CHAPTER XV. GOOD-BYE.

 "Without exception, Jasper," said Mr. Miller¹, on his return, "I consider your step-mother the most disagreeble woman I ever met."

 

Jasper could not help smiling at the look of disgust upon the features of his father's friend.

 

"Then, sir, I infer that you did not succeed in your mission," he said.

 

"Succeed? No. She will offer no terms except unconditional² submission³ on your part."

 

"That I won't agree to." said Jasper, promptly⁴.

 

"I don't blame you—not a particle," said Mr. Miller.

 

"So much is settled, then," said Jasper. "Now the question comes up—what am I to do?"

 

"How old are you?"

 

"Nearly sixteen."

 

"Then five years must elapse before you come into possession of your property?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"And for that length of time you are to be under the guardianship⁶ of Mrs. Kent?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"It is unfortunate," said the old gentleman, shrugging his shoulders. "I took the liberty to suggest to your step-mother that if the cares of a guardian⁵ should prove burdensome to her I would assume them."

 

"What did she say?"

 

"She replied in a sarcastic⁷ manner, and avowed⁸ her determination to remain your guardian."

 

"What would you advise me to do, then, Mr. Miller?"

 

"Before answering, Jasper, I will tell you a secret."

 

Jasper looked curious.

 

"Your father left in my hands a paper to be opened two years after his death. It undoubtedly⁹ relates to you."

 

"What do you think it is?"

 

"It may relate to the guardianship, but that is only conjecture¹⁰."

 

"Does my step-mother know of this?"

 

"Neither she nor anyone else, save you and myself."

 

"It will do us no good at present?"

 

"No; but it influences my advice. Go to school for the next two years. I will advance the money to pay your bills. If at the end of that time the paper is what I hope it is, you will then be able to pay me, and for the balance of your minority I can become your guardian."

 

"I wish you might, Mr. Miller; but I don't think, under the circumstances, I want to go back to school."

 

"What do you wish to do, Jasper?"

 

"I am young, and I would like to see something of the world. I would like to imagine myself a poor boy, as I really am just now, and see if I cannot make my own way."

 

"I hardly know what to say to that, Jasper. I am afraid you do not appreciate the difficulties in your way."

 

"To battle against them will make me strong."

 

"Suppose you get in a tight place?"

 

"Then I will write to you for help."

 

"That's better. On this condition I will make no further opposition¹¹ to your wishes. But have you any money?"

 

"Ten dollars."

 

"Rather a small sum to begin the world with."

 

"Yes, sir. If you are willing to lend me fifty more I think I can get along till I can earn some."

 

"Willingly. Where do you propose to go?"

 

"To the West. My father has a cousin, a lady, married, and living in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi. I have never been to the West. I should like to go out there and see if I can't find some employment in that neighborhood."

 

"I suppose I must not object, but your plan appears to me rather quixotic."

 

"You might not have thought so at my age, Mr. Miller."

 

"No; we look upon such things differently as we grow older. When do you want to start?"

 

"To-morrow."

 

"Stay at my house till then."

 

"Thank you, sir. I will go home this afternoon and get my carpet-bag and a few underclothes, and then I shall be ready to start to-morrow morning."

 

Jasper did as proposed. He would gladly have dispensed¹² with this call at the house which had once been a home to him, but was so no longer; but it was necessary to make it.

 

He caught sight of Tom Forbes near the house.

 

"Tom," he called out, "do you know if Mrs. Kent is at home?"

 

"No, Master Jasper, she went out riding, and her cub¹³ went with her."

 

"I am afraid you're not respectful, Tom," said Jasper, laughing.

 

"He don't deserve respect. He puts on as many airs as a prince. I warrant he was poor enough before his mother took him home. What do you think he said to me?"

 

"What was it?"

 

"'Look here, Tom, you harness the horse right up, do you hear? Don't stand dawdling¹⁴ there, for I and mother are going out to ride.'"

 

"That sounds like Nicholas."

 

"You may be sure he ain't used to prosperity, or he wouldn't put on so many airs!"

