CHAPTER XIX. A BRUTE IN HUMAN SHAPE.

 Jasper could not help feeling that he was in rather a critical position. A man whose business it was to kidnap young children in order to extort¹ money from their friends was not likely to be very scrupulous², and the fear of having his secret divulged³ might lead him to extreme measures.

 

"Is your husband likely to come up here?" he asked.

 

"I don't know; he may," answered the woman, anxiously.

 

"Can't you hide me?" suggested Jasper.

 

"Yes, yes," she said, recovering something of her presence of mind. "There, get into that closet. I'll come and let you out when he is gone."

 

She opened the door of a closet in one corner of the room. It was quite dark inside, and except a stool, it was entirely⁴ empty.

 

"Sit down there," said the woman. "I must go down now."

 

She buttoned the door, and our hero found himself a close prisoner in the dark. It certainly gave him a peculiar⁵ sensation. Only a week before he had been at his Eastern home. Now he was more than a thousand miles away, penniless, and a prisoner. But though he was peculiarly situated⁶, he was not discouraged. In fact, with a brave boy's love of adventure, he felt a certain exhilaration and wondered what was coming next. His courage and enterprise rose with the occasion, and he began to consider what course he should take after he got out.

 

While he is sitting in the closet in dark captivity⁷, we will go below and make acquaintance with the man whose arrival had produced so great a sensation.

 

Before going down, the woman said to the child:

 

"Don't tell anybody about the boy in the closet."

 

"No, I won't," said the child, obediently.

 

The woman hurried down stairs, but her husband was already waiting for her.

 

He was a black-browed ruffian, with a rough beard of a week's growth. He threw himself sullenly⁸ into a chair and growled⁹:

 

"Where were you? You're always out of the way when I come home."

 

"I just went up stairs a minute, Dick," she answered.

 

"To see the brat¹⁰, I suppose."

 

"Yes."

 

"I've a great mind to knock him on the head."

 

"Oh, Dick, you wouldn't injure the little innocent," she said, earnestly.

 

"Wouldn't I? I would if I was paid enough, but there's nothing to be made by killing¹¹ him."

 

"Thank heaven!" uttered the woman, fervently¹².

 

"You haven't got the heart of a chicken!" said the man, contemptuously. "Give me something to eat. I'm hungry."

 

The woman began to bustle¹³ around in obedience¹⁴ to his command.

 

"I haven't got much in the house, Dick," she said, apologetically.

 

"What have you got?" he growled.

 

"Some eggs and a little bacon. Shall I make you some tea?"

 

"No; bring out the whisky."

 

"There's none left, Dick."

 

The man uttered an oath expressive¹⁵ of disappointment.

 

"Well, give me some slops, then," he said. "I must have something to drink."

 

"Didn't you shoot anything?" she ventured to ask.

 

"I haven't been hunting."

 

"I thought you took out your gun."

 

"What if I did? I don't always hunt when I take my gun. I expected to hear from the friends of that brat this morning, but I didn't. They must hurry up with their money if they don't want me to strangle him."

 

"Perhaps they didn't get your letter, Dick."

 

"Yes, they did. I took care of that. I s'pose they're hatching up some plot to have me arrested. If they do, it'll be a bad day for the brat."

 

He looked fierce and brutal¹⁶ enough to execute the dark threat at which he indirectly¹⁷ hinted. There was a cruel look in his eye which showed that he would have had small scruples¹⁸ about injuring an innocent child, if provoked by the desire for revenge.

 

While his wife was cooking the eggs he filled his pipe and began to smoke. She made all the haste she could, knowing that her husband was far from patient. Soon the frugal¹⁹ repast was ready. She set it on the table, and said:

 

"It's all ready, Dick. Better eat it while it's hot."

 

"I'll eat it when I choose," he growled, in his usual spirit of contradiction.

 

However, he was hungry, and laying aside his pipe, did as she requested. Soon he had dispatched all the food set before him.

