Though no reason was assigned for the summons, John of course lost no time in obeying it. On the third day he was set down at the lawyer's house.
"O John, how glad I am to see you!" said Sam, in his delight flinging both arms around John's neck, and giving him a warm embrace.
"Such news, John!" said Sam.
"It isn't the will?" inquired John, eagerly.
"But it is, though."
"Found?"
"Yes, and I found it. Didn't I tell you so! Don't you remember my dream?"
"But perhaps it's all a dream now."
"Well, if it is, it's a substantial dream, and father's[336] got the document locked up in his safe. You're no longer dependent on Mrs. Oakley, and you can go to college with me, and—you don't know how glad I am."
"Yes, I do, Sam," said John. "You're just as glad as if it had happened to yourself, and that's what I expected of you. But you haven't told me how it was found yet."
"Oh, it was such fun!" said Sam. "Sit down here, and I'll tell you all about it."
It need hardly be said that John was amused by the story of Ben's ludicrous embarrassment4; but he was surprised as well.
"How could Ben have got hold of it? I don't understand that."
"Nor I," said Sam. "But as long as we've got it, we won't trouble ourselves about that."
It was decided5 that the next morning Squire Selwyn, accompanied by John, should call on Mrs. Oakley, and make arrangements founded on the new phase of affairs.
Mrs. Oakley had not received intelligence of John's return, and her surprise was accompanied by a nervous sensation, when Hannah came up to her chamber6, and announced that Squire Selwyn was below, and Master John was with him.
[337]
"John Oakley?" she demanded, hastily.
"Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Oakley entered the parlor7 with her old haughty8 step, and coldly bade the lawyer "good-morning." Of John she took no notice.
"Good-morning, Mrs. Oakley," said John.
"So you have got back, have you?" she said.
"Yes, he has got home to stay," said Squire Selwyn, significantly.
"With or without my permission, I suppose," said Mrs. Oakley.
"I don't know that he needs anybody's permission to live in his own house," said the lawyer.
"His own house!" repeated Mrs. Oakley, in a voice which, despite her efforts, betrayed some nervousness.
"Yes, Mrs. Oakley. My object in calling upon you this morning is to apprise9 you that the will is found."
"What will?" she demanded.
"Your late husband's last will and testament10, in which he bequeaths this estate to his son John, here present."
"Where's the will?"
"Here," said the lawyer, producing it.
"Will you let me see it?"
[338]
"Excuse me, but it must remain in my possession till it is publicly read."
"What reason have I for believing this to be a genuine document?" said Mrs. Oakley, harshly. It was foolish thus to contend, and she knew it; but it angered her that by the document she should be stripped of two-thirds of what she had come to look upon as her own.
"I am prepared to swear that it is the will which I drew up for your husband three months before his death."
"I suppose I am not to ask how it came into your possession?" said Mrs. Oakley. "If it was concealed11 in this house, some one must have entered illegally, and made a secret search."
Mrs. Oakley fixed12 her eyes upon John, feeling satisfied that he had entered the house on the day she left her keys out, and opened the drawer.
"If you think I had anything to do with it, Mrs. Oakley," said John, "you are mistaken. I only reached Hampton last evening, summoned by Squire Selwyn."
"I accused you of nothing," said Mrs. Oakley, but she was greatly surprised.
"As to who found the will, Mrs. Oakley," said Squire Selwyn, composedly, "I will only suggest[339] that your son Benjamin can probably throw more light on this matter than any one else."
"Benjamin!" exclaimed Mrs. Oakley, quickly.
"Yes, I have reason to think he can give you all the information you desire."
Mrs. Oakley compressed her lips closely. Was it possible that Ben had found the will and deliberately13 carried it to Squire Selwyn? Could he have sold her and his own interests to the enemy? No doubt she argued, Squire Selwyn had bribed14 him at a heavy price to deliver it up.
"I don't understand this," she said. "If Benjamin found the will, he should have brought it to me."