 

"Well, Tom, I'm glad Mrs. Kent is out. I don't want to meet her, nor Nicholas, either."

 

"You'll see 'em at supper, won't you?"

 

"No; I shall not be here to supper."

 

"When are you coming back?"

 

"Not at all."

 

"You don't mean that, Master Jasper?"

 

"Yes, I do."

 

"Are you going to school?"

 

"No; I'm going out West."

 

"Out West?" exclaimed Tom Forbes, stopping work in surprise.

 

"Yes, Tom, I'm going out there to seek my fortune."

 

"But there ain't any need of that, Master Jasper. Didn't your father leave you a fortune?"

 

"I'm not to have it till I'm twenty-one, and till then my step-mother is my guardian. Now, I put it to you, Tom, can I stay at home to be treated as you saw me treated this morning?"

 

"No, you can't, that's a fact. Master Jasper, I wish you'd take me with you as your servant."

 

"As to that, Tom, I am in no position to have a servant; I've got to work for my own living."

 

"And she here living on the fat of the land!" exclaimed Tom, indignantly. "It's an outrageous¹⁶ shame!"

 

"Strong language, Tom," said Jasper, smiling. "Mind my amiable¹⁷ step-mother doesn't hear you."

 

"I don't care if she does."

 

"Thank you for your offer, Tom, but I must go alone. Perhaps I shall prosper¹⁵ out there. I hope so, at any rate."

 

"Have you got any money, Master Jasper? I've got a few dollars laid by. If they'll do you any good you're welcome to take 'em. I shan't need 'em."

 

"Thank you, Tom," said Jasper, cordially grasping his toil-embrowned hand, "but I am well provided for. Mr. Miller, my father's friend, is mine, too. He has lent me some money, and will lend me more if I need it."

 

"I'm glad of that. You'll always find friends."

 

Half an hour later, as Jasper was going up the street, with his carpet-bag in one hand, he saw the open carriage approaching in which Mrs. Kent and Nicholas were seated. He would liked to have escaped observation, but there was no chance.

 

"Why, there's Jasper!" said Nicholas, "and he's got a carpet-bag in his hand."

 

"Stop the carriage!" said Mrs. Kent, peremptorily¹⁸.

 

Nicholas, who was driving, obeyed.

 

"Have you been to the house?" asked the step-mother.

 

"Yes," said Jasper.

 

"What does that carpet-bag mean?"

 

"It means that I am going away."

 

"Where? As your guardian, I demand to know!"

 

"As my guardian, will you provide for my expenses?"

 

"No."

 

"Then I don't feel called upon to tell you."

 

"You will repent¹⁹ this insubordination," said Mrs. Kent, angrily. "You will yet return home in rags."

 

"Never!" answered Jasper, with emphasis. "Good-afternoon, Mrs. Kent."

 

"Drive on, Nicholas!" said Mrs. Kent, angrily. "How I hate that boy!" she ejaculated.

 

"It strikes me, mother, you've got the best of it," said Nicholas. "You've got his property, and as to his company, we can do without that."

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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。

7 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

8 avowed   

adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• An aide avowed that the President had known nothing of the deals. 一位助理声明，总统对这些交易一无所知。
• The party's avowed aim was to struggle against capitalist exploitation. 该党公开宣称的宗旨是与资本主义剥削斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

10 conjecture   

n./v.推测，猜测

参考例句：

• She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
• This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

11 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。

12 dispensed   

v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. 这些条件缺一不可。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage. 他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

13 cub   

n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人

参考例句：

• The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
• The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。

14 dawdling   

adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Stop dawdling! We're going to be late! 别磨蹭了，咱们快迟到了！
• It was all because of your dawdling that we were late. 都是你老磨蹭，害得我们迟到了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

16 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。

17 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

18 peremptorily   

adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地

参考例句：

• She peremptorily rejected the request. 她断然拒绝了请求。
• Their propaganda was peremptorily switched to an anti-Western line. 他们的宣传断然地转而持反对西方的路线。 来自辞典例句

19 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。