John had often talked with his father about going to college, and Squire3 Oakley had strong hopes of John's maintaining a high position in his college class, and doing him credit at the institution where he had himself graduated. This made it all the more remarkable4 that John's interests had been so entirely5 neglected in the disposition6 of his property made by his will.
As John was on his way to school, on the morning succeeding Ben's fall from the horse, he was overtaken by Sam Selwyn.
"Meaning Ben?"
"Of course. I hope his health hasn't suffered seriously from his unexpected bath. Poor fellow! he had a pretty good fright."
"Yes, I don't think he'll trouble Prince very soon again."
"I shan't soon forget how frightened he looked with both arms around the horse's neck. I should have felt like laughing, only I was afraid he might come to harm. Now you'll have Prince to yourself."
"I don't know about that, Sam. I rather think,[74] from something Mrs. Oakley said, that she means to sell Prince."
"Sell your horse!" exclaimed Sam, indignantly.
"She says it isn't mine. She's given it to Ben. As Ben don't dare to use it, I am afraid Prince will have to go," said John, sadly.
"I wouldn't stand it!" exclaimed Sam, in excitement. "It's an imposition."
"But what can I do?"
"The horse is yours."
"Not legally, I am afraid. I can't prove it, and Mrs. Oakley says it was only mine to use."
"Whether you can prove it or not, the horse is yours, and I say it will be an outrageous8 thing if it is sold. At any rate you ought to demand the money that is received for it."
"I'll tell you what I have made up my mind to do. Mrs. Oakley may say that the horse is expensive to keep, but as Ben received a watch and chain at the same time I got the horse, it is only fair that I should have a watch in place of it, if it is sold."
"Of course, that is only reasonable."
"Not that a watch would pay me for the loss of Prince. I'd rather have him than three watches; but it doesn't cost anything to keep a watch."
"That's true; but I hope you'll be able to keep the horse."
[75]
"So do I," said John; but he had very little expectation of it.
"Well, there's hope ahead, old fellow," said Sam, cheerfully. "Next year we'll enter college, and then you'll be out of the way of Master Ben and your kind stepmother, for forty weeks in the year, at any rate."
"I hope so," said John, slowly.
"You hope so?" repeated Sam. "You don't expect Mrs. Oakley will remove to Cambridge, so that you may still be favored with her charming company?"
"I don't feel sure of going to Cambridge myself," said John, soberly.
"You don't mean to say you're afraid you won't pass the examination? If you don't, there'll be precious little chance for the rest of us."
"That isn't what I mean," said John. "I think I should pass the examination. At any rate I am not afraid of it."
"What are you afraid of then?" asked Sam, in surprise.
"I am afraid Mrs. Oakley won't let me go."
"But your father always meant you to go. She knows that."
"Yes, she knows it, for father used often to refer[76] to the time when I would be in college, in her presence. But I am afraid that won't make much difference with her."
"Has she said anything about it?"
"No, not yet; but it will cost considerable to keep me at Cambridge."
"Well, your father left a good deal of property."
"Yes; but it was left to Mrs. Oakley."
"There's enough to pay your expenses at college, and maintain Mrs. Oakley and Ben handsomely."
"I know that, but I am sorry to say that Mrs. Oakley and Ben both dislike me, and it will be reason enough with them to keep me at home because they know I am anxious to go."
"It's a burning shame," said Sam, indignantly, "that such a woman as that should have the control over you. As for Ben Brayton, I always did despise him. He's a mean fellow, and a coward to boot."
"I don't like Ben much," said John.
"And he returns the compliment."
"Yes, he has taken a dislike to me, I don't know why, for I have always treated him well, though I couldn't like him."
"I say, John," said Sam, "if you don't go to college, it'll knock all my plans into a cocked hat. You were to room with me, you know."
[77]
"Yes, Sam, I have been looking forward to that a long time."
"What a jolly time we should have! I shan't have half so much pleasure in going to college if you don't go with me. You're such a good scholar, too, it would be a great pity. But perhaps it may not be so bad as you think. Mrs. Oakley may be only too glad to get rid of you."
By this time they had reached the door of the academy. The bell sounded, summoning the pupils to their morning exercises, and John and Sam had other things to think of, for a while at least.
At the close of the afternoon John returned home. He went into the house to carry his Virgil and Greek Reader, being accustomed to prepare a part of his lessons out of school. On going out into the yard, he saw Ben lounging lazily against a fence, whittling9.
