CHAPTER XIX. DISCHARGED.

 In a front room on the second floor of the Spray Hotel sat Miss Maria Holbrook with a letter in her hand. It was written on the cheapest note-paper, and inclosed in a plebeian¹ brown envelope.

 

Of course it will be understood that it was the epistolary effort of Mr. Simeon Fogson.

 

"Just as I thought!" soliloquized the lady. "This boy seems to be a disreputable character of the lowest antecedents, and utterly² unworthy to associate even as a servant with a member of my family."

 

Here Chester entered in his usual impetuous manner.

 

"Oh, Aunt Maria," he cried, "I had a bully³ bath."

 

"I am shocked to hear you use such a low term as 'bully,' Chester," said his aunt. "No doubt you learned it of Jedediah."

 

[Pg 168]

 

"No, I didn't. Jed never uses the word. At least I never heard him."

 

"Will you tell Jedediah that I wish to see him at once on important business?"

 

"It seems funny to hear you call him Jedediah, Aunt Maria."

 

"I apprehend⁴ that it is his right name; 'Jed' sounds low."

 

"Well, I'll tell him to come up."

 

When Jed made his appearance Miss Holbrook said: "You may go below, Chester. I wish to speak to Jedediah in private."

 

"What's up now, I wonder?" thought Jed.

 

The lady turned upon him a severe look.

 

"Jedediah," she said, "is it true that your earlier years were spent at the Scranton poorhouse?"

 

"Yes, madam," answered Jed, coloring.

 

"Did you apprise⁵ my brother of this fact when he engaged you?"

 

"No, madam. I suppose you learned it from Percy Dixon."

 

"I learned it from young Mr. Dixon, but I could hardly believe it. He referred me to Mr. Simeon Fogson, of Scranton, and I have[Pg 169] a letter from that gentleman in my hand. You probably will not care to read it."

 

"I should like very much to read it, Miss Holbrook. I should like to know whether Mr. Fogson tells the truth."

 

"Here is the letter, then."

 

Jed read it with conflicting emotions.

 

Respected Madam:

 

I am glad to give you the informashun you ask about that young villen Jed Gilman, who ran away from the Poor House some weeks since after a violent assault on me, his offishul guardeen. Words cannot tell you how much trouble I have had with that boy.

 

Likewise he has been very impident to Mrs. Fogson. The reeson is that he was too much indulged by my predicesors in offis Mr. and Mrs. Avery. I have tried to do my dooty by the boy, but as Squire⁶ Dixon, the Overseer will tell you my efforts has been in vane. I am not supprised that your brother was took in by Jed for he is the artfulest boy I ever seen. I hope for the sake of your young nefew's welfare you will discharge him at once and not allow him to corrup his youthful mind.

 

Yours respectfully, 

Simeon Fogson.

 

"Well," said Miss Holbrook triumphantly,[Pg 170] "that doesn't seem to commend you very highly."

 

"No," answered Jed, returning the letter to the envelope. "It is such a letter as I should expect Mr. Fogson to write."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because he is unfit for his place," answered Jed boldly. "He half starves the poor people under his charge, treats them roughly, and is detested⁷ by all."

 

"He says you are impudent⁸ and troublesome."

 

"I did not allow him to impose upon me."

 

"He says you ran away."

 

"I had a right to leave, as I felt able to support myself. I was recommended to do so by Dr. Redmond, the best physician in Scranton, who is a friend of mine."

 

"I have listened to your side of the story," said Miss Holbrook coldly, "and the terms in which you speak of Mr. Fogson convince me that his charges are correct. Of course you will not expect me to keep you in charge of my nephew."

 

"Will you wait till Mr. Holbrook returns?"[Pg 171] pleaded Jed, who felt sad at the prospect⁹ of parting with Chester.

 

"No; I shall not feel justified¹⁰ in doing so. I will pay you up to date, and assume the charge of Chester myself."

 

She drew a bill from her pocket and handed it to Jed, who took it mechanically and left the room with a sober face. He was dismissed from his position in disgrace, a disgrace which he felt was not deserved.

 

What was he to do next?

1 plebeian   

adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民

参考例句：

• He is a philosophy professor with a cockney accent and an alarmingly plebeian manner.他是个有一口伦敦土腔、举止粗俗不堪的哲学教授。
• He spent all day playing rackets on the beach,a plebeian sport if there ever was one.他一整天都在海滩玩壁球，再没有比这更不入流的运动了。

2 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

3 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

4 apprehend   

vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑

参考例句：

• I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
• Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。

5 apprise   

vt.通知，告知

参考例句：

• He came to apprise us that the work had been successfully completed.他来通知我们工作已胜利完成。
• We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.我们必须告诉他们可能涉及的危险。

6 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

7 detested   

v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They detested each other on sight. 他们互相看着就不顺眼。
• The freethinker hated the formalist; the lover of liberty detested the disciplinarian. 自由思想者总是不喜欢拘泥形式者，爱好自由者总是憎恶清规戒律者。 来自辞典例句

8 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。

9 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

10 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。