CHAPTER XIV. MEDIATION.

 When Jasper left the house he bent¹ his steps to the dwelling² of a friend of his father, Otis Miller³, a man of considerable property and good position. He found Mr. Miller at home.

 

"I am glad to see you, Jasper," said he, cordially.

 

"Thank you, sir."

 

"You have met with a great loss," said Mr. Miller, attributing Jasper's serious expression to his father's death.

 

"Yes, sir; I am only just beginning to understand how much."

 

"A father's place cannot be supplied."

 

"No, sir; but this is not the extent of my trouble."

 

"Can I do anything to help you?"

 

"Yes, sir. I am very much in need of advice."

 

"I shall be glad to give you the best I can, Jasper. I was your father's friend, and I shall be glad to be yours also."

 

"Thank you, sir. My troubles are connected with my step-mother, who treats me like an enemy."

 

"Can this be so?" asked Mr. Miller, in surprise.

 

"I will tell you all, and then ask your advice."

 

"Do so."

 

Jasper told the story briefly⁴ and without excitement. It was only in his step-mother's presence that he felt disturbed.

 

"I have met your step-mother, but I know very little of her," said Mr. Miller. "She never impressed me very favorably, but I never dreamed that she would act in such an unreasonable⁵ manner. Perhaps even now matters are not as bad as you think. Sometimes people say things in anger which they repent⁶ of in their cooler moments."

 

"I don't think it is the case with Mrs. Kent."

 

"It is unfortunate, since she is your guardian⁷."

 

"I wish you were my guardian, Mr. Miller."

 

"For your sake, Jasper, I wish I were. I don't think we should quarrel."

 

"I know we should not."

 

"You wish to know what to do?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You are quite sure you cannot stay at home?"

 

"I should be subject to constant persecution⁸ from Mrs. Kent."

 

"You think she would not allow you to go back to school?"

 

"She has refused to do so."

 

"There is one thing she cannot do, and that is, keep your portion of the estate from you when you become of age."

 

"No, I suppose not."

 

"You will then be rich."

 

"But the money won't do me any good now, will it?"

 

"In this way it will. Suppose I agree to pay your expenses at school—that is to say, advancing the money, to be repaid when you obtain yours?"

 

"That would be very kind, Mr. Miller; but I shouldn't like to subject you to that risk."

 

"You mean that a minor's promise would be invalid⁹? Well, Jasper, I have too much confidence in you to have any doubt of your integrity."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Miller; but suppose I should die before attaining¹⁰ my majority?"

 

"Then I should probably lose the money."

 

"That is what I thought of. I should not like to have you run the risk."

 

"But I am willing to do so. However, it may be as well to ascertain¹¹ definitely your step-mother's intentions first. I will call upon her in your interest and find out."

 

"Thank you, sir. I should like to have you do so, as I don't want to act too hastily."

 

"I will go at once. Will you remain here till I return?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

When Mrs. Kent was told that Mr. Miller had called to see her she went down to meet him, not surmising¹² his errand.

 

"Mrs. Kent," said he, after the ordinary greetings were over, "I have called with reference to your relations to your late husband's son, Jasper."

 

"Did he ask you to come?" demanded Mrs. Kent, frowning.

 

"No; but he came to ask my advice as to what he ought to do. I am sorry to hear that you are unfriendly."

 

"He has treated me with intolerable insolence¹³," said Mrs. Kent, hotly.

 

"That surprises me. It is wholly contrary to his reputation with those who have known him from his infancy," said Mr. Miller, quietly.

 

"Then you don't know him as he is."

 

"He tells me you have accorded your own son superior privileges."

 

"My son treats me with respect."

 

"Probably you treat him differently from Jasper."

 

"I have reasons to."

 

"You will admit that it is aggravating¹⁴ to see a stranger—an intruder, I may say—preferred to him in his own home?"

 

"Who calls my son an intruder?" asked Mrs. Kent, hastily.

 

"Let us call him a stranger, then. Was Mr. Kent aware that you had a son?"

 

"I decline to answer your question," answered Mrs. Kent, with asperity¹⁵.

 

"To pass on, then. Have you refused Jasper permission to return to the school at which his father placed him?"

 

"I have."

 

"May I ask why?"

 

"I don't know that I am responsible to you."

 

"Mrs. Kent," said Mr. Miller, gravely, "I was the friend of your late husband. I am the friend of his son, Jasper. As the friend of both, I ask you your reason."

 

"I will answer you, though I do not acknowledge your right to ask. I refuse to let Jasper go back to school, because I wish to punish him for his insolence and disobedience."

 

"It cannot be any satisfaction to you to have him at home, I should think."

