His step-mother felt relieved by his departure. It left her mistress of the situation, with no one to interfere1 with or question her authority. How Jasper fared she cared little, or not at all. How he was likely to get along without money she never inquired, nor did she feel a twinge of remorse2 for her treatment of one who had been her late husband's sole care and hope. It was enough for her that she had Nicholas with her. Stern as she generally was toward him, she was weakly indulgent. Whatever he wanted she gave him, if it were not utterly3 unreasonable4. She was afraid he would tire of the country and want to go away, and this led her to gratify him in his wishes, in order that she might retain him at her side.
Nicholas was not slow in finding out his power and in using it. He asked and obtained a horse for his own use, and later an elegant little carriage was ordered from the city, in which he used to drive around the neighborhood with the airs of a young prince. To others he might seem arrogant5 and conceited—to his mother he was only possessed6 of the proper spirit of a gentleman. In her eyes he was handsome, though in the eyes of no one else.
But perfect happiness is short-lived. In her new prosperity Mrs. Kent forgot that she had a brother who was not likely to reflect credit upon the family. She had not heard from him for years, and supposed he did not know where she was. But in this, as we know, she was mistaken.
One day Nicholas was standing7 on the lawn in front of the house, waiting for his carriage to be brought around from the stable, when his attention was drawn8 to a common-looking man who was standing by the fence and looking at him in what he considered an impudently9 familiar way.
Since Nicholas had become a young aristocrat10 he was easily made angry by such familiarity on the part of anyone of the lower orders, and he resented it at once.
"Why are you standing there, fellow?" he demanded, frowning.
The man neither seemed overawed nor angry. He only looked amused.
"Because I am tired of walking," he said.
"Then go somewhere else."
"Thank you, this suits me very well," said the man, smiling provokingly.
"Who are you?" inquired Dick, for it was he, with provoking nonchalance12.
"Who am I? I'll let you know!" retorted Nicholas, now very angry.
"I wish you would. That's what I just asked you."
"I'm the owner of this place, and I warn you off."
"Oh, you're the owner of this place!" said the stranger, laughing. "Do you own the road, too?"
"Yes," said Nicholas, "I own the road in front of my place."
Dick laughed again.
"You're a young man, ain't you, to be a landed proprietor13. How about your mother? Doesn't she own anything?"
"What do you know about my mother?" demanded Nicholas, a little nonplussed14.
"More than you think for, young man," said Dick. "She used to go to school with me."
"Did she? Well, I suppose she couldn't help it if there were low persons in the school with her."
"You look like it," said Nicholas, insolently16.
He expected the man would be angry, but instead he laughed more heartily than before.
Nicholas began to think he was crazy.
"Well, boy," he said, after a pause, "just remember that appearances are sometimes deceitful."
"I don't think they are so in this case," said Nicholas, "but I can't waste anymore time with you. There's my horse coming around. I'm going to ride."
"Is that your team? It's very neat, 'pon my word."
"That's nothing to you."
"Won't you give me a seat? I've never been in this town before, and I should like to take a drive."
"Look here, fellow, you've got cheek!" exclaimed Nicholas.
"Have I?"
"Do you think I would be seen in such low company?"
"Why not? I'm a gentleman. If you are a gentleman, then I am, too."
"What do you mean? What have I to do with you?"
"A good deal," said the stranger. "I am your uncle!"
"Not so fast, nephew Nicholas," said Dick. "You can't alter facts. I'm your mother's brother. Didn't she ever tell you of your Uncle Dick?"
Uncle Dick! Nicholas did remember that his mother had named such a person, and the uncomfortable apprehension19 dawned upon him that the stranger's claim was well founded, after all. He kept silent, but flared20 at the stranger in a state of mental disturbance21.
"I see you've heard of me," said Dick, with a short laugh. "Is your mother at home?"
"I've come a long way to see her. Will you go in and tell her I am here?"
Nicholas was not overwilling to obey the person whom he had just called low, but he felt considerable curiosity as to whether the man was really his uncle, and this decided23 him to comply with his request.
"I will speak to my mother," he said. "She will know whether you are what you claim to be."
"Yes, she will know. I don't believe she has forgotten brother Dick."
Nicholas sought and found his mother.
"What, Nicholas, back so soon?" she said, looking up from her sewing.
"No, mother, I haven't started yet. There's a person down stairs who says he is my Uncle Dick, and he wants to see you."
"Good heavens! is he here?" exclaimed Mrs. Kent, in a tone of vexation. "How in the world did he find me out?"
"Then it is he? He is a very common-looking person."
"He's kept low associates. Where is he?"
"Down on the lawn."
"Tell him to come in. I suppose I shall have to see him."
"It may not be your brother after all," said Nicholas.
"I am afraid it is. I can tell soon as I see him."
Nicholas went down stairs in no very pleasant mood.
"You're to come in," he said, ungraciously. "My mother will see you."
"I thought so," said Dick, smiling complacently24.
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收听单词发音
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1
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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3
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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7
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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impudently
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aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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13
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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14
nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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16
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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17
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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18
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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19
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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20
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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21
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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22
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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23
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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