CHAPTER XXXVII CONCLUSION

 Three days later Gerald and Mr. Nixon reached Portville. They called at once on Mr. Nugent, who received the old man kindly¹ and cordially.

 

"Mr. Nugent," said Tom Nixon, "I have come prepared to pay you the interest on the amount of my defalcation²."

 

"Give it to Gerald. I don't want it."

 

"I have already given Gerald ten thousand dollars, and when I die he will have all that I leave behind me."

 

Mr. Nugent looked much pleased. He grasped the hand of his old debtor³ cordially, and said: "I am pleased to hear it. Then you found Gerald of assistance to you?"

 

"But for him I should not have been living to-day. He has done everything for me."

 

"Probably you wondered at my choice of a messenger at first?"

 

"Yes. It seemed strange to me that you should select a young boy, but I soon found that he had the sense and discretion⁴ of a man."

 

"Have you seen your stepmother yet, Gerald?" asked Mr. Nugent.

 

"No; but I met Abel on the street."

 

"What did he have to say?"

 

"He asked me if I had any money."

 

"What did you reply?"

 

"'A little.' Then he said, 'If you expect to live on ma you will find yourself much mistaken. You will have to earn your own living.' I told him I shouldn't trouble Mrs. Lane."

 

"But, perhaps, you may," said Mr. Nugent.

 

Gerald looked an inquiry⁵.

 

Mr. Nugent explained:

 

"I have in my hands a later will than the one under which Mrs. Lane inherits. It was placed in my hands by your father, with directions not to produce it if Mrs. Lane treated you fairly. Otherwise, I was to make it known. By this will you are left half the property. That will only amount to ten thousand dollars, as Mrs. Lane has been compelled to surrender thirty thousand dollars to John Graves. She will be left comparatively poor."

 

"Mr. Nugent," said Gerald, "am I compelled to take advantage of this will?"

 

"Why do you ask?"

 

"Because, thanks to Mr. Nixon's generosity⁶, I do not need it. I feel rich already. I am willing to surrender all claims upon my father's estate."

 

"Your stepmother does not deserve it."

 

"Let the boy have his way," said Thomas Nixon, "I prefer to provide for him myself."

 

So it was arranged. Mrs. Lane was left in undisturbed possession of the estate, but now—five years later—it has been reduced one half. Abel has proved extravagant⁷ and dissipated, and is far from giving satisfaction to his mother. Gerald has bought his father's house, and is now owner of the old homestead. He and Mr. Nixon live there, and he occupies a business position in the city. His prospects⁸ are very bright, and there is every indication that he will be in time a very rich man. In his case success is based on merit. He has brought happiness to Mr. Nixon, who is in better health than he has been for the last twenty years. The clouds that darkened a part of his life have rolled by, and his declining years are full of sunshine, thanks to Gerald and his mission.

The End

1 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

2 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

3 debtor   

n.借方，债务人

参考例句：

• He crowded the debtor for payment.他催逼负债人还债。
• The court granted me a lien on my debtor's property.法庭授予我对我债务人财产的留置权。

4 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

5 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

6 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。

7 extravagant   

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。

8 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。