CHAPTER XV. MRS. OAKLEY'S NOTE.

 John opened the note, little suspecting the nature of its contents. It was as follows:—

"John Oakley:—I have made an arrangement with my brother to have you board with him for the present. As you and Benjamin find it so difficult to agree, it will be much better that you should live apart. If you had not treated him so brutally¹ I should not be under the necessity of sending you away from home. I hope you will give my brother no trouble, but will follow his directions. He understands what course I wish him to pursue with you. If he reports favorably of you, I will send for you to return at a proper time."

"Jane Oakley."

"P. S. I will forward your trunk by express, early next week."

 

John read this cold and unjust letter with mingled³ anger and dismay. It was hard to have all the blame of his quarrel with Ben thrown upon him, when Ben had been the aggressor, and he had only contended[161] for his just rights. So he was to be exiled from home on Ben's account. He could not help thinking how happily his father and he used to live together before the present Mrs. Oakley came to the farm as house-keeper. And now she and her son had taken possession, and he was turned adrift. What would his father have thought, could he have foreseen what would happen so soon after his death!

These thoughts, and others not less disturbing, passed through John's mind as he read his stepmother's letter. Mr. Huxter's eyes were fixed⁴ upon his face in cruel exultation⁵, for he imagined the nature of John's feelings, and enjoyed his sorrow.

"Well, Oakley, what do you say to that?" he demanded.

"I don't know what to say," said John.

"No, I presume not. The fact is, you haven't got anything to say in the matter. My sister is your natural guardian⁶, and she has sent you to me to manage. She says you're rather a tough subject; but I reckon I can manage you. You'll find me a little harder to deal with than a woman, I can tell you that."

John did not reply. Indeed, he hardly knew what Mr. Huxter had been saying. So many thoughts crowded in upon his mind with regard to the sudden[162] change in his position that he paid little attention to what was said.

"Is this the only business on which Mrs. Oakley sent me?" he asked, at length.

"It's enough, isn't it?" demanded Mr. Huxter, with a laugh. "So you hadn't the least idea what was the object of your expedition?"

"No, I had not," said John, indignantly. "I had no suspicion that it was only a trap."

"I knew you hadn't," said Mr. Huxter, laughing with evident enjoyment⁷. "You were pretty well taken in, hey?"

"I was taken in," said John, shortly.

"Sister Jane was pretty cute. She knew you'd be making a fuss, if you knew. I told her that once I got you here there wouldn't be any more trouble. So now you know all about it, and you may as well settle down to staying here."

Mrs. Huxter, to whom all this was news, listened with earnest attention. She was a good-hearted woman, and she couldn't help pitying John. She liked her sister-in-law, now Mrs. Oakley, no better than John did, and was very thankful when, after a two years' residence under her roof, she had obtained a position as house-keeper at a distance. She readily came to the conclusion that John had been harshly[163] and unjustly treated, and she could not forbear expressing her sympathy.

"I did not know you were going to remain with us, Mr. Oakley," she said. "I'll try to make you comfortable as long as you stay."

"Thank you, Mrs. Huxter," said John, gratefully; for he could understand the kindness which led her to speak.

"You needn't mister him," said Mr. Huxter, roughly. "It's ridiculous to call such a boy 'Mr.'; it'll make him put on airs worse than ever."

"I do not know his first name," said Mrs. Huxter.

"My name is John," said our hero.

"Then I will call you so, if you are willing."

"If he is willing! Don't make a fool of yourself, Mrs. Huxter. It makes no difference whether he is willing or not."

"I shall be glad to have you call me John," said our hero, without regarding Mr. Huxter's brutal² speech.

John rose from the table. He had not eaten much, for Mr. Huxter's coarseness, and the note from his stepmother, had taken away his appetite.

"Won't you have something more, John?" asked Mrs. Huxter. "You've eaten very little."

[164]

"No, thank you. I don't feel much appetite this morning."

He took his hat, and was about to leave the house by the back door which led out of the kitchen.

"Where are you going, Oakley?" demanded Mr. Huxter.

"I am going out for a walk," said John, shortly.

