CHAPTER XXVII — THE RIDE TO BARTON'S

 Willis Ford¹ went to the station master, who stood at the door with a cheap cigar in his mouth.

“Is there a man named Joel Barton living hereabouts?” he asked.

The station master took his cigar from his mouth and surveyed his questioner with some curiosity.

“Does he owe you money?” he inquired.

“No,” answered Ford, impatiently. “Will you answer my question?”

“You needn't be in such a pesky hurry,” drawled the station master. “Yes, he lives up the road a piece.”

“How far is a piece?”

“Well, maybe a mile.”

“Straighten?”

“Yes.”

“Is there any way of riding?”

“Well, stranger, I've got a team myself. Is that boy with you?”

“Yes.”

“I'll take you over for half a dollar.”

“Can you go at once?”

“Yes.”

“Then it's a bargain.”

The station master, whose house was only three minutes' walk away, appeared in a reasonable time with a farm wagon², drawn³ by an old horse that had seen better days, it is to be hoped, for she was a miserable-looking mare⁴.

“Jump in, Herbert,” said Ford.

The boy obeyed, and sat on the front seat, between the driver and his abductor.

“I suppose the horse is warranted not to run away?” said Ford, regarding the animal with a smile.

“He ran away with me once,” was the unexpected answer.

“When was that?”

“'Bout fifteen years ago,” replied the driver, with grim humor. “I reckon he's steadied down by this time.”

“It looks like it,” said Ford.

“Know Joel Barton?” asked the station master, after a pause.

“I saw him once when I was a boy.”

“Any relation?”

“He married a cousin of my stepmother. What sort of a man is he?”

“He's a no-account man—shif'less, lazy—drinks.”

“That agrees with what I have heard. How about his wife?”

“She's smart enough. If he was like her they'd live comfortably. She has a hard time with him and Abner—Abner's her son, and just like his father, only doesn't drink yet. Like as not he will when he gets older.”

Willis Ford was not the only listener to this colloquy⁵. Herbert paid attention to every word, and in the poor boy's mind there was the uncomfortable query⁶, “Why are we going to these people?” He would know soon, probably, but he had a presentiment⁷ of trouble.

“Yes,” continued the station master, “Mrs. Barton has a hard row to hoe; but she's a match for Joel.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“She's got a temper of her own, and she can talk a man deaf, dumb, and blind. She gives Barton a piece of her mind whenever he comes home full.”

“She ought to have that satisfaction. From what you tell me, I don't feel very proud of my unknown relatives.”

“Goin' to stay there any length of time?”

“I don't know my own plans yet,” answered Willis Ford, with a glance at the boy. He foresaw a scene when he announced his purpose to leave Herbert in this unpromising place, but he did not wish to anticipate it.

“I suppose Barton is a farmer?” he suggested.

“He pretends to be, but his farm doesn't pay much.”

“What supports them?”

“His wife takes in work from the tailors in the the village. Then they've got a cow, and she makes butter. As for Joel, he brings in precious little money. He might pick up a few dollars hirin' out by the day, if he wasn't so lazy. I had a job for him myself one day, but he knocked off at noon—said he was tuckered out, and wanted me to pay him for that half day. I knew well enough where the money would go, so I told him I wouldn't pay him unless he worked until sunset.”

“Did he do it?”

“Yes, he did; but he grumbled⁸ a good deal. When he got his pay he went over to Thompson's saloon, and he didn't leave it until all the money was spent. When his wife heard of it she was mad, and I expect she gave Joel a taste of the broom handle.”

“I wouldn't blame her much.”

“Nor I. But here we are. Yonder's Barton's house. Will you get out?”

“Yes.”

Abner, who was sitting on a stump⁹, no sooner saw the team stop than he ran into the house, in some excitement, to tell the news.

“Marm,” he said, “there's a team stopped, and there's a man and boy gettin' out; 'spect they're coming here.”

“Lord's sake! Who be they?”

“Dunno.”

“Well, go out and tell 'em I'll see' em in a minute.”

Abner met them in front of the house.

“Are you Joel Barton's son?” asked Ford.

“That's what the old man says,” returned Abner, with a grin.

“Is your mother at home?”

“Marm will be right out. She's slickin' up. Who be you?”

“You'll know in good time, my boy.” “Who's he? Is he your son?”

“No,” answered Herbert promptly¹⁰.

Willis Ford turned upon his young ward¹¹ with a frown. He understood the boy's tone.

“It will be time to speak when you are spoken to,” he said sharply.

“Here's marm'” said Abner, as his mother's tall figure appeared in the doorway¹².

 

1 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

2 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

3 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

4 mare   

n.母马，母驴

参考例句：

• The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
• The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。

5 colloquy   

n.谈话，自由讨论

参考例句：

• The colloquy between them was brief.他们之间的对话很简洁。
• They entered into eager colloquy with each other.他们展开热切的相互交谈。

6 query   

n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑

参考例句：

• I query very much whether it is wise to act so hastily.我真怀疑如此操之过急地行动是否明智。
• They raised a query on his sincerity.他们对他是否真诚提出质疑。

7 presentiment   

n.预感，预觉

参考例句：

• He had a presentiment of disaster.他预感会有灾难降临。
• I have a presentiment that something bad will happen.我有某种不祥事要发生的预感。

8 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

9 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

10 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

11 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

12 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。