CHAPTER X. NICHOLAS APPEARS UPON THE SCENE.

 The funeral was over. Mrs. Kent was considered by those present to display a great deal of fortitude¹. As she felt no real grief for the death of her husband, this was not remarkable². Jasper looked pale and sorrowful, but gave way to no violent demonstrations³ of sorrow, though he began to understand that he had not only lost his best friend, but become at the same time exposed to the machinations of a resolute⁴ and relentless⁵ enemy.

 

In due time the will was read.

 

It was very brief, and clear in its provisions.

 

To Mrs. Kent was left one-third of the estate, real and personal, of which the deceased was possessed⁶, and the balance was willed to his only child and dear son Jasper, of whom his step-mother was left guardian⁷.

 

When this clause was read Mrs. Kent directed a brief and triumphant⁸ glance at Jasper. He met the glance, and understood what it meant. He knew that it boded⁹ him no good.

 

The company assembled gradually dispersed¹⁰, and Jasper was left alone with his step-mother.

 

"You see that I am left your guardian," she said.

 

"Yes," answered Jasper, briefly¹¹.

 

"Perhaps you would have chosen a different one if the choice had been left to you," she continued, with a sneer¹².

 

"I should," said Jasper, promptly¹³.

 

"Well, that is plain language."

 

"I suppose you expected a plain answer," said the boy, firmly.

 

"I did not expect a polite one. You appear to forget that I am a lady."

 

"You are mistaken, madam. I am ready to treat you as well as you treat me. I won't pretend that I like your guardianship¹⁴, as I fear that we shall not agree."

 

"If we don't, you will have to yield," said his step-mother.

 

"I would rather not dispute till it is absolutely necessary," said Jasper. "May I ask whether you desire me to return to school?"

 

"I have not made up my mind. I may be able to tell you to-morrow."

 

"Until you make up your mind you expect me to remain at home, I suppose?"

 

"Yes."

 

Jasper bowed and turned away. He went down stairs into the hall just as the front door was opened, and the familiar voice of Nicholas Thorne was heard. Jasper stared in some surprise at the intruder, not knowing that he was expected.

 

"Halloo, Jasper!" said Thorne, boisterously¹⁵. "How are you?"

 

"I am well," said Jasper, distantly.

 

"Where's mother?"

 

"Your mother? Your aunt, you mean."

 

"No, I don't. That's all gammon. She's my mother."

 

"She is!" exclaimed Jasper. "What made you deny it, then?"

 

"Policy," said Thorne, laughing. "Your father might not have liked it. Now it's all right."

 

"Did your mother send for you?" asked Jasper.

 

"Yes, of course she did. This is to be my home now."

 

Jasper made no comment. What could he say? If Thorne were his step-mother's son, it was only natural that he should live in the house of which she was mistress.

 

But it seemed to him as if he were being pushed out of his own father's house, and these strangers were coming in to occupy it He felt that it would no longer seem like home to him.

 

"Well, where's my mother?" asked Thorne.

 

"She's up stairs. Shall I show you the way?"

 

"If you're a mind to. I guess I'll know my own way round here pretty soon."

 

"What a detestable fellow!" thought Jasper. "I am afraid we shall quarrel soon."

 

He led the way up stairs, and ushered¹⁶ Nicholas into his mother's presence.

 

This uncouth¹⁷ boy was the one object this selfish woman loved. She uttered an exclamation¹⁸ of delight.

 

"Welcome home, my dear Nicholas!" she exclaimed, advancing hastily and throwing her arms round his neck.

 

He received the embrace apathetically¹⁹, but made no opposition²⁰, as at another time he might have done. He felt on good terms with his mother and the whole world, in the face of the brilliant improvement of his prospects²¹.

 

"Are you well, my dear boy?" asked Mrs. Kent.

 

"Oh, I'm well enough, mother. This is a splendid old place, isn't it?"

 

Mrs. Kent laughed at Jasper.

 

"Yes, it is a fine country-place."

 

Jasper left the two, and went down stairs.

 

"Say, mother, how about the will?" asked Thorne. "Is it all right?"

 

"A third of the estate is left to me."

 

"Only a third! Does Jasper get the rest?"

 

"Yes."

 

"That's a shame. You ought to have had half."

 

"I shall have control of the whole till Jasper is of age. I am left his guardian."

 

"That's good, anyhow. You must make him toe the mark, mother."

 

"I mean to."

 

"He's always had his own way, and he may give you trouble. He feels high and mighty²². I can tell you."

 

"I shall know how to deal with him," said Mrs. Kent, closing her thin lips resolutely²³. "He will find me as firm as himself."

 

"I guess that's so, mother. You'll prove a tough customer."