"Are you going out to ride, John?" he asked, in an unusually friendly tone.
"I think I will ride a little way," said John.
"I got enough of it yesterday," said Ben.
"You were unlucky. If you had not struck Prince it would have been all right."
"I don't care about trying it again. I hope you'll have a pleasant ride."
"Thank you," said John, unsuspiciously.
[78]
He went out to the barn, and opened the door that led to the stables. He made his way at once to Prince's stall, and looked in.
It was empty!
Surprised, but not yet suspecting what had really happened, he called out to Mike, whom he saw outside:—
"Where's Prince, Mike?"
"Shure, sir, didn't you know he was sold?"
"Sold? When?"
"This morning, Master John."
"Who bought him?"
"Mr. Barnes, the man that keeps the livery stable. He was here this morning. He and the mistress came in, and they soon struck a bargain."
"Do you know what price Mr. Barnes gave for Prince?"
"Yes, Master John; I heard him say that he would give one hundred and ninety dollars. The mistress wanted two hundred; but she finally let him have Prince at that, and a good bargain it is to him too."
John left the stable outwardly calm, but much disturbed in mind.
"Mrs. Oakley might at least have let me know[79] what she meant to do," he said, bitterly. "My poor father's gift too."
Ben waited for John's return with malicious11 interest. He wanted to witness and enjoy his disappointment.
"I thought you were going to ride?" he said, with a smile of mockery.
"Can you tell me where your mother is?" asked John, coldly.
"She's in the house, I suppose. Do you want to see her?"
"Yes."
John entered the house without taking any further notice of Ben. He found his stepmother in the sitting-room12. She looked up, as he entered, with a glance of satisfaction, for she saw that she had made him unhappy.
"Mike tells me you have sold Prince, Mrs. Oakley," he commenced.
"Yes. What of it?"
"As he was my horse, I think you might have let me know what you intended to do."
"Prince was not your horse," she said, sharply.
"He was my poor father's gift to me."
"Nonsense! He merely let you call him yours. The horse was mine."
[80]
"He was as much mine as Ben's watch is his. Are you going to sell Ben's watch?"
"No, I am not. If that is all you have to say, you may leave the room."
"It is not. I will not object to your selling the horse, because it would cost something to keep him; but it is only fair that the money for which he was sold should be given to me, or enough to buy a watch and chain like Ben's."
"I'm only asking what is just."
"You seem to forget whom you are speaking to. If you think you can bully14 me, you will find yourself entirely mistaken."
"Then you'll have to want. You may as well understand, first as last, John Oakley,"—and his stepmother raised her voice angrily,—"that I am mistress in this house, and owner of this property. You are entirely dependent upon me for the bread you eat and the clothes you wear, and it will be prudent16 for you to treat me respectfully, if you want any favors. Do you understand that?"
"I understand what you say, Mrs. Oakley," said[81] John, indignantly. "You seem to have forgotten that every cent of this property belonged to my father, and would now be mine, if my father had not married you. You had better remember that, when you talk about my being dependent upon you, and favor Ben at my expense."
Mrs. Oakley turned white with rage.
"What do you mean by your impertinence, you young rascal17?" she shrieked18, rising to her feet, and glaring at John.
"I mean this," he exclaimed, thoroughly19 provoked, "that I don't believe my father ever intended to leave you all his property. I believe there is another will somewhere, and I mean to find it."
"Leave the room!" exclaimed Mrs. Oakley, in a voice almost inarticulate with rage. "You'll repent20 those words, John Oakley. You're in my power, and I'll make you feel it."
John left the room, his anger hot within him. When he reflected coolly upon what had passed, he did repent having spoken about the will. It might set Mrs. Oakley upon the track, and if she found it, he feared that she would have no scruples21 in destroying it, and then his last chance of obtaining his rights would be gone.
[82]
点击收听单词发音
1 acquit | |
vt.宣判无罪;(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 qualified | |
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 squire | |
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 outrageous | |
adj.无理的,令人不能容忍的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 whittling | |
v.切,削(木头),使逐渐变小( whittle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 swelled | |
增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 malicious | |
adj.有恶意的,心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 sitting-room | |
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 sneered | |
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 bully | |
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 bullying | |
v.恐吓,威逼( bully的现在分词 );豪;跋扈 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 rascal | |
n.流氓;不诚实的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 shrieked | |
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 repent | |
v.悔悟,悔改,忏悔,后悔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 scruples | |
n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 );顾虑,顾忌v.感到于心不安,有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |