CHAPTER XXIII. BERT FORMS A RESOLUTION.

 "Mother," said Bert abruptly¹, as he entered the cottage at the close of his engagement with the farmer, "when did father die?"

 

Mrs. Barton sank into a chair, and looked searchingly in her son's face.

 

"Why—do—you—ask?" she said slowly.

 

"I have been told to-day that he was living only a year since."

 

"Who told you?"

 

"Phineas Wilson, the farmer's son."162

 

"Did he see him a year ago?"

 

"Yes, in some town in Canada—near Toronto, I believe. But, mother, you don't seem surprised."

 

"No, Bert, for I knew your father was living."

 

"Then why don't he come home. Why don't he live with us? Is there some mystery?"

 

"Yes, Bert, and a painful one for your unfortunate father. It is the fear of a prison that has kept him away from home."

 

"Surely, mother," said Bert, painfully shocked, "my father was not a criminal?"

 

"No, but circumstances made him appear such."

 

"Tell me the story."

 

"It is time that you heard it. Ten years ago your father and Albert Marlowe were employed by Weeks Brothers, large shoe manufacturers in a Massachusetts town. Both were skilled workmen——"

 

"Did Squire² Marlowe work at the bench?"

 

"Yes, his position was precisely³ the same as your father's, no worse and no better. Both received the same pay—two dollars a day."

 

"Does Percy know this?"163

 

"Probably not. Albert Marlowe is not fond of speaking of his early days when he was a common workman. At that time our families were intimate and associated on equal terms. Our circumstances and ways of living were the same. We lived in a double house, Albert occupying one tenement⁴, we the other."

 

"Were you and Mrs. Marlowe friendly then?"

 

"Yes; she had not yet become a fine lady, but did her own work, dispensing⁵ with a servant. We lived plainly, and, if anything, your father was the more prosperous of the two, as we managed to save from fifty to seventy-five dollars a year, while I don't believe Albert saved anything. But one day a terrible thing happened. Mr. Weeks, the senior partner, was a trustee and guardian⁶ for some minor⁷ children. A part of their property was invested in United States bonds, 5-20's as they are called. He kept them in his safe in the factory. One morning when he opened the safe they were missing. You can imagine the dismay of the guardian and his indignation against the unknown thief. The loss was publicly proclaimed, and a reward of one hundred dollars was offered to any one who could and would give any information164 that would lead to the discovery of the thief. Some one—a young man named Harding—entered the office of the firm and informed them that he had seen your father thrusting a paper, looking like a government bond, into the inside pocket of his overcoat—it was in the middle of winter. The workmen kept their coats in a small room near the entrance of the factory. Of course the room was visited, your father's coat was examined, and in one of the pockets was found one of the missing bonds, one for five hundred dollars. Your father was summoned, charged with the theft, and required to tell what he had done with the remaining bonds. He was thunder-struck at the accusation⁸, and denied in the most positive terms any knowledge of the stolen property. His statement was not credited. He was arrested, tried for the offense⁹, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment¹⁰."

 

"Bert's face flushed with indignation, and he clinched¹¹ his fist almost unconsciously.

 

"Did he go to prison?" he asked hoarsely¹².

 

"No; some of his friends, who believed in his innocence¹³, helped him to escape, and supplied him with funds to get out of the country. Now you know why he has remained absent all these years."165

 

"But why was I never told of this, mother? Why did I not know at the time?"

 

"You were only six years of age, and were sent away during the excitement to the house of a friend living at some distance. I moved away from the town in which my misfortunes were known, and eventually came here, learning that Albert Marlowe had established himself in business here. You readily believed that your father was dead."

 

"I understand now, mother. But is it not terrible that the happiness of a family should be broken up in this way?"

 

"Yes, Bert. Providence¹⁴ permits it for some wise purpose, no doubt, though it is hard for us to understand why it should be."

 

"One thing I don't understand, mother. You say that Squire Marlowe was a common workman, like my father, and a poor man?"

 

"Yes, Bert."

 

"How is it that he is now a rich manufacturer? Where did he get the necessary capital?"

 

"Nobody knew. He took all his friends by surprise when he went into business for himself on a large scale. Whatever the amount of his capital, he has never been financially embarrassed, and has gone on prospering¹⁵."

 

"Till now he is a rich man, living in luxury,166 while we are living from hand to mouth, and poor father is an exile somewhere."

 

"Yes, Bert."

 

"Don't you receive letters from father?"

