CHAPTER XXXIV A DEED OF GIFT

 Within two weeks Joshua Burdoch had bought Mr. Nixon's share of the mine at Ransom¹ for forty thousand dollars. Mr. Hawk's share he secured for thirty thousand. He then made a formal proposal to Gerald to go to work for him as assistant manager. But to this Mr. Nixon demurred².

 

"I can't spare Gerald, Mr. Burdoch," he said.

 

"But, Mr. Nixon, think of the boy's interests. I am willing to pay him a salary of a hundred dollars a month."

 

"And I," said the old man, "will give him outright³ ten thousand dollars—one-fourth of the sum you have paid me for my interest in the mine."

 

"Give me your hand, Mr. Nixon," said Burdoch, "I can't go ahead of that. He is a good boy, and he deserves his good fortune."

 

Gerald was overwhelmed by his liberality.

 

"How can I thank you, Mr. Nixon," he said, "for your generosity⁴?"

 

"It isn't generosity. It's only justice. But for you I doubt if I should be living to-day. You have taught me how to live. And now let me tell you something. I have sent on to Mr. Nugent the amount I took from his firm many years ago. He refused to accept interest, but wrote that I might make up to you whatever it amounted to. It amounts to more than the ten thousand dollars I have given you, but that I will account for later."

 

"I cannot realize my good fortune, Mr. Nixon. You and Mr. Nugent have been very kind to me."

 

"Are you tired of living in Montana?"

 

"I don't like it as well as living in my old home."

 

"Nor do I. With your help I propose to settle up my affairs, convert what property I have here into money, and go back to the East."

 

"I am very glad to hear you say so, Mr. Nixon."

 

"It will probably require six months. Then we will start. But you must stay with me there. I have no relations that I care for. I consider you my adopted son, and will see that you are provided for."

 

Steps were immediately taken to settle up Mr. Nixon's estate. To anticipate matters a little, it was found, after this was effected, that he possessed⁵ close upon seventy-five thousand dollars, though he had paid up the sum of his defalcation⁶ and made Gerald a gift of ten thousand dollars.

 

At length the time came when Mr. Nixon was ready to start for the East. The old man brightened up with anticipation⁷.

 

"Gerald," he said, "I feel ten years younger. I really begin to think that I shall live a few years longer."

 

"I am sure you will, Mr. Nixon."

 

"How much I owe you! I little thought when you came to me, a mere⁸ boy, that you would do me so much good. John Nugent knew what he was about when he selected you as his messenger. How long is it since you came to me?"

 

"It must be nearly a year and a half."

 

"I should have been in my grave before this if you had not come. Do you ever hear from your stepmother?"

 

"I have not heard from her."

 

"She is still at Portville?"

 

"I suppose so."

 

"You won't leave me and go to live with her?"

 

"There is no danger of that," answered Gerald.

 

Mr. Nixon breathed a sigh of relief.

 

"Stay with the old man till he dies!" he pleaded. "You won't be sorry."

 

"I will, Mr. Nixon."

1 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

2 demurred   

v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• At first she demurred, but then finally agreed. 她开始表示反对，但最终还是同意了。
• They demurred at working on Sundays. 他们反对星期日工作。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

4 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

5 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

6 defalcation   

n.盗用公款，挪用公款，贪污

参考例句：

• Scientific Definition of \"Defalcation Without Return\" and \"Defalcation Turning to Embezzlement \" 科学界定“挪用公款不退还”与“挪用转化为贪污” 来自互联网
• The bank lost money by the defalcation of the cashier. 银行因出纳员挪用公款而受到金钱损失。 来自互联网

7 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

8 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。