CHAPTER 16. MR. BRANDON'S FRIEND.

 It was clear that Grit¹'s new passenger was a stranger in the neighborhood. Had he been[Pg 111] a resident of Chester or Portville, the young boatman would have known him. It must be confessed, however, that the appearance of the newcomer was not such as to render any one anxious to make his acquaintance. He was a black-haired, low-browed man, with a cunning, crafty² look, and, to sum up, with the general appearance of a tramp.

 

He seated himself comfortably, and scanned the young boatman critically.

 

"Where do you live?" he asked abruptly³.

 

"In Chester," answered Grit briefly⁴.

 

"That's where my friend Brandon lives, isn't it?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Do you know him?"

 

"Yes."

 

Grit felt reluctant to admit that any tie existed between himself and the returned convict.

 

"Brandon's wife is living, isn't she?"

 

"Yes."

 

"There's a kid, isn't there?"

 

"Mrs. Brandon has a son, if that's what you mean," said Grit.

 

"Of course, that's what I mean. Mrs. Brandon got any property?"

 

Grit was getting provoked. He did not[Pg 112] fancy discussing his mother's affairs with a man of this stamp.

 

"You seem to feel considerable interest in the family," he could not help saying.

 

"S'pose I do! That's my business, isn't it?"

 

"I suppose so," answered Grit.

 

"Well, why don't you answer my question?" demanded the passenger impatiently.

 

"I haven't agreed to answer your questions; I have engaged to row you across the river, and I am doing it."

 

"Look here, boy!" said the passenger, bending his brows, "I don't want you to talk back to me—do you hear?"

 

"Yes, I hear; but if you ask me questions I shall answer as I please."

 

"You will, hey? I've a great mind to throw you into the river."

 

"That wouldn't do you any good. You wouldn't get over any quicker, and, besides, you would find yourself under arrest before night."

 

"And you would drown."

 

"Not if I could help it. I can swim across the river easily."

 

"You're a cool hand. Then you are not willing to answer my questions?"

 

"I will, if you will answer mine."

 

[Pg 113]

 

"Go ahead. I'll see about it."

 

"Where did you meet Mr. Brandon?"

 

"Where? Well, let that pass."

 

It so happened that the two had first met as fellow prisoners—a confession⁵ the passenger did not care to make. Grit inferred this from the reluctance⁶ displayed in giving the answer.

 

"What is your name?"

 

"Thomas Travers," answered the passenger, rather slowly. "What is yours?"

 

"Harry⁷ Morris."

 

This answer revealed nothing, since Travers did not know the name of Brandon's wife before marriage.

 

"Do you make much, ferrying passengers across the river?"

 

"I do pretty well."

 

"What is your fare?"

 

"Ten cents."

 

"Pretty good. I'd do it for that myself."

 

"There's a chance to run opposition⁸ to me," said Grit, smiling.

 

"I've got more important business on hand. So you know Brandon, do you?"

 

"Yes, I know him."

 

"Do you know his wife?"

 

"Yes."

 

[Pg 114]

 

"Has she property?"

 

"She owns the small cottage she lives in."

 

"Good!" said Travers, nodding. "That's luck for Brandon."

 

"How is it?" asked Grit, desirous of drawing out Travers, as he probably knew Mr. Brandon's intentions, and it was important that these should be understood.

 

"It's a good thing to have property in the family. My friend Brandon is short of funds, and he can sell the house, or raise money on it."

 

"Without his wife's consent?"

 

"Oh, she'll have to give in," said Travers nonchalantly.

 

"We'll see about that," said Grit to himself, but he did not utter his thoughts aloud.

 

By this time they had reached the opposite shore of the river, and Travers stepped out of the boat.

 

He felt in his vest pocket, as a matter of form, but did not succeed in finding anything there.

 

"I've got no change, boy," he said. "I'll get some from Brandon, and pay you to-morrow."

 

"Mr. Brandon's credit isn't good with me," said Grit.

 

[Pg 115]

 

"Ha, does he owe you money?"

 

"I refused to take him across the river this morning," answered Grit.

 

"Look here, young fellow, that isn't the way to carry on business. When you insult my friend Brandon, you insult me. I've a great mind never to ride across on your boat again."

 

"I don't mind losing your patronage," repeated Grit. "It doesn't pay."

 

"We'll discuss that another time. Where does my friend Brandon live?"

 

"You can inquire," returned Grit, by no means anxious to point out the way to his mother's house to this objectionable stranger.

 

"You're the most impudent⁹ boy I've met lately," said Travers angrily. "I'll settle you yet."

