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CHAPTER XXXV JOHN GRAVES REAPPEARS
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 We must now go back to Portville and gather some information about Gerald's family.
 
Mrs. Lane lived in the old mansion1 that had belonged to his father. Abel also lived with her. He had teased her to go to the city to live, but she hesitated, partly from motives2 of prudence3 and partly from a thought of the temptations to which she feared Abel would yield.
 
She did not find her son a source of satisfaction. He was irritable4 and unpleasant in his manner, and a source of anxiety to her.
 
One day he came in and broke out: "What do you think I heard this morning?"
 
"I don't know. You had better tell me at once."
 
"Gerald is on his way home."
 
"Is he indeed? Who told you?"
 
"Munroe Hill. He lives near Mr. Nugent, you know. Mr. Nugent told him. Are you going to let him come here?"
 
"I don't know," replied Mrs. Lane, hesitatingly. "I presume he has some money."
 
"Then let him pay board. You can't afford to support him."
 
"People might say ill-natured things, as I received all my money from his father."
 
"Let them talk! It is none of their business. That reminds me, ma. Can't you let me have five dollars?"
 
"I let you have some money three days ago," said Mrs. Lane, frowning. "What did you do with it?"
 
"It was only three dollars."
 
"That is a good deal of money for a boy of your age. You seem to think I am made of money."
 
"You mustn't get mean, ma. Why, Mr. Lane left you as much as fifty thousand dollars. I have heard you say so."
 
"I will give you two dollars, and not a cent more. Don't ask me for any more for a week."
 
Abel did not commit himself, but taking the money, went down the street, where he soon spent part of it playing pool with a young man of not the best reputation.
 
Mrs. Lane sat down at her desk, and began to examine her accounts.
 
"Fifty thousand dollars!" she mused5. "Yes, it is a goodly sum, and will maintain Abel and myself in comfort all our lives. I am sorry he is growing so extravagant6. I shall have to check him. In one month I shall hand in my final accounts, and shall come into undisputed possession of my money. Then I shall be able to carry out the plan I have had in view so long, and will make a tour of Europe with Abel. I am told that it does not cost as much to travel in Europe as in this country. There, free from all money cares, I can enjoy myself. I can hardly wait for the time to come."
 
She closed her book and leaned back in her chair, in complacent7 thought.
 
But her meditation8 was soon interrupted.
 
"There's a gentleman below wishes to see you, Mrs. Lane," said Susan, the servant.
 
"Who is it? Did you ever see him before?"
 
"No, ma'am."
 
"What name did he give?"
 
"Here's his card, ma'am. I came near forgetting to give it to you."
 
Mrs. Lane took the card from the servant's hand, and glanced at it.
 
She turned pale and uttered a half exclamation9. Of all men in the world John Graves was about the last she wished to see. It was he who had deposited thirty thousand dollars in her husband's hands, and now, doubtless, he had come to claim it. This would take away more than half of the fortune on whose possession she had been congratulating herself.
 
What should she do? While she was considering this difficult question, Mr. Graves was ushered10 into the room.
 
He was a man of somewhat less than medium size, sixty years of age, but looking considerably11 older on account of his white hair and beard.
 
"Mrs. Lane?" he said inquiringly.
 
"That's my name," she answered stiffly.
 
"I have been living in Australia," he resumed, "for many years. Circumstances cut me off from news, and it is only since I came to Portville that I learned the sad news of your husband's death."
 
Mrs. Lane did not reply, but regarded him with a frosty air.
 
"It seems my poor friend has been dead nearly two years?"
 
"Yes."
 
John Graves regarded her with some surprise, so cold and repelling12 was her manner.
 
"Our relations were very confidential," continued Graves. "Before I went away I deposited in your husband's hands, as he doubtless told you, the sum of thirty thousand dollars."
 
"You are mistaken, sir," returned Mrs. Lane, in an icy tone. "He never told me any such thing, and you must pardon me for saying that I do not believe such a preposterous13 statement!"
 
John Graves arched his eyebrows14 in amazement15, and regarded Mrs. Lane for a moment without speaking.
 
"Did your husband leave no memorandum16 respecting my deposit?" he asked, after a pause.
 
"No, sir."
 
"That is very remarkable17."
 
"It is more remarkable that you should come here with such a barefaced18 claim—a claim that would sweep away more than half of the estate my husband left."
 
"Then you doubt the genuineness of my claim?" he asked, calmly.
 
"I do."
 
"Then I will say good-by—for the present." John Graves rose, and, with a bow, left the room. Mrs. Lane breathed a sigh of relief.
 
"I think I have gotten rid of him," she said.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦,大楼;宅第
参考例句:
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
2 motives 6c25d038886898b20441190abe240957     
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
  • His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。
3 prudence 9isyI     
n.谨慎,精明,节俭
参考例句:
  • A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
  • The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。
4 irritable LRuzn     
adj.急躁的;过敏的;易怒的
参考例句:
  • He gets irritable when he's got toothache.他牙一疼就很容易发脾气。
  • Our teacher is an irritable old lady.She gets angry easily.我们的老师是位脾气急躁的老太太。她很容易生气。
5 mused 0affe9d5c3a243690cca6d4248d41a85     
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事)
参考例句:
  • \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们,”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道:‘我们这是在干什么?” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
6 extravagant M7zya     
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的
参考例句:
  • They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
  • He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。
7 complacent JbzyW     
adj.自满的;自鸣得意的
参考例句:
  • We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
  • She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。
8 meditation yjXyr     
n.熟虑,(尤指宗教的)默想,沉思,(pl.)冥想录
参考例句:
  • This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉,我打断了你的沉思。
9 exclamation onBxZ     
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词
参考例句:
  • He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
  • The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号,以引起读者的注意。
10 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
12 repelling 404f2b412d0ea801afe58063d78dd5c6     
v.击退( repel的现在分词 );使厌恶;排斥;推开
参考例句:
  • He saw himself standing up and repelling a charge. 他仿佛看见自己挺身而起,打退了敌人的进攻。 来自辞典例句
  • Promote the healthy entertainment styles. Repelling the superstition, gambling, drugs and obscenity. 提倡健康娱乐。抵制封建迷信活动,拒绝黄、赌、毒。 来自互联网
13 preposterous e1Tz2     
adj.荒谬的,可笑的
参考例句:
  • The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
  • It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。
14 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
15 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
16 memorandum aCvx4     
n.备忘录,便笺
参考例句:
  • The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
  • The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。
17 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
18 barefaced WP9yN     
adj.厚颜无耻的,公然的
参考例句:
  • It's barefaced robbery asking such a high price for that old bicycle!那辆旧自行车要价如此之高真是无耻的敲诈。
  • What barefaced cheek!真是厚颜无耻!


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