"Good dog!" he exclaimed, patting Pompey's head. "Say no more about it, Frank," he said, in his usual soft voice; "it was only an accident. I foresee that Pompey and I will be excellent friends in future."
"I hope your coat isn't much torn, sir."
"It can easily be repaired. It isn't worth mentioning. Is your mother at home."
"Yes, sir. Walk in."
[41]
"He behaves very well about it," thought Frank. "He may be a better man than I thought. I wish I could like him, as he is to be my step-father; but I think there are some persons it is impossible to like."
So the time passed, and the wedding-day drew near. Frank did not consider it honorable to make any further objection to the marriage, though he often sighed as he thought of the stranger who was about to be introduced into their small circle.
"Mother will seem different to me when she is that man's wife," he said to himself. "I shall love her as much, but she won't seem to belong to me as much as she did."
In due time the wedding was celebrated3. Mrs. Hunter wished it to be quiet, and Mr. Craven interposed no objection. Quiet or not, he felt that the substantial advantages of the union would be his all the same. Mrs. Hunter looked a little nervous during the ceremony, but Mr. Craven was smiling and suave4 as ever. When he kissed his wife, saluting5 her as Mrs. Craven, she shuddered6 a little, and with difficulty restrained her tears, for it reminded her of her first marriage, so different from [42] this, in which she wedded7 a man to whom she was devoted8 in heart and soul.
The ceremony took place at eleven o'clock, and the newly-wedded pair started on a tour as previously9 arranged. So for two weeks Frank and Katy O'Grady were left alone in the house. Katy was a privileged character, having been in the family ever since Frank was a baby, and she had no hesitation10 in declaring her opinion of Mr. Craven.
"I don't like him myself," said Frank; "but we must remember that he's my mother's husband now, and make the best of him."
"There you go again, Katy!"
"I can't help it, shure. It vexes14 me intirely that my dear mistress should throw herself away on such a man."
[43]
"What can't be cured must be endured, you know. You mustn't talk that way after Mr. Craven comes back."
"And what for will I not. Do you think I'm afraid of him?" asked Katy, defiantly15. "If he is a man, I could bate16 him in a square fight."
"I don't know but you could, Katy," said Frank, glancing at the muscular arms and powerful frame of the handmaiden; "but I really hope you won't get into a fight," he added, smiling. "It wouldn't look well, you know."
"Then he'd better not interfare wid me," said Katy, shaking her head.
"You must remember that he will be master of the house, Katy."
"I don't suppose you'll have much to do with him," said Frank.
He sympathized with Katy more than he was willing to acknowledge, and wondered how far Mr. Craven would see fit to exercise the authority [44] of a step-father. He meant to treat him with the respect due to his mother's husband, but to regard him as a father was very repugnant to him. But he must be guided by circumstances, and he earnestly hoped that he would be able to live peacefully and harmoniously18 with Mr. Craven.
Days passed, and at length Frank received a dispatch, announcing the return home.
"They will be home to-night, Katy," he said.
"I'll be glad to see your mother, shure," said Katy, "but I wish that man wasn't comin' wid her."
"But we know he is, and we must treat him with respect."
"I don't feel no respect for him."
"You must not show your feelings, then, for my mother's sake."
At five o'clock the stage deposited Mr. and Mrs. Craven at the gate.
Frank ran to his mother, and was folded in her embrace. Then he turned to Mr. Craven, who was standing19 by, with his usual smile, showing his white teeth.
[45]
"I hope you have had a pleasant journey, sir," he said.
"Thank you, Frank, it has been very pleasant, but we are glad to get home, are we not, my dear?"
"I am very glad," said Mrs. Craven, thankfully, and she spoke20 the truth; for though Mr. Craven had been all attention (he had not yet thought it prudent21 to show himself in his true colors), there being no tie of affection between them, she had grown inexpressibly weary of the soft voice and artificial smile of her new husband, and had yearned22 for the companionship of Frank, and even her faithful handmaiden, Katy O'Grady, who was standing on the lawn to welcome her, and only waiting till Frank had finished his welcome.
