CHAPTER XLI CONCLUSION

 The news was that Mr. Manning and Mark had just arrived at the Cedars¹. They had come by the last evening train. Why they had come back so unexpectedly no one knew, but the servant had heard that Mark was in poor health. This was true.

 

Mark, in Europe, had proved uncontrollable. He had given way to his natural love of drink, had kept late hours, and had seriously injured his constitution. In consequence of these excesses, he had contracted a fever, which alarmed him father and induced him to take the first steamer home.

 

"We won't call upon your stepfather this evening, Frank," said Col. Vincent; "but early Monday morning we will bring matters to a crisis."

 

Mr. Manning did not hear of Frank's presence in the village. He was fatigued² with his rapid travel and kept at home. Besides, Mark was prostrated³ by his journey and didn't wish to be left alone.

 

It was, therefore, a surprise to Mr. Manning when on Monday morning, Col. Vincent was ushered⁴ into his presence, accompanied by Frank.

 

"Really, colonel," he said, recovering his composure, "you are very kind to call so soon. I hope you are well, Frank? Are you staying with the colonel? You must come back to your old home."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Manning, but I am living in New York. I am only passing a day or two with the colonel."

 

"It is very friendly in you to call, Col. Vincent."

 

"Mr. Manning," said Col. Vincent, gravely, "I am not willing to receive undeserved credit. Let me say, therefore, that this is a business, not a friendly, call."

 

"Indeed," said Manning, uneasily.

 

"The business is connected with my young friend Frank."

 

"I am ready to listen," said Mr. Manning. "If Frank wants a larger allowance, I am ready to give it."

 

"I venture to say for him that he will not be satisfied with that. Let me come to the point at once, Mr. Manning. Mrs. Manning's will has been found."

 

Mr. Manning started perceptibly, and his glance involuntarily wandered to that part of the wall behind which the will was discovered, for they were sitting in the very apartment where Mrs. Noonan had stumbled upon it.

 

"What do you mean, sir?"

 

"A will has been found, leaving the bulk of the property to Frank."

 

"Indeed! I am surprised. Is it a later will than the one which bequeathed the estate to me?" asked Mr. Manning, pointedly⁵.

 

"It is Mrs. Manning's latest genuine will," said Col. Vincent, emphatically.

 

Mr. Manning started to his feet. He could not help understanding the colonel's meaning. It would have been idle to pretend it.

 

"What do you mean, Col. Vincent?" he asked, in a tone which he tried to make one of dignified⁶ resentment⁷.

 

"I mean that Mrs. Manning made but one will, and that this bequeaths the property to Frank."

 

"How, then, do you account for the later will which was admitted to probate?"

 

"In this way. It was not what it purported⁸ to be."

 

Mr. Manning's sallow face flushed.

 

"What do you mean to insinuate⁹?" he asked.

 

"That the last will was forged!" said Col. Vincent, bluntly.

 

"This is a very serious charge," said Mr. Manning, unable to repress his agitation¹⁰. "You must allow me to say that I shall pay no attention to it. When you furnish proof of what you assert, it will be time enough to meet it. And now, gentlemen, if you have nothing further to say, I will bid you good-morning."

 

"I think you will find it best not to be in a hurry, Mr. Manning," said Col. Vincent. "The charge must be met here and now. I charge you with instigating¹¹ and being cognizant of the fraud that has been perpetrated!"

 

"On what grounds, sir? Do you know I can sue you for libel?"

 

"You are welcome to do so, Mr. Manning. I have a witness who will clear me."

 

"Who is he?"

 

"Jonas Barton!"

 

If a bombshell had exploded in the room, Mr. Manning could not have looked paler or more thoroughly¹² dismayed. Yet he tried to keep up a little longer.

 

"I don't know any man of that name," he answered, faintly.

 

"Your looks show that you do. I may as well tell you, Mr. Manning, that resistance is useless. We can overwhelm you with proof if we take the matter before the courts. But we do not care to do so. We have something to propose."

 

"What is it?" said Mr. Manning, faintly.

 

"The genuine will must be substituted for the fraudulent one. By it you will receive ten thousand dollars, and Frank will consent that you shall receive it. He will not ask you to account for the sums you have wrongfully spent during the last year, and will promise not to prosecute¹³ you, provided you leave this neighborhood and never return to it, or in any way interfere¹⁴ with him. To insure this, we shall have Jonas Barton's written confession¹⁵, attested¹⁶ before a justice of the peace, ready for use, if needful. Do you accept?"

