CHAPTER V ABEL ARRIVES IN PORTVILLE

 The train which reached Portville at four o'clock was full, and half a dozen persons were standing¹ up. One seat, however, was not taken. At a window sat a boy of sixteen—a sallow-complexioned boy, with a face that was neither good-looking nor amiable². On the seat beside him was a valise.

 

"Is this seat taken?" asked a pale, tired-looking woman, who had made her way up from the other end of the car.

 

"Yes," answered Abel, gruffly, for this was the son of Mrs. Lane, now on his way to his mother's home.

 

The woman sighed, for she was in poor health and very tired.

 

A man sitting just behind said, indignantly:

 

"No, madam, it is not taken. Remove your valise, boy, and let the lady sit down."

 

"I am expecting a friend to get in at the next station," said Abel, crossly.

 

"That makes no difference. This lady is here, and is better entitled to a seat than a passenger in the next town."

 

"I don't see what business it is of yours," said Abel, irritably³.

 

He made no offer to remove the valise.

 

"Then I will show you."

 

The gentleman took Abel's bag and set it down in the aisle⁴.

 

"Now sit down, madam," he said.

 

"Thank you, sir, but I don't want to incommode the young gentleman."

 

"He has no right to feel incommoded. Take the seat. It is your right."

 

She sank into the seat with a sigh of relief.

 

Abel felt and looked very indignant. He was a boy who had always been accustomed to consult his own comfort and convenience, and he was vexed⁵ that he had been compelled to yield in the present instance.

 

The woman coughed. She evidently had a severe cold. Abel had opened the window, and a strong east wind entered. It would have been uncomfortable even to a person perfectly⁶ well, but to one having a cough it was very trying.

 

"Would you mind putting down the window?" she asked, timidly. "I have a terrible cold."

 

"I prefer it open," said Abel, rudely.

 

The passenger behind was cognizant of all that passed.

 

"Madam," he said, "will you exchange seats with me?"

 

She rose and took the rear seat while the gentleman seated himself beside Abel. He was a stout⁷ man, and filled more than half the seat. Abel looked disgusted.

 

"Now, young man, close that window!" said the stout man, in a tone of command.

 

Abel obeyed, but it was with great unwillingness⁸. He did not dare to do otherwise.

 

"It is very close," he grumbled⁹. "I like a little air."

 

"There is no other open window on this side the car. If the others can stand it, you can."

 

"I wish people would mind their own business," grumbled Abel, peevishly¹⁰.

 

"Look here, young man, if you give me any more of your impudence¹¹ I will give you a thrashing!" said the stout man, sternly.

 

He looked quite capable of carrying out his threat, and Abel, thoroughly¹² cowed, relapsed into silence.

 

At length they reached Portville, and Abel, picking up his valise, stepped out of the car.

 

He looked about him on the platform, thinking he might see his mother, but she was not quite sure as to the train by which Abel would come, and had not come to meet him.

 

Abel looked about and espied¹³ a boy rather younger than himself. It was John Holman.

 

"Boy," he said, "can you tell me where Mrs. Lane lives?"

 

"The widow Lane?"

 

"Yes, she is a widow."

 

"About half a mile away. You go up this road and take two turns."

 

"Oh, bother, why didn't she come to meet me? How can I find the way?"

 

"Come along with me. I am going that way."

 

"All right! Won't you take my valise, too? That's a good fellow. I will pay you five cents."

 

"I will take it to oblige you. I won't charge you anything."

 

"You'd better take the nickel. You look like a poor boy."

 

"I am not in any special need of five cents," said John, not pleased with the patronizing tone of his new companion.

 

Abel was pleased, however, with the idea of not having to pay for the service.

 

"Do you know Mrs. Lane?" asked Abel.

 

"Yes. Gerald Lane is my intimate friend."

 

"Gerald? Oh, yes! that is Mr. Lane's son. What sort of a boy is he?"

 

"He is a tip-top boy. Everybody likes him."

 

"Humph! isn't he rather independent?"

 

"Why shouldn't he be? His family was one of the most prominent in the village."

 

"Ah, just so!" said Abel, complacently¹⁴, for he felt that this made his mother's position the stronger.

 

"I suppose you wonder who I am," said Abel, after a pause.

 

"I suppose you are a friend of the family."

 

"I should say I was. I am Mrs. Lane's son."

 

This surprised John, for Gerald had neglected to tell him the information he had only just obtained himself.

 

"I never heard Gerald speak of you," he said, half incredulous.