 

"There isn't enough to keep a kitten from starving," he said.

 

"I'm sorry, Dick."

 

"Much you are sorry," he growled. "A pretty wife you are."

 

"I wish there were more. If you'll give me some money I'll go out and buy something."

 

"Money!" he snarled²⁰. "You're always wanting money. Do you think I am made of money?"

 

"No, Dick; but you know I have none. I wish I knew of any way to earn it."

 

"You do?"

 

"Yes, Dick."

 

"Then I suppose you'd be leaving me," he said, suspiciously.

 

"No, I wouldn't. You know I wouldn't, Dick."

 

"So you say," he answered, brutally²¹, "How's the brat? Has it been crying?"

 

"No; it is a very good child."

 

"I'll go up and take a look at it."

 

He arose from his seat, and advanced toward the door.

 

His wife followed him.

 

"Where are you going?" he asked, turning upon her.

 

"I'm going up, too," she answered, meekly²².

 

"What for? Can't you trust me with the brat?"

 

"Yes, Dick, but it isn't much used to you. You might frighten it, and make it cry."

 

"That's all right," he answered, smiling grimly. "I like to hear children cry."

 

"How can you enjoy the sufferings of a child?"

 

"Halloo! What's that?" he said, looking sharply at her. "You dare to find fault with me, do you?"

 

"I didn't mean that, Dick," she said, submissively.

 

"It's lucky you didn't," he said, warningly. "I don't allow none of that, wife or no wife."

 

"May I go up?"

 

"If you want to."

 

So the two went up stairs together.

 

The wife was nervous lest the child in some way might excite the suspicions of her husband and betray the presence of Jasper. She felt, therefore, very ill at ease.

 

The child was sitting up in bed.

 

"Halloo, young 'un, how yer gettin' along?" asked the man, roughly.

 

The child did not answer, but looked frightened.

 

"Why don't you answer?" demanded the man, frowning.

 

The child looked toward the woman, and seemed on the point of crying.

 

"Can't you say something to the gentleman?" said the woman, soothingly²³.

 

Thus adjured²⁴, the little boy said:

 

"Won't you take me to my mamma?"

 

"Oh, yes, I'll take you as soon as your mamma sends me some money," said the man named Dick, "and she'd better do it pretty soon, too," he muttered.

 

He threw himself into a chair, and ceased to notice the child.

 

"Do you know, old woman," he said in a different tone, "I've heard news that'll rather take you by suprise?"

 

"I hope it is good news," said his wife, anxiously.

 

"Well, that's as may be," he answered. "It ought to be good news for us, but there's no saying. You know my sister?"

 

"Mrs. Thorne?"

 

"Yes. Well, she's had a stroke of luck."

 

"How was that?"

 

"Well, you see she went as governess into a family. The man was rich and an invalid—a widower²⁵, too. What does she do but get him to marry her?"

 

"She has been fortunate."

 

"That isn't all of it. She hadn't been married but two or three months when her husband died, leaving her a third of his property and guardian²⁶ to his son, who inherits the rest. So she's a rich woman. I say she ought to do something for her brother Dick. Don't you say so?"

 

"I think she would be willing," said the wife.

 

"She ought to be, but she's selfish. She always was. If only I had the money I'd go East, and see what I could get out of her."

 

"You'd take me with you, Dick?"

 

"No, I wouldn't. It'll be all I can do to raise money enough to pay my own expenses, let alone yours. If I get anything I'll come back, and you'll get your share. That's why I want the parents of that brat to fork over the cash pretty quick."

 

"How did you learn the news about your sister, Dick?"

 

"An old pal²⁷ of mine has just come from that way and told me all about it."

 

Every word of this dialogue was beard by Jasper in his place of concealment²⁸. He was astonished beyond measure to learn that this ruffian was the brother of his step-mother.

 

"No wonder I don't like her," he thought, "if they have any traits in common. What a fate, for my kind and gentle father to marry the sister of such a man!"

