CHAPTER III. AN UNEXPECTED CALL.

 "In what room does your mother live?" asked Solon Talbot.

 

"This is our home," said Mark, proceeding¹ to open the door.

 

Edgar Talbot sniffed² contemptuously.

 

"I don't see how you can live in such a mean place," he remarked.

 

"It is not a matter of choice," returned Mark gravely. "We have to live in a cheap tenement³."

 

By this time the door was opened.

 

"Mother," said Mark, preceding the two visitors, "here are Uncle Solon and Edgar come to call on you."

 

Mrs. Mason's pale cheek flushed, partly with mortification⁴ at her humble⁵ surroundings, for when she first knew Solon Talbot he was only a clerk, as she had said, and she was a society belle⁶.

 

There was another feeling also. She had a strong suspicion that her brother-in-law had defrauded⁷ her of her share in her father's estate.

 

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Talbot," she said, extending her hand. "And this is Edgar! How you have grown, Edgar."

 

"Yes, ma'am," responded Edgar stiffly.

 

Both Mrs. Mason and Mark noticed that he did not call her "aunt." Her nephew's coldness chilled her.

 

"I am sorry to see you in such a poor place," she said, smiling faintly.

 

"I suppose rents are high in New York," said Solon Talbot awkwardly.

 

"Yes, and our means are small. How is my sister Mary?"

 

"Quite well, thank you."

 

"Did she send me any message?"

 

"She did not know I was going to call."

 

"How long it seems since I saw her!" sighed Mrs. Mason.

 

"I suppose you heard that I was in town."

 

"Yes; Mark told me."

 

"I was not sure whether I could call, as I am here on a hurried business errand."

 

"I am glad you have called. I wished to ask you about father's estate."

 

"Just so! It is very surprising—I assure you that it amazed me very much—to find that he left so little."

 

"I can't understand it at all, Solon. Only a year before he died he told me that he considered himself worth fifteen thousand dollars."

 

"People are often deluded⁸ as to the amount of their possessions. I have known many such cases."

 

"But I have only received seventy-five dollars, and there were two heirs—Mary and myself. According to that father must have left only one hundred and fifty dollars."

 

"Of course he left more, but there were debts—and funeral expenses and doctor's bills."

 

"I understand that, but it seems so little."

 

"It was very little, and I felt sorry, not only on your account, but on Mary's. Of course, as my wife, she will be provided for, but it would have been comfortable for her to inherit a fair sum."

 

"You can imagine what it is to me who am not amply provided for. I thought there might be five thousand dollars coming to me."

 

Solon Talbot shook his head.

 

"That anticipation⁹ was very extravagant¹⁰!" he said.

 

"It was founded on what father told me."

 

"True; but I think your father's mind was weakened towards the end of his life. He was not really responsible for what he said."

 

"I disagree with you there, Solon. Father seemed to me in full possession of his faculties¹¹ to the last."

 

"You viewed him through the eyes of filial affection, but I was less likely to be influenced in my judgments¹²."

 

"Five thousand dollars would have made me so happy. We are miserably¹³ poor, and Mark has to work so hard to support us in this poor way."

 

"I thought telegraph boys earned quite a snug¹⁴ income," said Solon Talbot, who looked uncomfortable.

 

He was dreading¹⁵ every moment that his sister-in-law would ask him for pecuniary¹⁶ assistance. He did not understand her independent nature. Her brother-in-law was about the last man to whom she would have stooped to beg a favor.

 

"Mark sometimes makes as high as five dollars a week," said Mrs. Mason in a tone of mild sarcasm¹⁷.

 

"I am sure that is very good pay for a boy of his age."

 

"It is a small sum for a family of three persons to live upon, Solon."

 

"Um, ah! I thought perhaps you might earn something else."

 

"Sometimes I earn as high as a dollar and a half a week making shirts."

 

Mr. Talbot thought it best to drop the subject.

 

"I am deeply sorry for you," he said. "It is a pity your husband didn't insure his life. He might have left you in comfort."

 

"He did make application for insurance, but his lungs were already diseased, and the application was refused."

 

"I may be able to help you—in a small way, of course," proceeded Solon Talbot.

 

Mark looked up in surprise. Was it possible that his close-fisted uncle was offering to assist them.

 

Mrs. Mason did not answer, but waited for developments.

 

"I have already paid you seventy-five dollars from your father's estate," resumed Mr. Talbot. "Strictly¹⁸ speaking, it is all you are entitled to. But I feel for your position, and—and your natural disappointment, and I feel prompted to make it a hundred dollars by paying you twenty-five dollars more. I have drafted a simple receipt here, which I will get you to sign, and then I will hand you the money."

 

He drew from his wallet a narrow slip of paper, on which was written this form:

 

"Received from Solon Talbot the sum of One Hundred Dollars, being the full amount due me from the estate of my late father, Elisha Doane, of which he is the administrator¹⁹."

 

 

Mr. Talbot placed the paper on the table, and pointing to a black line below the writing, said, "Sign here."

 

"Let me see the paper, mother," said Mark.

 

He read it carefully.