 

"Gerald knew nothing about me."

 

"How is that?"

 

"Mother and Mr. Lane thought it best not to tell him."

 

"But, of course, he will know now."

 

"Certainly. I am going to live here."

 

John made no comments, but he thought it rather a strange state of things. However, they had by this time reached the Lane residence, and John, indicating it, gave the valise to Abel.

 

From the window Mrs. Lane saw the arrival of her son and opened the door for him. "Oh, my darling boy!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms about his neck. "So you have come home at last!"

 

"Don't choke me, mother," said Abel, impatiently. "It doesn't look well to hug a fellow in public."

 

"I can't help it, Abel. I am so delighted to see you. Come right in and sit down. Are you tired?"

 

"Rather. I say, mother, you are pretty well fixed¹⁵ here."

 

"Yes, Abel; you like the house, don't you?"

 

"Yes; it is ever so much better than that old, tumble-down house we lived in before you came to Portville."

 

"Hush¹⁶! Don't let any one hear you refer to that."

 

"Who is there to hear?"

 

"The servant might overhear you some day. Besides, there is Gerald."

 

"Where is he?"

 

"Out somewhere. He will be home to supper."

 

"Did he get any of the property?"

 

"No, Abel; it is all mine."

 

"Good. You played your cards pretty well."

 

"Don't express yourself in that coarse way."

 

"It's true, though. Isn't it rather strange old Lane shut out his own son?"

 

"Don't call him old Lane. It doesn't sound well."

 

"I say, mother, how much does the property amount to?"

 

"About fifty thousand dollars, Abel."

 

"Well, mother, you have been smart. I suppose you'll settle half of it on me."

 

"There is no occasion to talk of that. Of course, when I die I shall leave all to you."

 

"And none to Gerald?"

 

"Well, perhaps a little, just for appearance' sake."

 

"You needn't leave him over a hundred dollars. But I say, mother, you'll give me a good allowance, won't you?"

 

"Yes, I will think of that."

 

"Have you got a nice room for me?"

 

"Come up, and I will show you."

 

On the second floor at the rear were two rooms—a large square room and a hall bedroom beside it.

 

"You will sleep in the small room to-night, Abel."

 

"But who has the large room?"

 

"It is occupied by Gerald."

 

"That's not fair. Why shouldn't I have it?"

 

"You shall have it after awhile. Gerald has always occupied it, and he may make a fuss."

 

"Suppose he does. You ain't afraid of him, are you?"

 

"What a question! As if I should be afraid of a boy who is wholly under my control."

 

"I hope you will give me the room to-morrow."

 

"I will see what can be done."

 

"I was thinking what Mr. Lane would say if he should see me here. He didn't know you had a son, did he?"

 

"No; I deemed it best to keep it from him."

 

"Perhaps if you had told him he might have left me some of his money."

 

"He left it to me, which amounts to the same thing."

 

"Not quite, unless you give me a large slice right off. Have you told Gerald about me?"

 

"I told him this morning."

 

"How did he take it?"

 

"He seemed surprised."

 

"Did he think it strange he had not heard of me?"

 

"Probably he did. I told him Mr. Lane knew about you."

 

"That's all right."

 

At this moment Mrs. Lane heard the front door open.

 

"That's Gerald," she said. "Come down-stairs, and I will introduce you."

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

3 irritably   

ad.易生气地

参考例句：

• He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children. 他发火了，暴躁地斥责孩子们。
• On this account the silence was irritably broken by a reproof. 为了这件事，他妻子大声斥责，令人恼火地打破了宁静。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

5 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

8 unwillingness   

n. 不愿意，不情愿

参考例句：

• Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position. 她不愿回答问题，这不利于她所处的形势。
• His apparent unwillingness would disappear if we paid him enough. 如果我们付足了钱，他露出的那副不乐意的神情就会消失。

9 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

10 peevishly   

adv．暴躁地

参考例句：

• Paul looked through his green glasses peevishly when the other speaker brought down the house with applause. 当另一个演说者赢得了满座喝彩声时，保罗心里又嫉妒又气恼。
• "I've been sick, I told you," he said, peevishly, almost resenting her excessive pity. “我生了一场病，我告诉过你了，"他没好气地说，对她的过分怜悯几乎产生了怨恨。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

11 impudence   

n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼

参考例句：

• His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
• What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。

12 thoroughly   

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。

13 espied   

v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日，她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了，她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子，现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句

14 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

15 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。

16 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！