 

"I must," said Mr. Manning, despondently¹⁷. "But I shall be a poor man."

 

"No man who has health and the use of his facilities is poor with ten thousand dollars," answered the colonel.

 

"Mark alone will spend more than the interest of this sum."

 

"Then you must prevent him. He will be better off if he has to earn his living, as Frank has done for the last year."

 

In less than a week the transfer was made, and Frank recovered his patrimony¹⁸.

 

Mr. Manning and Mark went to Chicago, and perhaps further West; but nothing has been heard from them for years.

 

Frank didn't return to the Cedars. The place was let until he should wish to return to it.

 

By the advice of Col. Vincent, he resumed his preparation for college, and, graduating in due time, commenced the study of law.

 

Though rich enough to do without a profession, he felt that he should not be content to lead an aimless life.

 

He obtained for his school friend, Herbert Grant, the post of private secretary to Mr. Percival, and Herbert became nearly as great a favorite as himself.

 

Through Mr. Percival's kindness, Herbert was enabled, while still living at his house and attending to his duties as secretary, to enter Columbia College, and complete his course there, graduating with honor.

 

Herbert selected the medical profession, and, when he has completed his studies, will go abroad for a year with Frank, at the latter's expense, and, returning, open an office in New York.

 

While he is waiting for the patients and Frank for clients, the two will live together, and their common expenses will be defrayed by Frank.

 

"If I didn't like you so well, Frank," said Herbert, "I would not accept this great favor at your hands—"

 

"But since we are dear friends," interrupts Frank, with a smile.

 

"I know that you enjoy giving even more than I do the receiving."

 

"Enough, Herbert. We understand each other. I have no brother, Herbert, and if I had, I could not care more for him than I do for you. Without you, I should feel alone in the world."

 

Frank does not regret the year in which he was thrown upon his own resources. It gave him strength and self-reliance; and however long he may live, he will not cease to remember with pleasure the year in which he was "Making His Way."

 

 

THE END

1 cedars   

雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The old cedars were badly damaged in the storm. 风暴严重损害了古老的雪松。
• Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 1黎巴嫩哪，开开你的门，任火烧灭你的香柏树。

2 fatigued   

adj. 疲乏的

参考例句：

• The exercises fatigued her. 操练使她感到很疲乏。
• The President smiled, with fatigued tolerance for a minor person's naivety. 总统笑了笑，疲惫地表现出对一个下级人员的天真想法的宽容。

3 prostrated   

v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力

参考例句：

• He was prostrated by the loss of his wife. 他因丧妻而忧郁。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They prostrated themselves before the emperor. 他们拜倒在皇帝的面前。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ushered   

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》

5 pointedly   

adv.尖地，明显地

参考例句：

• She yawned and looked pointedly at her watch. 她打了个哈欠，又刻意地看了看手表。
• The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. 让对方道歉的要求遭到了断然拒绝。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

7 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

8 purported   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• the scene of the purported crime 传闻中的罪案发生地点
• The film purported to represent the lives of ordinary people. 这部影片声称旨在表现普通人的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 insinuate   

vt.含沙射影地说，暗示

参考例句：

• He tried to insinuate himself into the boss's favor.他设法巧妙地渐渐取得老板的欢心。
• It seems to me you insinuate things about her.我觉得你讲起她来，总有些弦外之音。

10 agitation   

n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动

参考例句：

• Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
• These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。

11 instigating   

v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Distant but clear Longyin instigating the eardrums of every person. 遥远却清晰的龙吟鼓动着每一个人的耳膜。 来自互联网
• The leader was charged with instigating the workers to put down tools. 那位领导人被指控煽动工人罢工。 来自互联网

12 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

13 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

14 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。

15 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

16 attested   

adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓

参考例句：

• The handwriting expert attested to the genuineness of the signature. 笔迹专家作证该签名无讹。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Witnesses attested his account. 几名证人都证实了他的陈述是真实的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 despondently   

adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地

参考例句：

• It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
• He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句

18 patrimony   

n.世袭财产，继承物

参考例句：

• I left my parents' house,relinquished my estate and my patrimony.我离开了父母的家，放弃了我的房产和祖传财产。
• His grandfather left the patrimony to him.他的祖父把祖传的财物留给了他。