"Sam is lazy this morning," thought John, disappointed.
But there he did Sam injustice8. He had risen early, and with hook and line had gone to the pond to fish. From a distance he caught a glimpse of the stage rumbling9 along the village street, but it was[141] too far off for him to distinguish the outside passengers. He would have been surprised had he known that among them was his friend John.
Ere long they were beyond the limits of the township. Occasionally the stage stopped to take in a fresh passenger, or to discharge a portion of its living freight. At intervals10 of a few miles they came to some village tavern11, with a broad swinging sign, where the driver would pause to water his horses, or, at longer intervals, to exchange them for a fresh supply. Once or twice John descended12 to stretch his legs, stiff with long sitting. More than once he observed Mr. Huxter enter the tavern, and come out with his nose a little redder than usual.
"I went in to get a glass of bitters," he explained to John, whom he encountered at the door on one of these occasions. "I'll get you some if you want it."
"Thank you," said John. "I don't care for any."
"Well, you're young and strong, and don't need them. When you get to my age, you'll need a little something to stimulate13 you."
John, who rightly conjectured14 that the glass of "bitters" was only another name for New England rum, could not help thinking that Mr. Huxter would have been quite as well off without it; but this thought he of course kept to himself.
[142]
"The old gentleman is rather fond of 'wetting his whistle,' isn't he?" said the driver, familiarly.
He did not care to discuss the conduct of his stepmother's brother with any one, and therefore confined himself to this remark. At twelve o'clock they had travelled forty miles.
"The stage will stop half an hour for dinner," said the driver, as he drew up in front of an old-fashioned country tavern.
"This is as far as I go," said the driver to John. "Do you stop here?"
"No, we go further on."
"I suppose you'll be comin' back this way in a few days?"
"I expect so. By the way, if you see Sam Selwyn to-night, just tell him that I was one of your passengers this morning."
"All right."
"John Oakley!" said Mr. Huxter, from below.
"Here, sir," said John.
"Just get down, and bring that basket with you. We'll go under the trees and have a bite."
John followed directions, and the two sat down together, with the basket between them.
[143]
"Travelling is hungry work," said Mr. Huxter. "Let's see what my sister has put up for us."
The basket, being uncovered, proved to be full of sandwiches, with a few doughnuts on top. They were all excellent of their kind; for Mrs. Oakley, whatever might be said of her in other respects, was a good house-keeper, and took care that whatever food was prepared in the house should be good.
"Now, Oakley," said Mr. Huxter, "we needn't have any ceremony here. Just make yourself at home and pitch in."
It may be observed that Mr. Huxter was gradually beginning to treat John with greater familiarity. When first introduced, he had addressed him as "Mr. Oakley." Next it was "John Oakley." Now it was "Oakley," without any prefix16. John, who had no inordinate17 sense of his own dignity, was not much disturbed by this, but continued to treat Mr. Huxter with the same outward respect as at first.
Mr. Huxter followed his own recommendations strictly18. He did "pitch in," and with such vigor19 that he consumed two-thirds of the contents of the basket, while John, whose appetite had also been stimulated20 by the long ride, was eating the remaining third.
"Well, there aint much left, that's a fact," he said,[144] surveying the empty basket. "The ride's given you a pretty good appetite, Oakley."
"That's lucky, for we shan't get anything more till we get home," said Mr. Huxter.
"When will that be?" inquired John.
"Somewhere about seven. It's a long pull; but I guess we can stand it," said Mr. Huxter.
"I think I can," said John.
"The old lady won't be expecting us," said Mr. Huxter. "I told her I might, maybe, be gone a fortnight."
"She'll be glad to see you so soon," said John, who did not think of anything else to say.
"Umph!" said Mr. Huxter, in a tone which might be interpreted as conveying a little doubt on this point. "I feel a little dry," he said, rising and stretching himself. "I think I'll go into the house, and see if I can find a little water."
When Mr. Huxter reappeared, John inferred from his appearance that, if he had been drinking water, it had been largely mingled22 with a different beverage23. He satisfied his own thirst at the pump, where he drank a deep and refreshing24 draught25 of clear cold[145] water, purer and better than any liquid which the art of man has devised.
So the afternoon passed. Twice more Mr. Huxter got out of the stage, and entered a wayside tavern, on the same mysterious errand. Each time he reappeared with his nose redder, and his eyes more inflamed26. The liquor which he had drunk made him quarrelsome, and so disagreeable to his fellow-passengers. Finally one of them called to the driver in an authoritative27 voice to stop, and insisted that Mr. Huxter should travel outside for the remainder of the way. With some difficulty he was induced to make the change, and from that time John had the pleasure of his society.
"Who are you?" asked Mr. Huxter, fixing his eyes upon John with a vacant stare.
"I am John Oakley," said our hero.
"Oh, yes, I know. You're the son of old Oakley that my sister Jane married."
It was painful to John to hear his father spoken of as old Oakley, but he understood Mr. Huxter's situation, and felt that it would be idle to resent anything said under such circumstances.