 

"If I should, it would draw attention to him, and might imperil his safety."

 

"I might meet him sometime, and not know him."

 

"Have you no recollection of him?"

 

"Not the least? Haven't you any picture of him, mother?"

 

"Yes, I have a daguerreotype¹⁶ upstairs—an old-style picture."

 

"Why have you never shown it to me?"

 

"Because it would have led you to ask questions which would have been embarrassing for me to answer. You might have mentioned the existence of the picture before some visitor, and compelled me to produce it. Suppose this had been the case, and it had been recognized, it might have got your father into trouble."

 

"Now that I know all the circumstances, won't you show me the picture, mother?"

 

"Yes, Bert; the only objection I had is now removed."

 

Mrs. Barton went upstairs, and soon returned with one of those old-fashioned pic167tures of which many of my readers may have specimens¹⁷ in their homes—a daguerreotype.

 

Bert scanned it attentively¹⁸, and he first looked bewildered, then surprised.

 

"I have seen a face like that," he said after a pause.

 

"Where, Bert?"

 

"I don't remember. Is it possible that I can remember so far back?"

 

"It may be an accidental resemblance."

 

"No, the face is like in every respect. Can't you explain it to me, mother?"

 

"Think a little, Bert. Perhaps you will recall where you saw a face like this."

 

"I have it now," said Bert, his face brightening up. "It is like Mr. Robinson—the friend of father, who called here a few weeks since."

 

"Bert," said his mother slowly, "Mr. Robinson was not your father's friend. It was your father himself."

 

Bert looked the picture of astonishment¹⁹.

 

"Why did you not tell me, mother?"

 

"How could I? You did not even know that he was alive. Ever since then I have been seeking an opportunity to tell you the truth."

 

"I am glad to know. What did father have to say?"168

 

"He thinks he has found out—at any rate he has strong suspicions—who was the real thief for whom he suffered."

 

"Who is it, mother? Is it any one I ever knew?"

 

"Yes, Bert."

 

"Tell me quick."

 

"Then you must promise to keep it secret till we are in a condition to prove the truth of our suspicions. It was Albert Marlowe."

 

"The squire?"

 

"Yes."

 

"That must explain his being able to go into business for himself."

 

"Yes. Your father is on the track of a man who was his accomplice²⁰, or rather his tool, in the matter—the young man named Harding, on whose information your father was arrested. Of course he is placed under a disadvantage in making these inquiries²¹, being under the ban of the law."

 

"Mother," said Bert solemnly, "I am going to solve the mystery, if possible, make my father's evidence clear, and expose the real criminal. I am only a boy, and I don't know how I shall accomplish it, but I won't rest till I have done it."

 

"May Heaven grant you success, my dear boy!" responded Mrs. Barton fervently²².

1 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

2 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。

3 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

4 tenement   

n.公寓；房屋

参考例句：

• They live in a tenement.他们住在廉价公寓里。
• She felt very smug in a tenement yard like this.就是在个这样的杂院里，她觉得很得意。

5 dispensing   

v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• A dispensing optician supplies glasses, but doesn't test your eyes. 配镜师为你提供眼镜，但不检查眼睛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The firm has been dispensing ointments. 本公司配制药膏。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

8 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

9 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

10 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

11 clinched   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然，这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句

12 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

13 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

14 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

15 prospering   

成功，兴旺( prosper的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Our country is thriving and prospering day by day. 祖国日益繁荣昌盛。
• His business is prospering. 他生意兴隆。

16 daguerreotype   

n.银板照相

参考例句：

• The inventor of the daguerreotype is a French artist.银版照相的发明者是位法国艺术家。
• The image was taken by louis daguerre who invented the daguerreotype-one of the earliest methods of photography.这张照片是由路易斯达盖尔拍摄，他发明了银版照相法-摄影的最早方法之一。

17 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 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。

20 accomplice   

n.从犯，帮凶，同谋

参考例句：

• She was her husband's accomplice in murdering a rich old man.她是她丈夫谋杀一个老富翁的帮凶。
• He is suspected as an accomplice of the murder.他涉嫌为这次凶杀案的同谋。

21 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

22 fervently   

adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地

参考例句：

• "Oh, I am glad!'she said fervently. “哦，我真高兴！”她热烈地说道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• O my dear, my dear, will you bless me as fervently to-morrow?' 啊，我亲爱的，亲爱的，你明天也愿这样热烈地为我祝福么？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记