CHAPTER XXIII NEW ARRANGEMENTS

 Gerald remained after the others left the cabin. The old man looked at him inquiringly.

 

"I don't think I know you," he said. "Do you live in the village?"

 

"No, sir. I was sent here from the East."

 

Thomas Nixon looked puzzled.

 

"Are you going to school?"

 

"No, sir. I was sent here to see you."

 

"To see me? I don't understand."

 

"Do you remember writing a letter to Mr. John Nugent, of Portville?"

 

"Yes; but surely——"

 

"I have a copy of your letter here, which I will show you. You wished Mr. Nugent to send a messenger to represent him and assist you in any way you might desire."

 

"But," exclaimed the old man, in astonishment¹, "I didn't expect him to send a boy."

 

"This letter will explain to you why he sent me."

 

"Read it to me. I cannot see without my glasses."

 

Gerald drew the letter from the envelope, and read as follows:

 

"Mr. Nixon,

"I need not say that I was surprised to receive your letter. I supposed you dead long ago. I am glad to hear that you are alive, and are in such a creditable state of mind. When you appropriated our funds, you injured yourself more than you did us. I am sure you have regretted it many times.

"I cannot go out to see you as I would if I were younger and stronger, for I am getting to be an old man, and I am feeble, besides being a victim of rheumatism². As to sending a messenger, I was at first greatly in doubt whom I could select. Finally I fixed³ upon Gerald Lane, whose late father I knew well. He is only a boy, but he possesses as much good judgment⁴ as many men ten years older. Besides, he is thoroughly⁵ honest and reliable. I place him at your service, with full power to act for me, and I will pay his expenses. When you know him as well as I do, you will learn to trust him as much as I do.

"I remain, with sincere good wishes,

"Your old friend,

"John Nugent."

Gerald was gratified in reading the terms used in speaking of him.

 

Mr. Nixon listened intently.

 

"That is a good letter, and gives me great pleasure!" he said. "I am glad that John Nugent forgives me the injury I did him."

 

"Yes, he told me that he freely forgave you."

 

"But still," said the old man, "it seems strange to me that a boy of your age—— How old are you?"

 

"Sixteen."

 

"That a boy of sixteen should be so trusted."

 

"I am surprised, too, Mr. Nixon," said Gerald, frankly⁶. "I hope I shall be found to deserve all that Mr. Nugent says of me. He is a fine man, and has been a good friend to me."

 

"He is an excellent man," said Mr. Nixon, with emphasis. "I like you, too, and I feel confident that you deserve what he says of you."

 

"I hope so, Mr. Nixon, and I want to be of service to you. Will you let me offer a suggestion?"

 

"By all means."

 

"Then don't you think it is unwise to keep your gold so exposed? I wonder you have not been robbed before."

 

"That is true. I have been imprudent. But I have been so miserably⁷ sick, I was unable to make any other arrangements. Now that you are here, I will think what I can do."

 

"Is there no bank where you could store it?"

 

"Yes, there is one ten miles away, in Fairfield, but I am not able to go there."

 

"Send me, then. You will want to keep some of the gold by you for use."

 

"I use very little money," said the old man, shaking his head.

 

"I hope you will use more. You are getting old, and you ought to be more comfortably situated⁸. As I read the letter you sent to Mr. Nugent I know that you are abundantly able to live better than you do."

 

"You are right. Heretofore I have had no ambitions and no object in life, but since I am assured of John Nugent's forgiveness I feel that a burden had been lifted from my soul. You are so young, you won't get tired of staying with the old man?"

 

"No, Mr. Nixon. Not only for Mr. Nugent's sake, but for your sake, I will gladly remain with you and do what I can."

 

"Thank you. It puts new life into me to know that I have a young companion who will help me, and do for me what I cannot do for myself. You came at the right time."

 

"Yes, I was startled when I opened the cabin door to see that man in the act of robbing you. Is he really your nephew?"

 

"Dear knows, I don't! I never saw him before. Whatever he is I don't care to recognize him as a relative."