"Old Oakley left all his property to Jane," continued Mr. Huxter, with a drunken laugh. "Oh,[146] she's a deep one, is Jane! She knows how her bread is buttered."
"But she's hard on her poor brother," whined29 Mr. Huxter. "She ought to have come down with something handsome."
His mutterings became incoherent, and John ceased to notice them. At length, about seven o'clock, the stage drove into a small village, of not particularly attractive appearance.
"Well," said the driver, turning to John, "you're most home."
"Am I?" asked John.
"Of course you are. Aint you travelling with him?" indicating Mr. Huxter by a gesture.
"Yes; I've come with him on a little business."
"Then you're not going to stay?"
"Oh, no!"
"Lucky for you!"
John didn't inquire why the driver thought it lucky for him. He thought he understood without any explanation.
"Do you go any further?" he asked of the driver.
"To the next town."
"What is the name of this place?"
[147]
"Some folks call it Hardscrabble; but the real name is Jackson."
"Where does Mr. Huxter live?"
"Up the road apiece. I go right by the gate. I'll stop and leave you there."
"Here you are," he said. "Now look sharp, for I'm behind time."
With some difficulty Mr. Huxter, who had now become quite drowsy31, was made to understand that he had reached home. With still greater difficulty, he was assisted in safety to the ground, and the stage drove on.
John now for the first time looked about him to see what sort of a place he had reached. He distinguished32 a two-story house, old-fashioned in appearance, standing33 a few rods back from the road. It was sadly in need of a fresh coat of paint, as was also the fence which surrounded it. A little distance from the house, at one side, was a small building of one story, liberally supplied with windows, which John afterwards learned to be a shoe-shop. It was Mr. Huxter's place of business, when he saw fit to work, which was by no means regularly. An old cart, a wood-pile, and some barrels littered up the[148] front yard. A field alongside was overgrown with weeds, and everything indicated shiftlessness and neglect.
John had no difficulty in opening the front gate, for it hung upon one hinge, and was never shut. He supported Mr. Huxter to the door and knocked, for there was no bell. The summons was answered by a girl of ten, in a dirty calico dress and dishevelled hair.
"Mother," she screamed, shrilly34, as she saw who it was, "here's father come home, and there's somebody with him!"
At this intimation, a woman came from a back room to the door. She looked thin and careworn35, as if the life which she led was not a very happy one.
"Mrs. Huxter, I suppose?" asked John.
"Yes," said she.
"Your husband does not feel quite well," said John, expressing in as delicate a manner as possible the fact that something was out of order with Mr. Huxter.
"Who said I wasn't well?" exclaimed Mr. Huxter, in a rough voice. "Never was better in my life. I say, Polly, can't you get us something to eat? I'm most starved."
[149]
Mrs. Huxter looked inquiringly at John, whose presence with her husband she did not understand.
"I believe I am to stop here for a day or two," said John, responding to her look. "My name is John Oakley. I am the stepson of Mr. Huxter's sister."
"Oh, yes, I know," said Mrs. Huxter. "I am afraid we can't accommodate you very well, Mr. Oakley, but we'll do our best."
"What's good enough for us is good enough for him," said Mr. Huxter, fiercely. "He's as poor as we are. Sister Jane's got all the money. She's a deep one, is sister Jane."
"I hope you won't be offended at what he says, Mr. Oakley," said Mrs. Huxter, in an apologetic tone. "He don't mean what he says."
"Shut up, Mrs. Huxter!" said her husband, who was disposed to be quarrelsome. "Don't make a fool of yourself, but get supper as soon as you can."
"We haven't got any meat in the house," said Mrs. Huxter, timidly. "You know you only left me a little money."
Mrs. Huxter took the bill, surprised at its large amount, for she seldom got more than one dollar at a[150] time. Forthwith the girl of ten was sent for some steak at the butcher's, and in a reasonable time supper was declared to be ready. Meanwhile Mr. Huxter had been to the pump, and by the free use of cold water, applied37 externally, succeeded in getting the better of his intoxication38, and was prepared to do full justice to the meal provided.
By the time supper was over, it was half-past eight. John felt fatigued39 with his long journey, and asked permission to retire. He was shown to an attic40 chamber41, furnished only with a cot bed and a broken chair. But, rude as were the accommodations, John slept soundly, little dreaming the unwelcome news that awaited him on the morrow.
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1
deriving
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| v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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2
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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3
gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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4
brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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5
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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7
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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8
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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9
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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10
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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11
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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12
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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13
stimulate
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| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
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14
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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16
prefix
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| n.前缀；vt.加…作为前缀；置于前面 | |
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17
inordinate
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| adj.无节制的；过度的 | |
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18
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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19
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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20
stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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21
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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22
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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23
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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24
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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25
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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26
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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28
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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29
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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30
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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31
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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32
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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33
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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34
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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35
careworn
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| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
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36
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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37
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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38
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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39
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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40
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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41
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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