"How do you do, Katy," said her mistress.
"I'm well, mum, thankin' you for askin', and I'm mighty glad to see you back."
"I hope you are glad to see me also, Katy," said Mr. Craven, but his soft voice and insinuating23 smile didn't melt the hostility24 of Miss O'Grady.
[46]
"I'm glad you've brought the mistress home safe," she said, with a low bow; "we've missed her from morning till night, sure; haven't we, Master Frank?"
"I see she isn't my friend," thought Mr. Craven. "She'd better change her tune25, or she won't stay long in my house."
He had already begun to think of himself as the sole proprietor26 of the establishment, and his wife as an unimportant appendage27.
"I hope you have some supper for us, Katy," said he, not choosing at present to betray his feelings, "for I am quite sure Mrs. Craven and myself have a good appetite."
"Mrs. Craven!" repeated Katy, in pretended ignorance. "Oh, you mean the mistress, sure."
"Of course I do," said Mr. Craven, with a frown, for once betraying himself.
"Supper is all ready, ma'am," said Katy, turning to Mrs. Craven. "It'll be ready as soon as you've took off your things."
When they sat down to the table, Frank made a little mistake. He had always been accustomed to sit at the head of the table, opposite his [47] mother, and on the frequent occasions of Mr. Craven's taking a meal there during the engagement, the latter had taken the visitor's place at the side.
So to-night, without thinking of the latter's new relations to him, Frank took his old place. Mr. Craven noticed it, and soft and compliant28 as he was, he determined29 to assert his position at once. "I believe that is my place," he said, with an unpleasant smile.
"Oh, I beg pardon," said Frank, his face flushing.
"You forgot, I suppose," said Mr. Craven, still smiling.
"Yes, sir."
"You'll soon get used to the change," said his step-father, as he seated himself in the chair Frank had relinquished30.
Mrs. Craven looked a little uncomfortable. She began to realize that she had introduced a stranger into the family, and that this would interfere31 to a considerable extent with their old pleasant way of living.
No one seemed inclined to talk except Mr. Craven. He seemed disposed to be sociable32, and passed from one subject to another, regardless of the [48] brief answers he received.
"Well, Frank, and how have you got along since we were away?" he asked.
"Very well, sir."
"And you haven't missed us then?"
"I have missed my mother, and should have missed you," he added politely, "if you had been accustomed to live here."
"And how is Pompey?" asked Mr. Craven, again showing his teeth.
"The same as usual. I wonder he was not out on the lawn to receive you and my mother."
"I hope he wouldn't receive me in the same way as he did once," said Mr. Craven, again displaying his teeth.
"No danger, sir. He didn't know you then."
"That's true, but I will take care that he knows me now," said Mr. Craven, softly.
"I think he will remember you, sir; he is a good dog, and very peaceable unless he thinks there are improper33 persons about."
"I hope he didn't think me an improper person," said Mr. Craven.
[49]
"No fear, sir."
Frank wondered why Mr. Craven should devote so much time to Pompey, but he was destined34 to be enlightened very soon.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
contrite
|
|
| adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
suave
|
|
| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
saluting
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
shuddered
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
wedded
|
|
| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
vexes
|
|
| v.使烦恼( vex的第三人称单数 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
defiantly
|
|
| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
bate
|
|
| v.压制；减弱；n.（制革用的）软化剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
harmoniously
|
|
| 和谐地，调和地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
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： |
|
|
|
|
21
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
yearned
|
|
| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
insinuating
|
|
| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hostility
|
|
| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
proprietor
|
|
| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
appendage
|
|
| n.附加物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
compliant
|
|
| adj.服从的，顺从的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
relinquished
|
|
| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
sociable
|
|
| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
improper
|
|
| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |