小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Luck and Pluck or John Oakley's Inheritance » CHAPTER X. HOW THE MATTER WAS SETTLED.
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CHAPTER X. HOW THE MATTER WAS SETTLED.
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
 After supper Mrs. Oakley and her brother were left together. Ben had no particular fancy for the society of his uncle, and John had no desire to intrude1 upon Mrs. Oakley.
"Well, Ephraim," said Mrs. Oakley, plunging2 into business at once, "I have been considering what I could do for you."
"I knew you had a good heart, sister Jane," said Mr. Huxter, who was disposed to be very complimentary3 to his sister, now that his interest lay in flattering her. Mrs. Oakley well remembered the time when he treated her in quite a different manner; but though she saw through his change of manner, and thoroughly4 understood what prompted it, she was well pleased to have it so. It made her feel the power which her wealth had brought her; and there was no woman who enjoyed that better than Mrs. Oakley.
[110]
"You mustn't expect too much," she continued. "You must remember that there are others who have claims upon me."
"But your means are large," said Mr. Huxter, who was resolved to extort5 as much as possible.
"No doubt you think so; but I am the best judge of what I can afford," said Mrs. Oakley.
"If I were rich I wouldn't see you and Ben suffer," said Mr. Huxter.
"As to that, your health is good, and your family ought not to suffer if I gave you no assistance at all. I don't think much of a man who can't support his family."
"I've been a very unlucky man," said Mr. Huxter. "I'd ought to be independent now, but something or nuther was always happening. There was my best cow, that I could have got fifty dollars for easy, up and died one night."
"How long ago was that?"
"Three years," said Mr. Huxter, rather reluctantly.
"It seems to me you've had time to get over that loss," said his sister, not betraying much sympathy in her tone.
"It wouldn't be much to you, I know; but to a poor man like me it was a great loss," said Mr. Huxter.
[111]
"Well, we won't say anything about that. I told you that I would help you, and I will. You observed John Oakley at the table?"
"Yes; he looks like a smart fellow."
"He's no smarter than Ben that I know of," said Mrs. Oakley, jealously.
"Of course not; I didn't suppose he was," said Mr. Huxter, seeing that he had got on the wrong tack6. "Ben is a boy that you may be proud of, sister Jane. He is very genteel in his manners."
"I mean to bring him up as a gentleman," said Mrs. Oakley. "I think I shall make a lawyer of him."
"I hope you will. There's never been a lawyer in our family. I should be proud to speak of my nephew, Benjamin Brayton, Esq., the famous lawyer."
"I hope that time will come, brother Ephraim. But I was going to speak of John Oakley. Ben and he don't agree very well."
"Don't they?" asked Mr. Huxter, not so much surprised as he might have been if he had not made Ben's acquaintance. "I suppose it is John's fault."
"Of course it is. He doesn't treat Ben or myself with proper respect, and of course Ben resents it."
"Of course."
"He doesn't seem to realize that Ben is older than[112] himself, and therefore entitled to more privileges. He went so far one day as to strike Ben with a whip."
"What did Ben do?" asked Mr. Huxter, curiously7.
"Oh, of course he struck John," said Mrs. Oakley, not thinking it necessary to mention that Ben's blow came first.
"Well," said Mr. Huxter, "it seems natural for boys to quarrel."
"I shan't allow my son to be struck by John Oakley," said Mrs. Oakley, quickly.
"What are you going to do about it?"
"That is what I am coming to. I think of sending John away somewhere, so that we may live in peace and quiet, and not be disturbed by his quarrelsome disposition8."
"Where do you think of sending him?"
"To your house."
"To my house?" exclaimed Mr. Huxter, in surprise, for he had not foreseen what was coming.
"Yes."
"I don't know as he would like the way we live," said Mr. Huxter, thinking of the "picked-up" dinners to which he was accustomed. "He's a rich man's son, and has been used to good living."
"Don't trouble yourself about that," said Mrs. Oakley; "if he has always lived well, he can stand[113] a little poor living now, by way of variety. It is his own fault that I send him away from home."
Mr. Huxter hardly knew what to think of this arrangement. He had hoped that his sister would settle an annual sum upon him, without any equivalent, or would give him, say a thousand dollars outright9. Now she only proposed that he should take a boarder.
"I don't know what my wife will say," he remarked. "It will increase her work."
"Not much. There will only be one extra seat at the table."
"But we shall have to put ourselves out a little for him."
"I don't want you to put yourself out at all," said Mrs. Oakley, emphatically.
"He's a rich man's son."
"But he'll be a poor man himself. He will have to earn his living by hard work."
"I don't see how that can be. Didn't his father leave plenty of money?"
"No," said Mrs. Oakley, determined10 not to be entrapped11 into any such acknowledgment; "and if he had, John is no better off for it. You seem to forget that all the money is left to me."
"That's a fact," said Mr. Huxter. "I didn't[114] think of that. Shan't you leave any of it to John?"
"That depends upon his behavior," said Mrs. Oakley. "I make no promises. The property is all mine, and I shall leave it to no one who treats me with disrespect. You see, therefore, that you need feel on no ceremony with him."
Mr. Huxter did see it. He was a selfish man, who had a great respect for the possessors of wealth merely on the score of their wealth, and he began to look upon John Oakley with quite different eyes now that he had been informed of his true position.
"You're carrying things with rather a high hand, Jane," he said.
"I mean to be treated with respect."
"So John is saucy12, is he?"
"He is proud-spirited, and thinks himself justified13 in looking down upon me, because I was once his father's house-keeper," said Mrs. Oakley, in a tone of bitterness; "but I have vowed14 to subdue15 his proud spirit, and you will see that I shall do it."
"I have no doubt you will, Jane. But there is one thing you haven't mentioned."
"What is that?"
"How much am I to receive for John Oakley's board?"
[115]
"I will give you six dollars a week, and you know that this is considerably16 more than any other boarder would pay you."
"Six dollars a week!" said Mr. Huxter, slowly. "Yes, I suppose that would pay for what he would eat and drink, but I expected you would do something more for me than just to find me a boarder."
"You will make a pretty good profit out of that, Ephraim."
"You might do a little more than that for me, Jane."
"I will tell you what I will do. Besides paying you regularly for his board, I will allow you his labor17, and that will be worth considerable."
"What can he do?"
"He can do what other boys do. You can take him into your shop, and set him to pegging18 shoes. It won't hurt him a bit, though it may trouble his pride a little."
"But will he be willing to go into the shop? He was expecting to go to college."
"I don't think much of you if you can't compel him to do it."
Mr. Huxter reflected a moment. John's work would be worth at least five dollars a week, and this,[116] added to the six he would receive from his sister, would certainly pay munificently19 for John's board.
"Well, that is a consideration. We'll call it a bargain," he admitted.
"Very well; I think you'll find your account in it," said Mrs. Oakley, in a tone of satisfaction.
"Couldn't you pay me a quarter's board in advance?"
To this Mrs. Oakley assented20 with some hesitation21.
After matters had thus been satisfactorily arranged, Mr. Huxter said:—
"I think, Jane, I will just take a little walk outside, and smoke a pipe. I always do after supper. By the way, when would you like to have young Oakley go?"
"To-morrow."
"To-morrow!" repeated Mr. Huxter, in some disappointment, for he had confidently hoped to avail himself of his sister's hospitality for a week at least. "Seems to me, Jane, you're in something of a hurry."
"I am. There is a good reason for it, which I am not at liberty to mention," said Mrs. Oakley.
"Not even to me?"
"Not even to you."
[117]
"Well, I dare say it is all right, but I am tired after my journey, and it don't give me much time to rest," said Mr. Huxter, with disappointment.
"Let it be day after to-morrow, then. I don't want to be inhospitable," said Mrs. Oakley.
Mr. Huxter thought this concession22 better than nothing, and, going out on the door-step, smoked his pipe in rather a cheerful frame of mind.
"It'll be a pretty good speculation," he reflected; "but I mistrust I'll have some trouble with young Oakley. But I guess I can manage him. He'll find me pretty ugly if he goes to oppose me."
Mr. Huxter was partly right. He was capable of being "pretty ugly" when he thought it safe to be so,—that is, to those who were weaker than himself, and in his power. He fawned23 upon those who had money or power, and was in the habit of tyrannizing over those who had neither. On the whole, I hardly think John is to be congratulated upon his prospects24.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 intrude Lakzv     
vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰
参考例句:
  • I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
  • I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。
2 plunging 5fe12477bea00d74cd494313d62da074     
adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降
参考例句:
  • War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发,生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 complimentary opqzw     
adj.赠送的,免费的,赞美的,恭维的
参考例句:
  • She made some highly complimentary remarks about their school.她对他们的学校给予高度的评价。
  • The supermarket operates a complimentary shuttle service.这家超市提供免费购物班车。
4 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
5 extort KP1zQ     
v.勒索,敲诈,强要
参考例句:
  • The blackmailer tried to extort a large sum of money from him.勒索者企图向他勒索一大笔钱。
  • They absolutely must not harm the people or extort money from them.严格禁止坑害勒索群众。
6 tack Jq1yb     
n.大头钉;假缝,粗缝
参考例句:
  • He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
  • We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。
7 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
8 disposition GljzO     
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署
参考例句:
  • He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
  • He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
9 outright Qj7yY     
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的
参考例句:
  • If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事,你应该直率地对我说。
  • You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。
10 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
11 entrapped eb21b3b8e7dad36e21d322e11b46715d     
v.使陷入圈套,使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was entrapped into undertaking the work. 他受骗而担任那工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He felt he had been entrapped into marrying her. 他觉得和她结婚是上了当。 来自辞典例句
12 saucy wDMyK     
adj.无礼的;俊俏的;活泼的
参考例句:
  • He was saucy and mischievous when he was working.他工作时总爱调皮捣蛋。
  • It was saucy of you to contradict your father.你顶撞父亲,真是无礼。
13 justified 7pSzrk     
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。
14 vowed 6996270667378281d2f9ee561353c089     
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
  • I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。
15 subdue ltTwO     
vt.制服,使顺从,征服;抑制,克制
参考例句:
  • She tried to subdue her anger.她尽力压制自己的怒火。
  • He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.他强迫自己克制并战胜恐惧心理。
16 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
17 labor P9Tzs     
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
参考例句:
  • We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
  • He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
18 pegging e0267dc579cdee0424847f2cd6cd6cb6     
n.外汇钉住,固定证券价格v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的现在分词 );使固定在某水平
参考例句:
  • To write a novel,one must keep pegging away at it consistently. 要写小说,必须不断辛勤劳动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She was pegging the clothes out on the line to dry. 她正在把衣服夹在晒衣绳上晾干。 来自辞典例句
19 munificently a0f6a128165ea24052c7ce4799b30a6c     
参考例句:
20 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
21 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
22 concession LXryY     
n.让步,妥协;特许(权)
参考例句:
  • We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
  • That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。
23 fawned e0524baa230d9db2cea3c53dc99ba3f6     
v.(尤指狗等)跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的过去式和过去分词 );巴结;讨好
参考例句:
  • The dog fawned on [upon] the boy. 那条狗向那少年摇尾乞怜。 来自辞典例句
  • The lion, considering him attentively, and remembering his former friend, fawned upon him. 狮子将他仔细地打量了一番,记起他就是从前的那个朋友,于是亲昵地偎在他身旁。 来自辞典例句
24 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533