 

"I'm glad of it," said his wife.

 

"Well, so am I, if she'll do the right thing by me; but if she don't, then I'm sorry."

 

"What shall I do when you're away, Dick?"

 

"Get along as well as you can. Folks'll give you victuals²⁹, if you get hard up."

 

"I don't like to beg."

 

"Wish me good luck, then, and money enough to take care of you. What are you starin' at, young 'un?"

 

This he said to the child, whose eyes, as if by a species of fascination³⁰, were fixed³¹ upon him.

 

"Take me home to mamma!" pleaded the child, beginning to cry.

 

"Shut up!" said the ruffian, harshly, striding to the bed and pinching the boy's arm till he cried with the pain.

 

"Oh, don't, Dick," pleaded the woman, who was fond of children, though she had never been a mother.

 

"I'll give the brat something to cry for," said her husband, and he pinched him again.

 

"Oh, Dick, how can you torture the poor child?" said his wife, braver in the little boy's defence than in her own.

 

"What business has it to cry, then? I'd like to choke it. If you don't hush³² I'll serve you the same way."

 

Jasper had listened to this brutality³³ as long as he could, but his indignation became too hot to be repressed. Thoughtless of consequences, he burst open the closet door and strode into the presence of the astonished ruffian, his fists involuntarily clenched³⁴, and his eyes kindling³⁵ with indignation.

 

1 extort   

v.勒索，敲诈，强要

参考例句：

• The blackmailer tried to extort a large sum of money from him.勒索者企图向他勒索一大笔钱。
• They absolutely must not harm the people or extort money from them.严格禁止坑害勒索群众。

2 scrupulous   

adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的

参考例句：

• She is scrupulous to a degree.她非常谨慎。
• Poets are not so scrupulous as you are.诗人并不像你那样顾虑多。

3 divulged   

v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He divulged nothing to him save the terrible handicap of being young. 他想不出个所以然来，只是想到自己年纪尚幼，极端不利。 来自辞典例句
• The spy divulged the secret plans to the enemy. 那名间谍把秘密计划泄漏给敌人。 来自辞典例句

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

6 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

7 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

8 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

9 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 brat   

n.孩子；顽童

参考例句：

• He's a spoilt brat.他是一个被宠坏了的调皮孩子。
• The brat sicked his dog on the passer-by.那个顽童纵狗去咬过路人。

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

12 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

13 bustle   

v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

14 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。

15 expressive   

adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的

参考例句：

• Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
• He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。

16 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。

17 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

18 scruples   

n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。
• I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调

19 frugal   

adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的

参考例句：

• He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人，但生活俭朴。
• The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。

20 snarled   

v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说

参考例句：

• The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
• As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时，它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。

22 meekly   

adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地

参考例句：

• He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时，他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 soothingly   

adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地

参考例句：

• The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 adjured   

v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求

参考例句：

• He adjured them to tell the truth. 他要求他们讲真话。
• The guides now adjured us to keep the strictest silence. 这时向导恳求我们保持绝对寂静。 来自辞典例句

25 widower   

n.鳏夫

参考例句：

• George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。
• Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后，他终于决定二婚了。

26 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。

27 pal   

n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友

参考例句：

• He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
• Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着，小子，我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。

28 concealment   

n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒

参考例句：

• the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒
• Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来，待危险过去后再出来。

29 victuals   

n.食物；食品

参考例句：

• A plateful of coarse broken victuals was set before him.一盘粗劣的剩余饭食放到了他的面前。
• There are no more victuals for the pig.猪没有吃的啦。

30 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

31 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

32 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

33 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

34 clenched   

v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
• She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上，以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

35 kindling   

n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• There were neat piles of kindling wood against the wall. 墙边整齐地放着几堆引火柴。
• "Coal and kindling all in the shed in the backyard." “煤，劈柴，都在后院小屋里。” 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子