 

"I advise you not to sign it," he added, looking up.

 

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Solon Talbot angrily.

 

"I mean," returned Mark firmly, "that mother has no means of knowing that a hundred dollars is all that she is entitled to from grandfather's estate."

 

"Didn't I tell you it was?" demanded Talbot frowning.

 

"Uncle Solon," said Mark calmly, "I am only a boy, but I know that one can't be too careful in business matters."

 

"Do you dare to doubt my father's word?" blustered²⁰ Edgar.

 

"Our business is with your father, not with you," said Mark.

 

"What is it you want?" asked Solon Talbot irritably²¹.

 

"I want, or rather mother does, to see a detailed²² statement of grandfather's property, and the items of his debts and expenses."

 

Solon Talbot was quite taken aback by Mark's demand. He had supposed the boy knew nothing of business.

 

"Really," he said, "this impertinence from my own nephew is something I was by no means prepared for. It is a poor return for my liberal offer."

 

"Your liberal offer?"

 

"Yes, the twenty-five dollars I offered your mother is out of my own pocket—offered solely²³ out of consideration for her poverty. Do I understand," he asked, addressing his sister-in-law, "that you decline my offer?"

 

Mrs. Mason looked doubtfully at Mark. Twenty-five dollars in their present circumstances would be a boon²⁴, and, in addition to Mark's earnings²⁵, would tide them over at least three months. Was it right, or wise, to decline it?

 

Mark's face showed no signs of wavering. He was calm and resolute²⁶.

 

"What do you think, Mark?" asked his mother.

 

"You know what I think, mother. We have no knowledge that the estate has been fairly administered, and you would be bartering²⁷ away our rights."

 

"I think I won't sign the receipt, Solon," said Mrs. Mason.

 

Solon Talbot looked very angry.

 

"Then," he replied, "I cannot give you the twenty-five dollars. Edgar, we will go."

 

"Give my love to Mary," faltered²⁸ Mrs. Mason.

 

Solon Talbot deigned²⁹ no answer, but strode from the room with an angry look.

 

"Mother, I am convinced that Uncle Solon was trying to swindle us," said Mark.

 

"I hope we have done right, Mark," rejoined his mother doubtfully.

 

"What is this, mother?" asked Mark, as he picked up from the floor a letter partially³⁰ torn.

 

"It must have been dropped by Solon Talbot."

1 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

2 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 tenement   

n.公寓；房屋

参考例句：

• They live in a tenement.他们住在廉价公寓里。
• She felt very smug in a tenement yard like this.就是在个这样的杂院里，她觉得很得意。

4 mortification   

n.耻辱，屈辱

参考例句：

• To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。
• The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。

5 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

6 belle   

n.靓女

参考例句：

• She was the belle of her Sunday School class.在主日学校她是她们班的班花。
• She was the belle of the ball.她是那个舞会中的美女。

7 defrauded   

v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He defrauded his employers of thousands of dollars. 他诈取了他的雇主一大笔钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He defrauded them of their money. 他骗走了他们的钱。 来自辞典例句

8 deluded   

v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Don't be deluded into thinking that we are out of danger yet. 不要误以为我们已脱离危险。
• She deluded everyone into following her. 她骗得每个人都听信她的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

10 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。

11 faculties   

n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院

参考例句：

• Although he's ninety, his mental faculties remain unimpaired. 他虽年届九旬，但头脑仍然清晰。
• All your faculties have come into play in your work. 在你的工作中，你的全部才能已起到了作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

13 miserably   

adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地

参考例句：

• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
• It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨，天气又冷又湿，令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 snug   

adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房

参考例句：

• He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
• She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。

15 dreading   

v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. 她正在为不得不向父亲提出钱的事犯愁。
• This was the moment he had been dreading. 这是他一直最担心的时刻。

16 pecuniary   

adj.金钱的；金钱上的

参考例句：

• She denies obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.她否认通过欺骗手段获得经济利益。
• She is so independent that she refused all pecuniary aid.她很独立，所以拒绝一切金钱上的资助。

17 sarcasm   

n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic）

参考例句：

• His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
• She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。

18 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

19 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

20 blustered   

v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹

参考例句：

• He blustered his way through the crowd. 他吆喝着挤出人群。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The wind blustered around the house. 狂风呼啸着吹过房屋周围。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

21 irritably   

ad.易生气地

参考例句：

• He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children. 他发火了，暴躁地斥责孩子们。
• On this account the silence was irritably broken by a reproof. 为了这件事，他妻子大声斥责，令人恼火地打破了宁静。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

22 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

23 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

24 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

25 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

26 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

27 bartering   

v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Parliament would be touchy about bartering British soil for ships. 用英国国土换取舰只，议会感到为难。 来自辞典例句
• In former times trade was based on bartering--goods were exchanged for other goods. 以前，贸易是以易货（即货物交换）的方式进行的。 来自辞典例句

28 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

29 deigned   

v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Carrie deigned no suggestion of hearing this. 嘉莉不屑一听。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Carrie scarcely deigned to reply. 嘉莉不屑回答。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

30 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。