 

"It is not. I have no reason to like his society."

 

"Then it appears that you punish yourself in keeping him here."

 

"Yes."

 

"Do you think, Mrs. Kent, that you have any right to deprive him of the opportunity to obtain an education?"

 

"He can attend school in this village," said Mrs. Kent.

 

"You know as well as I that there is neither a classical nor a high school here. He would be compelled to give up the course of study upon which he has commenced."

 

"That is his own fault," returned Mrs. Kent, doggedly¹⁷.

 

"This, then, is your unalterable determination?"

 

"For the present, yes. If Jasper repents¹⁸ his ill-conduct, and makes up his mind to yield me that implicit¹⁹ obedience¹⁶ which is my due, I may hereafter consent to return him to school. But he must turn over a new leaf."

 

"Madam," said Mr. Miller, disgusted at the woman's manner, "do you consider that you are carrying out his father's wishes in reference to his son?"

 

"That is a question for me to decide," said Mrs. Kent, coldly. "I have undertaken the responsibility, and I have no fears about carrying out his wishes. I must trust my own judgment²⁰, not that of others."

 

"Madam," said Mr. Miller, after a pause, "there is one other question which I should like to put to you."

 

"Very well, sir."

 

"This guardianship²¹ imposed upon you is a certain amount of care. Are you willing to relinquish²² it to another?"

 

"To you, perhaps?" suggested Mrs. Kent, with a sneer²³.

 

"I should be willing to undertake it for Jasper's sake."

 

"I have no doubt you would, and I presume Jasper would be very glad to have you do so."

 

"I think he would, though he didn't authorize²⁴ me to speak to you about it," said Mr. Miller.

 

"Then, sir, I refuse in the most emphatic²⁵ terms. I shall not relinquish the power which his father's will gives me over him. He shall yet repent his insolence."

 

"I regret your animosity, Mrs. Kent," said Mr. Miller, with dignity, rising as he spoke²⁶. "I was inclined to think that Jasper had exaggerated his account of the difficulties. I see now that he was correct. I have only, in wishing you good-morning, to predict that you will yet regret the manner in which you have treated your step-son."

 

"I will take my chance of that," said Mrs. Kent. "You may report to Jasper that my only terms are unconditional²⁷ submission²⁸."

 

"I will do so, madam; but you know, as well as I, what his answer will be. His nature is too manly²⁹ to submit to tyranny, even from his step-mother."

 

"You are not over-polite, sir," said Mrs. Kent, angrily.

 

"I am truthful³⁰, madam," was the grave reply.

1 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

2 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

3 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

4 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。

5 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

6 repent   

v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔

参考例句：

• He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
• Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。

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 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

9 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

10 attaining   

（通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况）

参考例句：

• Jim is halfway to attaining his pilot's licence. 吉姆就快要拿到飞行员执照了。
• By that time she was attaining to fifty. 那时她已快到五十岁了。

11 ascertain   

vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清

参考例句：

• It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
• We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。

12 surmising   

v.臆测，推断( surmise的现在分词 )；揣测；猜想

参考例句：

• Fanny's heart beat quick, and she felt quite unequal to surmising or soliciting any more. 范妮的心跳得快了起来，她不敢猜测她往下讲些什么，也不敢求她再往下讲。 来自辞典例句

13 insolence   

n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度

参考例句：

• I've had enough of your insolence, and I'm having no more. 我受够了你的侮辱，不能再容忍了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• How can you suffer such insolence? 你怎么能容忍这种蛮横的态度？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 aggravating   

adj.恼人的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• How aggravating to be interrupted! 被打扰，多令人生气呀！
• Diesel exhaust is particularly aggravating to many susceptible individuals. 许多体质敏感的人尤其反感柴油废气。

15 asperity   

n.粗鲁，艰苦

参考例句：

• He spoke to the boy with asperity.他严厉地对那男孩讲话。
• The asperity of the winter had everybody yearning for spring.严冬之苦让每个人都渴望春天。

16 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

17 doggedly   

adv.顽强地，固执地

参考例句：

• He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
• He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。

18 repents   

对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• God welcomes the sinner who repents. 上帝欢迎悔过的罪人。
• He repents him of the evil. 他对罪恶感到后悔。

19 implicit   

a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的

参考例句：

• A soldier must give implicit obedience to his officers. 士兵必须绝对服从他的长官。
• Her silence gave implicit consent. 她的沉默表示默许。

20 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。

21 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。

22 relinquish   

v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手

参考例句：

• He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
• They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。

23 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。

24 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

25 emphatic   

adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的

参考例句：

• Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决，不容有任何人怀疑。
• He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。

26 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

27 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

28 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

29 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。

30 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。