 

"I don't think he will ever trouble you again. The men who carried him away will give him a good fright, at any rate. Now, Mr. Nixon, where do you think it best that I should stay? I need to be near you to take care of you."

 

The old man looked puzzled. He looked about him at the contracted accommodations of the cabin, and hesitated.

 

"I am afraid you would not like staying here," he said, after awhile.

 

"Not for any length of time, Mr. Nixon. If you won't be offended, I will ask you why you stay here yourself?"

 

"I have lived here ever since I came to Campville," he answered.

 

"And how long is that?"

 

"Fifteen years."

 

"Did you build the cabin?"

 

"No. It had just been vacated by the original owner and builder."

 

"You ought to have a more comfortable home."

 

"Yes, I suppose so," said Thomas Nixon; "but I don't know where to go."

 

"Will you authorize⁹ me to find you a place, Mr. Nixon?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Then I will go out at once and see what I can find. You should not stay here another night."

 

"Come back soon," said the old man.

 

He had already come to value the company of his young companion, and felt that he should miss him, even for a short time.

 

Gerald took his hat and went out. He bent¹⁰ his steps toward the store of Joe Loche, feeling that he should there be more likely to obtain the information of which he was in search. He had already called there, like Ralph Nixon, to inquire the way to the cabin of the old man.

 

"Mr. Loche," he said, proceeding¹¹ at once to business, "is there any comfortable house vacant in the village?"

 

"Yes," answered the storekeeper. "There is a four-room house, which was occupied yesterday but is vacant to-day."

 

"Who owns it?"

 

"I do. I bought it, furniture and all, from Jim Morris, who has made his pile, and is going back to his old home in New Hampshire."

 

"Are you willing to sell or let it?"

 

"Either one. Are you going to get married and settle down among us?"

 

"Not quite yet," answered Gerald, with a laugh. "I have been sent from the East to Mr. Nixon, and I shall stay with him for a while. He has authorized¹² me to look him up a more suitable home."

 

"I am glad to hear it. That old tumble-down shanty¹³ isn't fit for the old man to live in."

 

"Would you mind showing me the house?"

 

"I shall be glad to do so. Here, Dennis, just look after business, and I will go over to Jim's house with this young man."

 

Gerald found the house better furnished than he had anticipated. Jim Morris had a wife and young family, and had provided them a comfortable home. The house seemed completely furnished, even to crockery and kitchen furniture. Gerald was much pleased.

 

"I will recommend Mr. Nixon to hire it, and after a while I hope he will buy it. Can he move in to-night?"

 

"Sure."

 

"Then I will take it. I am sure Mr. Nixon will do what I advise."

 

"You don't ask what I shall charge!"

 

"No, Mr. Loche, because I know you will only ask a fair price; and, besides, there is no other house I can get."

 

"That is true. Well, it will be all right about the terms."

 

"One thing more. Have you a wagon¹⁴ in which you can bring Mr. Nixon over? He is too feeble to walk."

 

"I'll send at once. My assistant, Dennis Carlyle, will harness up and go back with you."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Loche."

 

"I say, boy, you seem to be a pretty smart kid. So you are going to look after the old man?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Then he's in luck. You have begun well."

 

"What was done with the man who tried to rob him?"

 

"He got an everlasting¹⁵ thrashing. We made him run the gauntlet, and he was pretty sore when he crept away. We thought at first of hanging him!"

 

"I am glad you didn't. I don't think he will trouble his uncle again."

 

"No, he won't come within fifty miles of Campville again as long as he lives."

1 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。

2 rheumatism   

n.风湿病

参考例句：

• The damp weather plays the very devil with my rheumatism.潮湿的天气加重了我的风湿病。
• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。

3 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。

4 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

5 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。

6 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

7 miserably   

adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地

参考例句：

• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
• It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨，天气又冷又湿，令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

9 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

10 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

11 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

12 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

13 shanty   

n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子

参考例句：

• His childhood was spent in a shanty.他的童年是在一个简陋小屋里度过的。
• I want to quit this shanty.我想离开这烂房子。

14 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

15 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。