CHAPTER VII. UNCLE JACOB LEAVES LAKEVILLE.

 On his way home to dinner the next day, Bert fell in with Percy Marlowe.

 

"I saw you out driving last evening," remarked Percy.

 

"Yes," answered Bert composedly.

 

"You had Houghton's best team?"

 

"Yes."

 

"How much did you have to pay?"

 

"I believe Uncle Jacob paid two dollars."

 

"He must be crazy to pay two dollars for a ride. Why, he's almost a pauper¹."47

 

"I think that is his business, Percy. As to being a pauper, I don't believe he will ever be that."

 

"Don't be too sure of it. Why, he told father he had only five hundred dollars. How long do you think that's going to last him if he throws away his money on carriage rides?"

 

"It's only for once, and, as I said, that isn't our business."

 

"I don't know about that, either. When he has spent all his money he'll be coming upon father to support him."

 

"I don't believe he will," said Bert, to whom it was disagreeable to hear the kind old man spoken of slightingly.

 

"You see if he doesn't. But it won't do any good. Father says as he makes his bed he must lie on it. And I say, Bert Barton, it isn't very creditable to you and your mother to help the old man squander² his money."

 

"I don't thank you for your advice, Percy Marlowe," retorted Bert, with spirit. "If ever Uncle Jacob does come to want, I'll work for him, and help him all I can."

 

"You! why you're as poor as poverty itself!" exclaimed Percy, with a mocking laugh.

 

"Good morning!" said Bert shortly, provoked, but not caring to prolong the discussion.48

 

When he reached home, he gave Uncle Jacob an account of his conversation with Percy.

 

The old man laughed.

 

"So Albert says that as I make my bed I must lie upon it?" he repeated.

 

"Yes, sir; but I hope you won't be troubled at that. You will always be welcome here."

 

Uncle Jacob's eyes grew moist, and he regarded Bert with affection.

 

"You are a good boy and a true friend, Bert," he said, "and I shall not forget it."

 

"I don't know but Percy was right, Uncle Jacob. It does seem extravagant³ paying such a price for a ride."

 

"It's only for once in a way, Bert. You mustn't grudge⁴ the old man a little enjoyment⁵ in his vacation. I shall be going to work next week."

 

"You will? Where?" asked Bert eagerly.

 

"In New York. An old California friend of mine, who is in charge of a mine that has been put on the New York market, will give me a clerkship and a small salary which will support me in comfort. So you see I am all right."

 

"I am very glad to hear it, Uncle Jacob," said Bert joyfully⁶. "I was afraid you49 wouldn't find anything to do, and would have to spend all your money on living."

 

"Come, Bert, that isn't much of a compliment to my ability. If I am sixty-five, I am able to earn a living yet, and though twelve dollars a week isn't much——"

 

"If I could earn twelve dollars a week I should feel rich, Uncle Jacob."

 

"True, but you are only fifteen."

 

"Almost sixteen."

 

"I forgot that," said Uncle Jacob, smiling. "Well, even at sixteen, a boy can hardly expect to earn as much as twelve dollars a week. By the way, how much does Albert pay you?"

 

"Four dollars a week."

 

"Is that about the usual price for boys employed as you are?"

 

"Most shoe bosses pay more. The squire⁷ pays low wages all round."

 

"Then why don't the men go elsewhere?"

 

"Because they live here, and it is better to work cheaper here than to move. Some have gone away."

 

"Well, keep up your courage, Bert, and the time will come when you will be earning twelve dollars a week like your rich old uncle. If the office were only in Lakeville, so that I could board with your mother——"

 

"I wish it was, Uncle Jacob."50

 

"Well, Mary, I shan't have to open a cigar store in Lakeville," remarked Uncle Jacob, as his niece entered the room.

 

Mrs. Barton looked an inquiry⁸, and Bert exclaimed: "Uncle Jacob has secured a clerkship in New York at twelve dollars a week."

 

"I am really glad!" said Mrs. Barton, with beaming face.

 

"Come, Mary, did you too think, like Bert here, that I was headed for the poorhouse?"

 

"I felt a little anxious for you, Uncle Jacob, I admit."

 

"You see that your fears were idle."

 

"Will you have to work very hard?" asked Mrs. Barton.

 

"No; my employer is an intimate friend."

 

"When do you commence work?"

 

"Next Monday, so that I must leave you on Saturday."

