CHAPTER VIII A NEW PLAN

 Mark was in his room, where Frank found him trying on a new necktie. Though decidedly plain, Mark fancied himself very good-looking, and spent no little time on personal adornment¹. In particular, he had a weakness for new neckties, in which he indulged himself freely.

 

When the boys came to the academy, the principal proposed that they should room together; but both objected, and Mark had a room to himself—no one caring to room with him.

 

"Take a seat, Frank," said Mark, condescendingly. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

 

"Yes," answered Frank. "I hear your father has sold Ajax, or is intending to do so. Will you tell me if it is true?"

 

"I believe it is," answered Mark, indifferently.

 

"And what right has he to sell my horse?" demanded Frank, indignantly.

 

"You'd better ask him," said Mark, with provoking coolness.

 

"It is an outrage," said Frank, indignantly.

 

"As to that," said his stepbrother, "you can't expect father to be at the expense of feeding your horse."

 

"With my money?"

 

"The money is legally his," replied Mark.

 

"Do you know to whom your father has sold Ajax?"

 

"To Col. Vincent, I believe."

 

"I am glad, at any rate, that he will have a good master."

 

Frank felt that there would be no advantage in prolonging the interview, or carrying on further a war of words.

 

He sought out his friend Herbert, and communicated to him this last infraction² of his rights.

 

"It is too bad, Frank!" said his sympathizing friend.

 

"Yes, it is," said Frank, gravely; "but I fear it is only the beginning of annoyances³. I don't believe I can ever live in any place with Mr. Manning or Mark."

 

"Will it be necessary?"

 

"I suppose so. I have no money, as you know. All has gone to him. Herbert, I tell you frankly⁴, I envy you and your position."

 

"Though my father is a poor man?"

 

"Yes; for, at any rate, you have a peaceful home, and a father and mother who love you. I have a stepfather, who will do all he can to make me miserable⁵."

 

"Would you be willing to work for your own support, Frank?"

 

"Yes; far rather than remain a dependent on Mr. Manning."

 

"Suppose you should run away," suggested Herbert.

 

Frank shook his head.

 

"I wouldn't do that except in case of extreme necessity. I know that if my mother knows what goes on here, it would grieve her for me to take such a step."

 

"Suppose your stepfather should consent to your leaving home?"

 

"Then I would do so gladly. I am willing to work and I think I could make a living in some way."

 

"Why not ask him?"

 

Frank's face brightened.

 

"Thank you for the hint, Herbert," he said. "I will think of it, and I may act upon it."

 

Frank was naturally self-reliant and energetic. He was not disposed to shrink from the duties of life, but was ready to go forth⁶ to meet them. The idea which Herbert had suggested commended itself to him the more he thought of it.

 

In spite, therefore, of the news which he had received about Ajax, he resumed his cheerfulness, considerably⁷ to the surprise of Mark, whose natural suspicion led him to conjecture⁸ that Frank had some plan in view to circumvent⁹ his father.

 

"If he has, he'd better give it up," reflected Mark. "The old man's as sly as a fox. A raw boy like Frank can't get the better of him."

 

At the close of the week, both the boys went home. They were on board the same train and the same car, but did not sit together. When they reached the house, Mr. Manning was not at home.

 

Frank went out to the stable at once to see Richard Green, the coachman.

 

He found him, indeed, but he also found another man, a stranger, who appeared to be employed in the stable.

 

"Who is this, Richard?" asked Frank.

 

"My successor," answered the coachman.

 

"Are you going to leave?" asked Frank, hastily.

 

"Come out with me, Mr. Frank, and I will tell you," said Richard. "I've had notice to leave," he said, "and so has Deborah. It came last evening. Mr. Manning got a letter from Bridgeville—I know that, because I brought it home from the post office—which appeared to make him angry. He called Deborah and me and told us that he should not need our services any longer."

 

"Did he give you any reason?"

 

"Yes; he said that he could have our places filled for a good deal less money, and he had no doubt we could do as well elsewhere."

 

"He has filled your place pretty soon."

 

"Yes. This man came this morning. I think Mr. Manning had sent for him already. I told you the other day we should soon be discharged."

 

"I know it; but I can tell you what has hastened it."

 

"What, then?"

 

"Mark wrote his father that I had learned about the sale of Ajax, and that the information came from you or Deborah."

 

"I think it likely, Mr. Frank, for the old gentleman seemed mighty¹⁰ cool. I hope you won't take it too much to heart that Ajax is sold."

 

"I am not sure but I am glad of it," said Frank.

 

The coachman looked at him in surprise.

 

"I thought you would be very angry," he said.

 

"So I was at first, but he has been sold to a man who will treat him well, and I shall be glad to think of that when I'm away from home."

 

"You don't mean to run away, Mr. Frank?"

 

"No; but I mean to get my stepfather's permission to go, if I can."

 

"Where do you mean to go, Mr. Frank?"

 

"Somewhere where I can earn my living, without depending upon anybody. You know very well, Richard, how miserable I should be to stay here in dependence¹¹ upon Mr. Manning."

 

"But to think that you, to whom the property rightfully belongs, should go away and work for a living, while that man and his boy occupy your place. I can't bear to think of it."

 

"I have done a good deal of thinking within a few days, and I don't shrink from the prospect¹². I think I should rather enjoy being actively¹³ employed."

 

"But you were to go to college, Mr. Frank."

 

"I know it, Richard, but I am not sure whether it would be for the best. My tastes are for an active business life, and I don't care for a profession."

 

"Do you think your stepfather will give you a start?"

 

"In the way of money?"

 

"Yes."

 

"I don't know. If he won't, I have still fifty dollars in the savings¹⁴ bank, which I have saved from my pocket money. I will take that."

 

"Mr. Frank, will you promise not to be offended at what I'm going to say?"

 

"I don't think you would say anything that ought to offend me, Richard."

 

"Then I want you to take the money that comes to me by the will—Mr. Manning is to pay it to me on Monday. I don't need it, and you may."

 

Frank shook his head.

 

"You are very kind, Richard, but I will get along with fifty dollars, unless Mr. Manning supplies me with more. If I really need money at any time, I will think of your offer."

 

"That's something, at any rate," said Richard. partly reconciled. "You won't forget it now, Mr. Frank?"

 

"No, Richard, I promise you."

 

Frank left the stable and went thoughtfully into the house.

1 adornment   

n.装饰；装饰品

参考例句：

• Lucie was busy with the adornment of her room.露西正忙着布置她的房间。
• Cosmetics are used for adornment.化妆品是用来打扮的。

2 infraction   

n.违反；违法

参考例句：

• He was criticized for his infraction of the discipline.他因违反纪律而受到了批评。
• Parking at the bus stop is illegal,Motorists committing this infraction are heavily fined.在公交站停车是违法的，触犯此条的司机将受重罚。

3 annoyances   

n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事

参考例句：

• At dinner that evening two annoyances kept General Zaroff from perfect enjoyment one. 当天晚上吃饭时，有两件不称心的事令沙洛夫吃得不很香。 来自辞典例句
• Actually, I have a lot of these little annoyances-don't we all? 事实上我有很多类似的小烦恼，我们不都有这种小烦恼吗？ 来自互联网

4 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。

5 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

6 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

7 considerably   

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。

8 conjecture   

n./v.推测，猜测

参考例句：

• She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
• This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

9 circumvent   

vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜

参考例句：

• Military planners tried to circumvent the treaty.军事策略家们企图绕开这一条约。
• Any action I took to circumvent his scheme was justified.我为斗赢他的如意算盘而采取的任何行动都是正当的。

10 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

11 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

12 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

13 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

14 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。