Mr. Huxter hesitated whether to obey the dictates⁸ of the petty tyranny which impelled⁹ him to forbid John to go out, but finally decided¹⁰ not to interfere¹¹ at present. He contented¹² himself, therefore, with saying:—

"I expect you to return within an hour."

John made no reply, but his manly¹³ spirit revolted against such contemptible¹⁴ despotism. He did not recognize Mr. Huxter's authority, and did not mean to. He resolved to take an independent stand at once, and return when he pleased, and no sooner. I wish it to be distinctly understood that John did not expect, at his present age, to enjoy all the privileges of a grown man. He was always respectful to rightful authority, but he considered that Mr. Huxter's authority was not rightful, and that his commands ought to have no weight with him. Mr. Huxter did not know the character with which he had to deal. He did not know that John could be as firm under[165] some circumstances, as he was compliant¹⁵ in others. If he had known him better he might have felt less confident of triumphing over him.

When he left the room Huxter turned to his wife, and said, harshly:—

"I've got something to say to you, Mrs. Huxter. You needn't trouble yourself to take that boy's part. He is a proud-spirited young rascal¹⁶, and he needs taking down."

"He seems to me a very good sort of boy," said his wife.

"That shows what a good judge you are," said Mr. Huxter, with a sneer¹⁷. "He's a young bully¹⁸, and was all the time fighting with Ben."

"I always thought Ben inclined to be a bully," said Mrs. Huxter.

"Well, he is a proud young upstart," admitted his uncle, who had not forgiven Ben's disdain¹⁹. "Got some of the Brayton blood in him. But the other's just as bad. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. However, wife," pursued Mr. Huxter, with a change of tone, "it's likely to be a good thing for us. We're to have six dollars a week for boarding young Oakley."

"That's very good pay. I really think we ought to make him comfortable."

[166]

"He won't get much favor from me. I promised Jane I'd break his proud spirit, and I'm going to do it. I shall set him to work next week in the shop."

"Set him to work while we are getting six dollars a week for his board!" exclaimed Mrs. Huxter, in astonishment²⁰.

"Yes, that's what Jane told me to do."

"But his work alone will more than pay his board."

"All the better for us."

"But I don't think, Mr. Huxter, you have the right to do it."

"That shows how little you know about it. Isn't Jane his guardian?"

"Does she agree to the arrangement?"

"Of course she does. She told me I might do it."

"And she will be willing to pay his board besides?"

"Yes. You see I represented to her that now she was a rich woman she ought to do something for her only brother, and that's the way she's going to do it. It's a good thing for both of us. She gets rid of a troublesome young rascal, and I get handsomely paid for taking charge of him. It's a very simple arrangement."

[167]

"I can't seem to think it's right," said Mrs. Huxter, slowly.

"Then you're a fool," said Mr. Huxter, not very politely.

"I'm afraid there'll be trouble," thought Mrs. Huxter, nervously²¹, but she did not reply.

 

1 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。

2 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

3 mingled   

混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]

参考例句：

• The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
• The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

4 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

5 exultation   

n.狂喜，得意

参考例句：

• It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字，他屏住呼吸，乐得脸上放光。
• He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。

6 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

7 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

8 dictates   

n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• Convention dictates that a minister should resign in such a situation. 依照常规部长在这种情况下应该辞职。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He always follows the dictates of common sense. 他总是按常识行事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 impelled   

v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
• I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

12 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

13 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

14 contemptible   

adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的

参考例句：

• His personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.他气貌不扬，言语粗俗。
• That was a contemptible trick to play on a friend.那是对朋友玩弄的一出可鄙的把戏。

15 compliant   

adj.服从的，顺从的

参考例句：

• I don't respect people who are too compliant.我看不起那种唯命是从，唯唯诺诺的人。
• For years I had tried to be a compliant and dutiful wife.几年来，我努力做一名顺从和尽职尽职的妻子。

16 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

17 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

18 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。

19 disdain   

n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑

参考例句：

• Some people disdain labour.有些人轻视劳动。
• A great man should disdain flatterers.伟大的人物应鄙视献媚者。

20 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

21 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。