 

"Bert and I will both miss you; but as it is for your good, we won't complain. Now, Uncle Jacob, I hope you won't take it amiss if I urge you not to be too free with your money, but to try to save up some of your salary so that you can add to your little fund."

 

"Thank you, Mary. I suppose you are afraid I will be driving fast horses in Central Park, eh?"

 

"I am more afraid you will be too generous51 with your money, and give away more than you can afford."

 

"Well thought of, Mary! So far from that, I am going to turn miser⁹ and hoard¹⁰ up every cent I can."

 

"I don't think there is much danger of that."

 

"Oh, you have no idea how mean I can be if I try. However, as I shall be acting¹¹ according to your advice, you can't find fault with me."

 

"I see you don't mean to follow my advice, Uncle Jacob."

 

"Still I am glad you gave it. It shows that you feel a real interest in your shabby old uncle. Some time—I can't promise how soon—I shall invite you and Bert to come and spend the day in New York. I will get a day off from the office, and we'll have a nice excursion somewhere."

 

On Friday, Uncle Jacob called on Squire Marlowe; not at the house, however, but at the factory.

 

"I've come to bid you good-by, Albert," he said.

 

"Are you going back to California?" asked the Squire.

 

"No, I am going to New York."

 

"It is expensive living in New York."

 

"I have obtained a situation there."52

 

"Ah, indeed! That is different. What sort of a position?"

 

"I shall be a clerk in a mining office."

 

"What pay will you get?"

 

"Twelve dollars a week."

 

"Very fair! I congratulate you. You ought to live on that and save money besides."

 

"That's what Mary Barton says."

 

"Then she gives you very sensible advice. It will be a great deal better than opening a cigar store in Lakeville."

 

"I wouldn't do that after what you said on the subject," returned Uncle Jacob in a deferential¹² tone, though there was a twinkle in his eye.

 

"I am glad you recognize the fact that I counseled you for your good," said the Squire pompously¹³. "As an experienced business man, my judgment¹⁴ is worth something, I apprehend¹⁵."

 

"Quite so, Albert; quite so! Is your wife feeling better?"

 

(Uncle Jacob had seen Mrs. Marlowe riding out the day before, apparently¹⁶ in full health.)

 

"She is somewhat improved, but still delicate," said Squire Marlowe guardedly. "I am sorry I cannot invite you to dine with us again before you go to the city."53

 

"I should hardly be able to do so, as I go away to-morrow."

 

"Just so! I will say good-by for you, and that will do just as well."

 

"That's a load off my mind!" soliloquized the squire, after Uncle Jacob had left him. "I was afraid the old man would squander all his money, and then come upon me for that old loan. I hope he'll keep away from Lakeville in the future."

 

The next day Uncle Jacob left town. As he quitted the house, he put a sealed envelope into Mary Barton's hand.

 

"If you are ever in trouble, and cannot communicate with me," he said, "open this envelope. Take good care of it!"

 

"I will, Uncle Jacob. I will put it away in my trunk."

 

"Well, good-by, Mary, and God bless you!"

 

A minute later and Uncle Jacob was gone. Mrs. Barton went back to covering balls and Bert to his place in the shoe shop. Their united earnings¹⁷ enabled them to live comfortably, and they were content, though they had nothing to spare. But trouble was close at hand, though they did not suspect it.

 

What that trouble was will be disclosed in the next chapter.

1 pauper   

n.贫民，被救济者，穷人

参考例句：

• You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候，也活得像个乞丐。
• If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干，做到老也是穷死。

2 squander   

v.浪费，挥霍

参考例句：

• Don't squander your time in reading those dime novels.不要把你的时间浪费在读那些胡编乱造的廉价小说上。
• Every chance is precious，so don't squander any chance away!每次机会都很宝贵，所以不要将任何一个白白放走。

3 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。

4 grudge   

n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做

参考例句：

• I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
• I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

5 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

6 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

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 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

9 miser   

n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)

参考例句：

• The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。

10 hoard   

n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积

参考例句：

• They have a hoard of food in the basement.地下室里有他们贮藏的食物。
• How many curios do you hoard in your study?你在你书房里聚藏了多少古玩？

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

12 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。

13 pompously   

adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样

参考例句：

• He pompously described his achievements. 他很夸耀地描述了自己所取得的成绩。 来自互联网

14 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

15 apprehend   

vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑

参考例句：

• I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
• Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。

16 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。

17 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。