CHAPTER XIV GOOD-BYE

 Frank had fixed¹ upon the Tuesday morning succeeding the close of the academic term for his departure from home. Monday was devoted² to a few necessary preparations and a few calls on old friends, among them Col. Vincent, the owner of Ajax.

 

"My dear Frank," said the colonel, kindly³, "I feel a strong interest in your welfare, more especially because of the wrong which I do not scruple⁴ to say has been done you. What does Mr. Manning say to your plan?"

 

"He makes no objection," said Frank.

 

"Suppose he had done so?"

 

"I would not have run away. He is my stepfather and guardian⁵, and I would have endured staying at home as well as I could."

 

"There you are right, Frank. Though I have a poor opinion of Mr. Manning, he is not likely to treat you in a manner to justify⁶ your going away without his permission. From what I have heard within the last week, I suspect that he feels relieved to have you go."

 

"What have you heard, sir?"

 

"That Mr. Manning will shortly sail for Europe, taking Mark with him."

 

Frank was surprised, having no suspicion of this.

 

"Now are you not sorry that you have decided⁷ to go out into the world to earn a living when you might have seen something of the Old World?"

 

"Mr. Manning would never have taken me along," answered Frank, quietly, "nor should I have enjoyed traveling with him and Mark."

 

"Of the two, who would interfere⁸ the more with your enjoyment⁹?"

 

"Mark."

 

"Then you prefer the father to the son?" said the colonel.

 

"The father has much more agreeable manners. I don't think Mark could be agreeable if he tried."

 

Col. Vincent smiled.

 

"Perhaps you are right, Frank," he said. "Now, as your father's old friend, I shall exact a promise from you."

 

"What is it, sir?"

 

"You are going out into the world to earn your own living. Boys of your age are apt to think it an easy thing. I have seen more of life, and I am sure you will find it more difficult than you suppose. You may find yourself in difficulty, possibly in want. In that case, promise to let me know, and I will come to your assistance."

 

"I will, sir," answered Frank.

 

The time came for Frank to say good-bye to Mr. Manning and Mark, and the house which had been his home from infancy¹⁰.

 

His stepfather handed him a small pocketbook.

 

"Frank," he said, "in this pocketbook you will find twenty-five dollars. It is not much, but—"

 

"I am satisfied, sir," said Frank. "It won't be long before I am earning something."

 

"I hope your anticipations¹¹ may be realized, but it is possible that you may require help."

 

"I think not, sir."

 

"I will authorize¹² my banker to pay you the same sum—twenty-five dollars—every three months. Of course, it is not enough to support you; but, as you say it is your intention to procure¹³ a place—"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"It will probably be enough to make up any deficiency that may exist in your income. I am aware that you do not regard me as—as I would like to have you; but I am resigned to be misunderstood, and I merely call your attention to the fact that I have given you my free permission to carry out your own plans and have given you more assistance than you asked for."

 

"That's true, sir."

 

"Should anyone in your hearing condemn¹⁴ me for what I have done, I depend upon your defending me."

 

"I will state the facts, sir. I will take the entire responsibility for anything that may result from the step I have taken."

 

Mr. Manning looked well pleased. Things were taking the course he desired, and for the paltry¹⁵ sum of one hundred dollars a year, he was getting rid of an obnoxious¹⁶ stepson, while appearing to confer a favor upon him.

 

"Perhaps you are right, Frank," said his stepfather, disguising the satisfaction he felt. "If, however, you should find that you have made a mistake, you will do me the justice to remember that I gave you your choice."

 

Knowing, as he did, that the offer was not genuine, Frank remained silent. He could not make up his mind to express gratitude¹⁷, and therefore said nothing.

 

Here the carriage drove up to the door to convey Frank to the railway station. Mindful of appearance, Mr. Manning accompanied him to the cars, and in presence of several neighbors bade him an effusively¹⁸ affectionate farewell.

 

So Frank was fairly started on his campaign.

1 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。

2 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

3 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。

4 scruple   

n./v.顾忌，迟疑

参考例句：

• It'seemed to her now that she could marry him without the remnant of a scruple.她觉得现在她可以跟他成婚而不需要有任何顾忌。
• He makes no scruple to tell a lie.他说起谎来无所顾忌。

5 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

6 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

9 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

10 infancy   

n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期

参考例句：

• He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
• Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。

11 anticipations   

预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物

参考例句：

• The thought took a deal of the spirit out of his anticipations. 想到这，他的劲头消了不少。
• All such bright anticipations were cruelly dashed that night. 所有这些美好的期望全在那天夜晚被无情地粉碎了。

12 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。

13 procure   

vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条

参考例句：

• Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？
• I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

14 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

15 paltry   

adj.无价值的，微不足道的

参考例句：

• The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.那些家长对家里鸡毛蒜皮的小事没什么兴趣。
• I'm getting angry;and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours.我要生气了，如果你不能振作你那点元气。

16 obnoxious   

adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的

参考例句：

• These fires produce really obnoxious fumes and smoke.这些火炉冒出来的烟气确实很难闻。
• He is the most obnoxious man I know.他是我认识的最可憎的人。

17 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

18 effusively   

adv.变溢地，热情洋溢地

参考例句：

• We were effusively welcomed by the patron and his wife. 我们受到老板和他妻子的热忱欢迎。 来自辞典例句
• The critics praised her effusively. 评论家们热情洋溢地表扬了她。 来自互联网