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CHAPTER VI THE LAWYER'S HOME
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 The lawyer regarded Herbert with a smile.
“Your uncle's will doesn't seem to have given general satisfaction,” he said.
“No,” responded Herbert; “but for my part I have come out as well as I expected.”
“I suppose you know Mr. Carter was rich?”
“So my mother told me.”
“How much do you think he was worth?”
Herbert was rather surprised at this question. Why should the lawyer ask it, when of course he knew much more about the matter?
“About a hundred thousand dollars, I suppose,” he answered.
“You are not far wrong. Now doesn't your share, and your mother's, seem very small compared with this large amount?”
“It is very small compared with that, but we had no claim to anything. The clothes and the money will be very useful to us.”
“You are a model heir,” said Mr. Spencer, smiling “You alone do not find fault, except, of course, Miss Nancy, who has fared the best.”
“I would rather make a fortune for myself than inherit one from another,” said Herbert, sturdily.
“I respect your independence, my boy,” said the lawyer, who felt favorably disposed toward our hero. “Still, a legacy1 isn't to be despised. Now tell me when you want to take your trunk.”
“I want to ask your advice about that,” said Herbert. “I walked over from Wrayburn. How shall I carry the trunk back?”
“You will have to return by the stage to-morrow morning, that is, if you are ready to go back so soon.”
“Do they charge much to stop overnight at the hotel?” asked Herbert, anxiously, for he had but seventy-five cents with him. It occurred to him how foolish he had been not to consider that it would be necessary for him to spend the night in Randolph.
“I don't know exactly how much. I think they charge fifty cents for a bed, and the same for each meal.”
Herbert's face lengthened2, and he became alarmed. How was he going to manage, on his limited resources?
The lawyer penetrated3 his perplexity, and, being a kind-hearted man, quickly came to his relief.
“I think you would find it lonely at the hotel, my boy,” he said, “and I shall therefore invite you to pass the night at my house instead.”
“You are very kind, sir,” said Herbert, gratefully, finding his difficulty happily removed. “I accept your invitation with pleasure.”
“The boy has been well brought up, if he is poor,” thought Mr. Spencer. “Well,” he said, “that is settled. I think our supper must be ready, so we will go over to the house at once. By the way, there is a boy from your town visiting my son. You must know him?”
“Is it James Leech4?” asked Herbert, remembering what James had told him.
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“We are schoolmates.”
“Then it will be pleasant for you to meet.”
Herbert was not quite sure about this, but forbore to say so.
He accompanied Mr. Spencer to his house, which was just across the street from the office, and followed the lawyer into an apartment handsomely furnished. James Leech and Tom Spencer were sitting at a small table, playing checkers.
“Hello, Carter!” exclaimed James, in surprise, “how came you here?”
“Mr. Spencer invited me,” said Herbert, not surprised at the mode of address.
“Did your uncle leave you anything?” asked James, with interest.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“He left my mother a hundred dollars.”
“That isn't much,” said James, contemptuously. “Was that all?”
“No, he left me a trunk, and what is in it.”
“What is in it?”
“Clothes, I believe.”
“A lot of old clothes!” commented James, turning up his nose. “That's a fine legacy, I must say.”
“I shall find them useful,” said Herbert, quietly.
“Oh, no doubt. You can roll up the pants and coat-sleeves. It will be fun to see you parading round in your uncle's tailcoats.”
“I don't think you'll have that pleasure,” said Herbert, flushing. “If I wear them I shall have them made over for me.”
“I congratulate you on your new and extensive wardrobe,” said James, mockingly. “Won't you cut a dash, though, on the streets of Wrayburn!”
Herbert did not deign5 a reply to this rude speech. Tom Spencer, who was much more of a gentleman than James, was disgusted with his impertinence. He rose, and took Herbert by the hand.
“You must let me introduce myself,” he said. “My name is Thomas Spencer, and I am glad to see you here.”
“Thank you,” said Herbert, his heart opening at the frank and cordial manner of the other. “My name is Herbert Carter, and I am very glad to make your acquaintance.”
“Are you going to finish this game, Tom?” drawled James, not relishing6 the idea of Herbert's receiving any attention from his friend.
“If you don't mind, we'll have it another time,” said Tom. “There goes the supper bell, and I for one am hungry.”
At the supper table James noticed, to his secret disgust, that Herbert was treated with as much consideration as himself. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer appeared to consider them social equals, which made James very uncomfortable.
“You boys are about of an age, I suppose,” said Mr. Spencer.
“I really don't know,” said James, haughtily7.
“You attend the same school?”
“Yes,” said James, “but I expect to go to some select academy very soon. At a public school you have to associate with all classes, you know.”
Mr. Spencer arched his brows, and steadily8 regarded the young aristocrat9.
“I don't see any great distinction of classes in a country village,” said he, dryly. “Besides, we are living in a republic.”
“You wouldn't like to associate on equal terms with a day laborer10,” said James, pertly.
“I am a laborer myself,” said the lawyer, smiling. “I wish I could say I were a day laborer exclusively, but sometimes I have to work into the night.”