 

Mrs. Kent smiled, as if she enjoyed the compliment.

 

"I'll stand by you, mother. If you have any trouble, just call me in."

 

"I don't expect to need any help, Nicholas; but I am glad to find I have a brave son, who will stand by his mother."

 

Certainly no one believed in Nicholas so thoroughly²⁴ as his mother. To the world generally he was a cowardly bully²⁵, rough, brutal²⁶, and selfish. In his mother's eyes he was manly²⁷ and a paragon²⁸ of youthful virtue²⁹. I have already said that Thorne's affection for his mother was far less disinterested³⁰, as is very apt to be the case with boys. His intention to benefit by the change of circumstances was shown at once.

 

"What allowance are you going to give me, mother?" he asked.

 

"I have not thought, yet, Nicholas."

 

"Then I want you to think, mother."

 

"How much do you want?"

 

"I want as much as Jasper gets."

 

"You shall receive as much," said his mother, promptly. "Do you know how much he has received?"

 

"Yes—he has had five dollars a week."

 

"That's too much."

 

"It isn't too much for me."

 

"I shall reduce his allowance to three dollars a week."

 

"You don't expect me to get along on three dollars?" grumbled³¹ Thorne.

 

"I will give you five."

 

"And Jasper only three?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Won't he be mad!" exclaimed Nicholas, with malicious³² satisfaction. "What'll you say to him about it?"

 

"I shall merely announce my decision," said Mrs. Kent, coolly. "I am not bound to assign any reasons."

 

"Won't there be a precious row!" said Thorne.

 

"I presume he will complain, but he has not conducted himself toward me in a manner to secure any favors."

 

"I say, mother, can you give me my first week's allowance in advance? I'm awful hard up."

 

"Here, my son," said Mrs. Kent, drawing out her pocket-book and placing a five-dollar bill in her son's hand.

 

"Good for you, mother. When are you going to have supper?"

 

"In an hour."

 

"How much property did the old man leave?"

 

"The estate is probably fully³³ up to one hundred thousand dollars. This place is worth fifteen thousand. The rest is in good interest-paying stocks and bonds."

 

"And a third belongs to you! I say, mother, you've feathered your nest well. I guess I'll go out and take a look round."

 

In the rear of the house, in front of the stable, Nicholas caught sight of Jasper.

 

He smiled maliciously³⁴.

 

"I'll go and tell him about the reduction in his allowance," he said to himself.

1 fortitude   

n.坚忍不拔；刚毅

参考例句：

• His dauntless fortitude makes him absolutely fearless.他不屈不挠的坚韧让他绝无恐惧。
• He bore the pain with great fortitude.他以极大的毅力忍受了痛苦。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

4 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

5 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

6 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

7 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。

8 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

9 boded   

v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待

参考例句：

• The beginning of that summer boded ill. 夏季一开始就来势不善。 来自辞典例句

10 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

11 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

12 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

13 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。

14 guardianship   

n. 监护, 保护, 守护

参考例句：

• They had to employ the English language in face of the jealous guardianship of Britain. 他们不得不在英国疑忌重重的监护下使用英文。
• You want Marion to set aside her legal guardianship and give you Honoria. 你要马丽恩放弃她的法定监护人资格，把霍诺丽娅交给你。

15 boisterously   

adv.喧闹地，吵闹地

参考例句：

• They burst boisterously into the room. 他们吵吵嚷嚷地闯入房间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Drums and gongs were beating boisterously. 锣鼓敲打得很热闹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 uncouth   

adj.无教养的，粗鲁的

参考例句：

• She may embarrass you with her uncouth behavior.她的粗野行为可能会让你尴尬。
• His nephew is an uncouth young man.他的侄子是一个粗野的年轻人。

18 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

19 apathetically   

adv.不露感情地；无动于衷地；不感兴趣地；冷淡地

参考例句：

• "I'm not hungry," Jui-chueh replied apathetically. “我不想吃，”瑞珏第一个懒洋洋地说。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• She behaves apathetically these days. 她这些天表现的很淡漠。 来自互联网

20 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

21 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

22 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

23 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

24 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

25 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

26 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

27 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。

28 paragon   

n.模范，典型

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• Man is the paragon of animals.人是万物之灵。

29 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

30 disinterested   

adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的

参考例句：

• He is impartial and disinterested.他公正无私。
• He's always on the make,I have never known him do a disinterested action.他这个人一贯都是唯利是图，我从来不知道他有什么无私的行动。

31 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

32 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

33 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

34 maliciously   

adv.有敌意地

参考例句：

• He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His enemies maliciously conspired to ruin him. 他的敌人恶毒地密谋搞垮他。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》