"Where's the boy?"
"Out with the boat, I expect," said Brandon.
"He's a little ruffian. I never saw such a desperate boy of his age."
"He managed you neatly," said Brandon, with a smile.
"He didn't want to harm you," said Brandon, with an exasperating3 smile.
"I could wind him round my finger," said Travers disdainfully. "You don't think I'm afraid of that half-grown cub4, I hope."
"As to winding7 me round his finger," thought the young boatman, "I may have something to say about that."
[Pg 152]
Brandon did not continue his raillery, not wishing to provoke the friend who had secured him participation8 in so profitable a job.
"Where's the old lady?" asked Travers, with a glance toward the staircase.
"I believe she's gone out, but I'll see."
Brandon went to the foot of the stairs, and called:
"Mrs. B.!"
There was no response.
"Yes, she's gone, and the coast is clear. Where are you staying, Travers?"
"I s'pose I'll have to stay at the hotel, unless you can provide for me here."
"You'd better go to the tavern9, for there might be trouble about keepin' you here. Mrs. B. and the boy don't like you."
"So I am," answered Brandon, a little embarrassed, "but I don't want to be in hot water all the time."
"You don't want me to stay to supper, I reckon."
"Well, I guess not to-night. Fact is, I don't know when we shall have supper. Mrs. B. ought to be here gettin' it ready."
"Come out and have a walk, Brandon. I[Pg 153] will introduce you to Colonel Johnson, and we can talk this thing over."
"All right. That'll take up the time till supper."
The two men walked over to the tavern, and Colonel Johnson walked out with them. They had a conference together, but it is not necessary to give the details here.
A little after six o'clock Brandon directed his steps homeward.
"I'll be a little late to supper," he said to himself, "but Mrs. B. will save some for me. I feel confoundedly hungry. Must be in the air. There's nothing like country air to give a man a good appetite."
Brandon opened the door of the cottage, and went in. All was quiet and solitary11, as he had left it.
"Well. I'll be blowed!" he ejaculated. "What does all this mean? Where's Mrs. B., and where's supper?"
He sat down, and looked about him in surprise and bewilderment.
"What has become of Mrs. B.?" he thought. "She hasn't gone and left me, just when I've come home after an absence of five years? That boy can't have carried her off, can he?"
[Pg 154]
Brandon did not have long to debate this question in his own mind, for the door opened, and Grit and his mother entered. Brandon was relieved, but he could not forbear expressing his vexation.
"Well, Mrs. B.," he said, "this I call pretty goings on. Are you aware that it is nearly seven o'clock, ma'am?"
"I supposed it was," answered his wife quietly.
"And you've left me to starve here, ma'am! This is a strange time for supper."
"We've had supper," answered Grit coolly.
"Had supper!" ejaculated Brandon, looking about him. "I don't see any signs of supper."
"You won't see any signs of it here," continued Grit.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that mother and I have engaged board at Mrs. Sprague's. We have just had supper there."
"You have! Well, that's a new start. It doesn't matter much, though. I'll go over and get mine."
"We haven't made any arrangements for you," said Grit. "I shall pay for mother's board and mine. You can make any bargain you like for your board."
[Pg 155]
"Well, if that isn't the meanest treatment I ever received!" exclaimed Brandon, in wrath12 and disgust. "You actually begrudge13 me the little I eat, and turn me adrift in the cold world!"
"That's one way of looking at it, Mr. Brandon," said Grit. "Here's the other: You are a strong man, in good health, and able to work. Most men in your position expect to support a family, but you come to live upon my earnings14, and expect me not only to provide you with board, but with money for the purpose of drink. That isn't all! You bring home one of your disreputable companions, and expect us to provide for him, too. Now, I am willing to work for mother, and consider it a privilege to do so, but I can't do any more. If you don't choose to contribute to the support of the family, you must at least take care of yourself. I am not going to do it."
"How hard and unfeeling you are, Grit!" said Brandon, in the tone of a martyr15. "After all I have suffered in the last five years you treat me like this."
"As to the last five years, Mr. Brandon," said Grit, "I should think you would hardly care to refer to them. It was certainly your own fault that you were not as free as I am."
[Pg 156]
"We won't discuss that," said Grit. "You had a fair trial, and were sentenced to five years' imprisonment17. About the unkindness. I should like to know what you think of a man who deliberately18 takes away the means of earning a living from his stepson, who is filling his place, and supporting his family, in order to gratify his miserable19 love of drink."
"You drove me to it, Grit."
"How did I drive you to it?"
"You would not give me from your overflowing20 hoards21, when I felt sick and in need of a mild stimulus22. You had sixty dollars, and would not spare me one."
"So you sold my boat for half price, and squandered23 nearly the whole proceeds in one forenoon!" exclaimed Grit scornfully. "Mr. Brandon, your reasoning is altogether too thin. We have decided to leave you to support yourself as you can."
Here the glowing prospects24 offered by the plan suggested by Colonel Johnson occurred to Brandon, and his tone changed.
"You may find you have made a mistake, Grit, you and Mrs. B.," said Brandon [Pg 157]pompously. "You have snubbed and illtreated me because you looked upon me as a poor, destitute25, friendless man. It's the way of the world! But you may regret it, and that very soon. What will you say when I tell you that I have a chance to earn five thousand dollars in the next five days, eh?"
Mrs. Brandon looked surprised, for Grit had not thought it wise to confide26 to his mother what he had heard of the conversation between Travers and his stepfather. Grit, on the other hand, was immediately interested, for the compensation offered was one of the things he had not overheard.
"Five thousand dollars!" he repeated, appearing to be surprised.
"Yes, five thousand dollars!" repeated Brandon complacently27. "That's a thousand dollars a day! Perhaps you won't be so anxious to get rid of me when I am worth my thousands."
"That's pretty good pay," said Grit quietly. "What have you got to do?"
"That would be telling," said Brandon cunningly. "It's a joint28 speculation29 of my friend Travers and myself—my friend Travers, whom you treated so badly. It's he that's brought me this fine offer, and you insult and order[Pg 158] him out of the house. You were just as bad as Grit, Mrs. B."
"You are welcome to all you make, Mr. Brandon," said Grit. "Neither my mother nor myself will ask a penny of the handsome sum you expect to make. You can spend it all on yourself if you like. All we ask is, that you will take care of yourself, and leave us alone."
"I mean to do so," said Brandon independently, "but, as I shan't get the money for three or four days, I should like to borrow five dollars, and I'll repay you double within a week."
"That's a very generous offer," said Grit, "but I don't lend without better security."
"Isn't there anything to eat in the house, Mrs. B.?" asked Brandon, changing the subject. "I'm famished30."
"You will find some cold meat, and bread, and butter in the pantry."
Brandon went to the pantry, and satisfied his appetite as well as he could. He then went out, and Grit soon followed.
"Mother," he said, "I have an important call to make, but will be back soon."
It will be remembered that Mr. Courtney had formerly31 been president of the bank, but proving unpopular in consequence of his [Pg 159]disposition to manage it in his own interest, Mr. Philo Graves, a manufacturer, was put in his place. To the house of Mr. Graves Grit directed his steps.
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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2
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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3
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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4
cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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5
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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7
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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8
participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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9
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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10
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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11
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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12
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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13
begrudge
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| vt.吝啬，羡慕 | |
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14
earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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15
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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16
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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17
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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18
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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19
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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20
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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21
hoards
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| n.（钱财、食物或其他珍贵物品的）储藏，积存( hoard的名词复数 )v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的第三人称单数 ) | |
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22
stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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23
squandered
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| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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25
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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26
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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27
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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28
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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29
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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30
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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31
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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