“You are a professional man, and a gentleman,” said James. “You don't work with your hands.”
“I hope you boys will all grow up gentlemen,” said Mr. Spencer.
“I shall, of course,” said James.
“And you, Tom?”
“I hope so.”
“And you, Herbert?”
“I hope so, too,” said Herbert; “but if it is necessary to be rich to be a gentleman, I am not sure about it.”
“What is your idea of a gentleman, James?” asked the lawyer.
“He must be of a good family, and wear good clothes, and live nicely.”
“Is that all?”
“He ought to be well educated.”
“I see you name that last which I should name first. So these constitute a gentleman, in your opinion?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Not always. I have known men combining all the qualifications you have mentioned, who were very far from being gentlemen, in my opinion.”
“How is that, sir?” asked James, puzzled.
“They were arrogant11, puffed12 up with an idea of their own importance, deficient13 in politeness.”
“How well he has described James!” thought Herbert, but he was too much of a gentleman to say so.
James looked disconcerted, and dropped the subject. He thought the lawyer had some queer ideas. Why need a gentleman be polite to his inferiors? he thought, but he didn't say so.
After supper the boys went out behind the house, and feasted on peaches, which were just ripe. Herbert found Tom very social, but James took very little notice of him. Our hero did not make himself unhappy on this account. In fact, he was in unusual good spirits, and enjoyed in anticipation14 the pleasure of going back to Wrayburn with the welcome news of the two legacies15.
About half past seven Mr. Spencer came out into the orchard16.
“As the stage starts early in the morning, Herbert,” he said, “we had better go over and get the trunk ready, so that you can take it home.”
James Leech hoped to receive an invitation to accompany the two; but no invitation was given, and he was forced to content himself with staying behind.

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1 legacy 59YzD     
n.遗产,遗赠;先人(或过去)留下的东西
参考例句:
  • They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
  • He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
2 lengthened 4c0dbc9eb35481502947898d5e9f0a54     
(时间或空间)延长,伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The afternoon shadows lengthened. 下午影子渐渐变长了。
  • He wanted to have his coat lengthened a bit. 他要把上衣放长一些。
3 penetrated 61c8e5905df30b8828694a7dc4c3a3e0     
adj. 击穿的,鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
  • They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。
4 leech Z9UzB     
n.水蛭,吸血鬼,榨取他人利益的人;vt.以水蛭吸血;vi.依附于别人
参考例句:
  • A leech is a small blood-sucking worm and usually lives in water.水蛭是一种小型吸血虫,通常生活在水中。
  • One-side love like a greedy leech absorbed my time and my mirth.单相思如同一只贪婪的水蛭,吸走了我的时间和欢笑。
5 deign 6mLzp     
v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事)
参考例句:
  • He doesn't deign to talk to unimportant people like me. 他不肯屈尊和像我这样不重要的人说话。
  • I would not deign to comment on such behaviour. 这种行为不屑我置评。
6 relishing c65e4eb271ea081118682b4e5d25fe67     
v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 );从…获得乐趣;渴望
参考例句:
  • He ate quietly, relishing his meal. 他安静地吃着,细细品味着食物。 来自辞典例句
  • Yes, an iron rampart," he repeated, relishing his phrase. 是的,就是铜墙铁壁,"他很欣赏自己用的这个字眼,又重复了一遍。 来自飘(部分)
7 haughtily haughtily     
adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地
参考例句:
  • She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
  • Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯,走到二楼,我刚好站在那儿。
8 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
9 aristocrat uvRzb     
n.贵族,有贵族气派的人,上层人物
参考例句:
  • He was the quintessential english aristocrat.他是典型的英国贵族。
  • He is an aristocrat to the very marrow of his bones.他是一个道道地地的贵族。
10 laborer 52xxc     
n.劳动者,劳工
参考例句:
  • Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
  • He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工,没有赚多少钱。
11 arrogant Jvwz5     
adj.傲慢的,自大的
参考例句:
  • You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
  • People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。
12 puffed 72b91de7f5a5b3f6bdcac0d30e24f8ca     
adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧
参考例句:
  • He lit a cigarette and puffed at it furiously. 他点燃了一支香烟,狂吸了几口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He felt grown-up, puffed up with self-importance. 他觉得长大了,便自以为了不起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 deficient Cmszv     
adj.不足的,不充份的,有缺陷的
参考例句:
  • The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
  • I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。
14 anticipation iMTyh     
n.预期,预料,期望
参考例句:
  • We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着,期待她的到来。
  • The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安,像是感到了地震即将发生。
15 legacies 68e66995cc32392cf8c573d17a3233aa     
n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 );遗留之物;遗留问题;后遗症
参考例句:
  • Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind. 书是伟大的天才留给人类的精神财富。 来自辞典例句
  • General legacies are subject to the same principles as demonstrative legacies. 一般的遗赠要与指定数目的遗赠遵循同样的原则。 来自辞典例句
16 orchard UJzxu     
n.果园,果园里的全部果树,(美俚)棒球场
参考例句:
  • My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
  • Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。


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