CHAPTER XV — MRS. PRESTON'S DISCOMFITURE

 Godfrey rose to his feet, red with mortification¹. His mother looked disconcerted. Mr. Stone said nothing, but glanced significantly from Godfrey to Mrs. Preston.

 

"What is the matter, Godfrey?" she asked, rather sharply.

 

"It was an accident," said Godfrey, rather sheepishly.

 

"You can go out and shut the door, and take care not to let such an accident happen again. For some unknown reason, Mr. Stone prefers that you should not be present, and, therefore, you must go."

 

For once, Godfrey found nothing to say, but withdrew in silence.

 

"You appear to have formed a prejudice against Godfrey, Mr. Stone," said Mrs. Preston.

 

"I may have formed an unfavorable judgment² of him on some points," said the teacher. "I judge of him by his conduct."

 

"To say that Andrew Burke is his superior is insulting to him and his family, as well as ludicrous."

 

"I beg pardon, Mrs. Preston, but I must dissent³ from both your statements. Andrew Burke possesses some excellent qualities in which Godfrey is deficient⁴."

 

"He is a poor working boy."

 

"He is none the worse for that."

 

"He should remember his position, and treat my son with proper respect."

 

"I venture to say that Godfrey will receive all the respect to which he is entitled. May I ask if you expect him to be treated with deference⁵, because his father is richer than those of the other boys?"

 

"It seems to me only proper."

 

"Do you expect me to treat him any better on that account?"

 

"I think my son's social position should command respect."

 

"Then, