay what you can afford."

 

"Thank you, Mary, you are a true friend, and I shan't forget your kind offer. But I never had the slightest idea of opening such a store. I only mentioned it to test Albert."

 

"But you will have to do something, Uncle Jacob," said Mary Barton, perplexed⁷; "and that would be as easy as anything. Bert could go in the evening and help you if you found it too confining."

 

"I have something else in view in the city," returned Jacob. "I don't need to earn much you know. I don't set up to be a dude," he41 added, with a comical glance at his rustic⁸ attire⁹, "and I don't mean to board at the Fifth Avenue Hotel."

 

"I am sorry you can't stay in Lakeville," said Mrs. Barton regretfully.

 

"I will stay here a week, Mary, to get acquainted with you and your boy. I have taken a fancy to him. He is a fine, manly¹⁰ youth, worth a dozen of such fellows as Percy Marlowe."

 

"Indeed, he is a good boy," said his mother proudly. "I don't see what I could do without him."

 

"So, Mary, if you'll show me where you are going to accommodate me, I'll go up and take possession."

 

"Will you mind my putting you in with Bert? I have but two chambers¹¹."

 

"Not a bit. It will be all the better. If I were going to stay here permanently¹² I would build an extension to the house for you."

 

"But that would be expensive, Uncle Jacob."

 

"So it would. I'm always forgetting that I am not a rich man. You see I was rich once. As I told Albert, I have seen the time when I had a hundred thousand dollars to my credit in a bank of Sacramento."

 

"Oh, Uncle Jacob! Why didn't you invest42 it in government bonds, and you would have been independent for life?"

 

"Because I was not so prudent¹³ as my niece, I suppose. However, it's no use crying over spilt milk, and I've got a matter of five hundred dollars left."

 

"But that won't last long, Uncle Jacob."

 

"Not unless I work. But I'm pretty rugged¹⁴ yet, and I guess I can manage to scrape along."

 

When Bert came home to dinner, he was surprised and pleased to find Uncle Jacob installed and evidently feeling quite at home.

 

"I wish I could stay at home this afternoon to keep you company," he said; "but I have only an hour for dinner."

 

"Business first, my boy!" said the old man. "For pleasure we'll wait till this evening. Is there a livery stable in the village?"

 

"Yes, sir; Houghton's."

 

"Then after supper we'll hire a buggy, and you and your mother and I will take a ride."

 

"But, Uncle Jacob, you forget that it will cost a dollar, or perhaps two."

 

"No, I don't, Mary; but I'm having a vacation, and I want to enjoy myself a little before pitching into hard work again. I am sure you will be the better for a ride."

 

"Yes, I shall. I haven't had one for months, and it will be a real treat."43

 

"Then we will cast prudence¹⁵ to the winds for once, and have a good time. I suppose you can drive, Bert."

 

"Oh yes, sir; I like it. I worked for a few weeks in the grocery store, and drove every day. I like a horse."

 

"So do I; but I don't care much about handling the reins¹⁶ myself. You'll promise not to upset the carriage, as Percy did the other day?"

 

"Not unless we meet two tramps, as he did," said Bert, laughing.

 

"I declare, Mary, there is your boy calling his old uncle a tramp."

 

"And myself, too, uncle."

 

"That makes it seem a little better. Are you going back to the shop?"

 

"Yes, uncle; my time is up."

 

"I'll walk along with you."

 

As the two walked together, Uncle Jacob took a five dollar bill from his pocket, and handed it to Bert.

 

"There, Bert," he said, "I want you to give that to your mother toward buying groceries and meat this week, as her expenses will be increased by my being in the house."

 

"But, Uncle Jacob, we don't want you to pay board."44

 

"I am able to do it, and prefer it, Bert. So say no more about it."

 

In truth, this donation was a relief to Bert and his mother, for they were compelled to economize¹⁷ closely, and yet wanted to live well while Uncle Jacob was visiting them.

 

About seven o'clock Bert drove round to the house in a handsome top buggy, drawn¹⁸ by a spirited black horse, the best in Houghton's stable.

 

"I'll let you have it, Bert," said Mr. Houghton, "because I know you're a careful driver. There are few persons I would trust with Prince."

 

"You may depend on me, Mr. Houghton."

 

"I know I can, Bert;" and with a few directions the stable keeper resigned the turnout to Bert.

 

"You have got a stylish¹⁹ rig, Bert," said Uncle Jacob. "I think we shall have to drive by Albert Marlowe's."

 

"Just what I would like," remarked Bert, with a smile.

 

Bert had his share of human nature, and rather enjoyed being seen by his aristocratic relatives in such a stylish turnout.

 

Supper was over at Squire²⁰ Marlowe's and the family were sitting on the piazza²¹, the even45ing being warm, when Percy espied²² the buggy approaching.

 

"I wonder who's driving Houghton's best team?" he said.

 

"By gracious, if it isn't Bert Barton and his mother and Uncle Jacob!" he exclaimed, a minute later.

 

The squire adjusted his eyeglasses, and looked at the carriage now nearly opposite.

 

"You are right, Percy," he said.

 

"What can it mean, Albert?" asked his wife, in bewilderment, as Uncle Jacob bowed from the buggy.

 

"It means that a fool and his money are soon parted," answered the squire.

 

"I thought your uncle was poor."

 

"So he is, and he will soon be poorer from all appearances. Uncle Jacob never was a good financial manager. He was always too liberal, or he wouldn't be as poor as he is now. Why with five hundred dollars he probably feels as rich as a nabob."

 

"No doubt Bert Barton will help him spend it," said Percy. "It won't last long at any rate, if he drives out every evening."

 

"When his money is all gone he will probably throw himself on you for support, father."

 

"I wash my hands of him," said Squire Marlowe, in a hard tone. "If he squanders²³ his money, he must take the consequences."

 

"I am glad to hear you speak in that way, Albert," commented his wife, approvingly.

 

Uncle Jacob enjoyed his drive and paid two dollars at the stable without letting the thought of his extravagance worry him.

 

"I hope you enjoyed it, Mary," he said.

 

"I don't know when I have enjoyed myself so much, Uncle Jacob."

 

"Nor I," put in Bert.

 

"Then I think the money well spent. It makes me feel young again, Mary. I think I made a mistake in staying away so long."

1 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

2 sincerity   

n.真诚，诚意；真实

参考例句：

• His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
• He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。

3 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

4 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。

5 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 mortification   

n.耻辱，屈辱

参考例句：

• To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。
• The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。

7 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

8 rustic   

adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬

参考例句：

• It was nearly seven months of leisurely rustic living before Michael felt real boredom.这种悠闲的乡村生活过了差不多七个月之后,迈克尔开始感到烦闷。
• We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.我们希望新鲜的空气和乡村的氛围能帮他调整自己。

9 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。

10 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

11 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

12 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

13 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

14 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

15 prudence   

n.谨慎，精明，节俭

参考例句：

• A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
• The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。

16 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

17 economize   

v.节约，节省

参考例句：

• We're going to have to economize from now on. 从现在开始，我们不得不节约开支。
• We have to economize on water during the dry season. 我们在旱季不得不节约用水。

18 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

19 stylish   

adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的

参考例句：

• He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
• What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。

20 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。

21 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。

22 espied   

v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日，她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了，她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子，现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句

23 squanders   

v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He squanders all the money which his father gives him. 他挥霍了他父亲给他的全部钱财。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In squandering the health of its young, the world squanders its tomorrows. 年轻人在挥霍自己健康的同时世界也在浪费着他的未来。 来自互联网