"As, of course, you would have placed it in my hands, there is no harm done," said the lawyer, watching keenly the face that showed some discomposure as he spoke15. "But you can settle that with Ben. I will merely read you the provisions of the will informally, previous to presenting it for probate."
To this Mrs. Oakley could make no objection, though she was fully16 acquainted with the document to be read.
It provided that the home estate, consisting of the family mansion17, and lands situated18 in the town of[340] Hampton, valued together at twenty thousand dollars, should go to John. Of the remaining estate, invested in stocks and bonds, valued at forty thousand dollars, one half was to go to John, and the remaining half to Mrs. Oakley. Squire Selwyn was appointed executor, and guardian19 of John, until the latter should attain20 his majority.
"If the will is genuine,"—commenced Mrs. Oakley,—
"You certainly do not question my word to that effect?" said the lawyer, gravely.
"I have no right to stay in this house," continued Mrs. Oakley.
"I am quite sure John would wish you to exercise your own choice in that matter."
"I shall not remain a tenant21 on sufferance," said Mrs. Oakley, coldly. "Next week Benjamin and I go to the city."
"You will act your own pleasure, of course," said Squire Selwyn, rather glad to hear it, if the truth must be told.
Some other matters were discussed and they rose to go. John received no invitation to remain.
"I am afraid I must burden your hospitality, Squire Selwyn," he said, as they left the house.
"You are a welcome guest, and will always[341] be, John," said the lawyer. "Sam will be delighted at the arrangement."
"I don't know how my aunt will manage without me," said John. "I was her business manager."
"It seems to me, John, that your aunt had better sell out her store, and come and keep house for you. You will have a large house, and you are not quite old enough to marry and go to house-keeping."
"Not quite," said John, laughing.
"Your aunt will thus be relieved from business anxieties, and you are quite rich enough to provide for her and your cousins."
"It is an excellent arrangement," said John. "I'll write to her at once."
John did write, and, as might have been expected his aunt was very glad to accept his offer. It was, of course, impossible to doubt the validity of the will, and its provisions were, as soon as practicable, carried into effect. Mrs. Oakley removed to New York with Ben, and established herself at a boarding-house. On some accounts it was an unwise step. Ben, having nothing useful to do, grew dissipated, and contracted debts on all hands. In five years his mother's twenty thousand dollars had dwindled22 to a few hundreds, and once more she found herself obliged to exert herself for a support. She opened[342] a boarding-house, by means of which she managed to make a living. As for Ben, who she fondly hoped would grow up a gentleman, he appears to be sinking deeper and deeper every day into worthlessness and dissipation. He has cost his mother many sorrowful hours.
Mr. Huxter is dead. Probably his excesses in drinking hastened his death. His poor wife was left quite destitute23. When John heard of her distress24, grateful for her sympathy at a time when he stood in need of it, he asked permission to help her. A certain sum is paid her annually25 by him, by which, with her earnings26 as a dress-maker,—a trade which she followed before her marriage,—she is able to make a comfortable living for herself and her children.
John returned to his studies, and was admitted to college with Sam, where both took a high rank. They graduated at the last commencement, and are now both studying law.
Squire Bradley, of Wilton, who was much impressed by the skill with which John ferreted out Mr. Hall's rascality27, is anxious to have John enter his office; but Sam, who is unwilling28 to part with one who from boyhood has been his most intimate friend, insists that John shall enter his father's office with[343] him, after completing a course at a celebrated29 Law School where they now are. Probably this arrangement will best suit John. I have no hesitation30 in predicting for him a noble manhood and an honorable career. In spite of the gifts of Fortune that he possesses, I consider his warm and generous heart, his personal integrity, and his manly31 character, to be John Oakley's most valuable Inheritance.
The End
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1
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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3
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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5
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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8
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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9
apprise
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| vt.通知，告知 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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11
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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12
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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13
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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15
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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16
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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18
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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24
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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25
annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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27
rascality
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| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
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28
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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29
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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30
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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31
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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