 

"Better settle with me first, Mr. Travers," said Grit coolly, and he pushed his boat back into the stream.

 

"I wonder who he is," thought Travers, as he walked away from the boat landing. "I must ask Brandon. I wish I could meet him. I'm precious short of funds, and I depend on him to take care of me for a few days."

 

Thomas Travers passed by the little cottage on the bluff¹⁰, quite unaware¹¹ that it was the house he was in search of. He kept on his[Pg 116] way toward the village, not meeting any one of whom he could ask the proper direction.

 

At length, greatly to his relief, he espied¹² in the distance the familiar figure of Brandon, walking, or, more properly, reeling, toward him.

 

"That's he—that's my friend Brandon!" he exclaimed joyfully¹³. "Now I'm all right. Say, old fellow, how are you?"

 

"Is it you, Travers?" said Brandon, trying to steady himself.

 

"Yes, it's I—Tom Travers."

 

"When did you get out?"

 

"Sh! Don't speak too loud!" said Travers, looking about him cautiously. "I got out two days after you."

 

"What are you doing here?"

 

"Just come. Come to see you, old boy. I can stay with you, can't I?"

 

Brandon looked dubious¹⁴.

 

"I don't know what Mrs. B. will say," he answered slowly.

 

"You're boss in your own house, ain't you?"

 

"Well, that's where it is! It isn't my own house. It belongs to Mrs. B."

 

"Same thing, I take it."

 

"No, it isn't. The old lady's bound to keep it in her own hands."

 

[Pg 117]

 

"Can't you sell or mortgage it?"

 

"She won't let me."

 

"Bah! Can't you control a woman?" returned Travers disdainfully.

 

"I might, but for the cub¹⁵."

 

"The boy?"

 

"Yes. He's the most obstinate¹⁶, perverse¹⁷, independent young kid you ever saw."

 

"You don't say so!"

 

"Fact! It's pretty hard on me."

 

"Then he'll make a pretty good match for the boy I met this morning."

 

"Where?"

 

"The boy that ferried me across the river. He's as sassy a young kid as I ever saw."

 

"Why, that's him—that's Grit."

 

"Grit! He told me his name was Harry Morris."

 

"So it is, and his mother was Mrs. Morris before I married her."

 

"You don't mean to say that boy is your stepson?"

 

"Yes, he is."

 

"Whew!" whistled Travers. "Well, he doesn't seem to admire you very much," continued the visitor.

 

"No, doesn't treat me with any respect. If it wasn't for him, I could manage his mother.[Pg 118] He sets her against me, and gets her to stand out against anything I propose. It's hard, Travers," continued Brandon, showing an inclination¹⁸ to indulge in maudlin¹⁹ tears.

 

"Then why do you submit to it, Brandon? Ain't you a match for a boy like that? Why, you ain't half the man I thought you was."

 

"Ain't I? I was too much for Grit this morning, anyway," said Brandon, with a cunning smile.

 

"What did you do?"

 

"I sold his boat before he was up, and he had to borrow another."

 

"Good!" exclaimed Travers, delighted. "You're a trump²⁰. Have you got any of the money left?"

 

"A little."

 

"Then steer²¹ for the tavern²², old fellow. I'm awfully²³ thirsty."

 

The next hour was spent in the barroom, and then the worthy²⁴ and well-matched pair bent²⁵ their steps toward the little cottage, Travers supporting his friend Brandon as well as he could.

1 grit   

n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
• I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。

2 crafty   

adj.狡猾的，诡诈的

参考例句：

• He admired the old man for his crafty plan.他敬佩老者的神机妙算。
• He was an accomplished politician and a crafty autocrat.他是个有造诣的政治家，也是个狡黠的独裁者。

3 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

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 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

6 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

7 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

8 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。

9 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

10 bluff   

v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗

参考例句：

• His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
• John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。

11 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

12 espied   

v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日，她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了，她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子，现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句

13 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

14 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

15 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。

16 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。

17 perverse   

adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的

参考例句：

• It would be perverse to stop this healthy trend.阻止这种健康发展的趋势是没有道理的。
• She gets a perverse satisfaction from making other people embarrassed.她有一种不正常的心态，以使别人难堪来取乐。

18 inclination   

n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好

参考例句：

• She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
• I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。

19 maudlin   

adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的

参考例句：

• He always becomes maudlin after he's had a few drinks.他喝了几杯酒后总是变得多愁善感。
• She continued in the same rather maudlin tone.她继续用那种颇带几分伤感的语调说话。

20 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

21 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

22 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。

23 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

24 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

25 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。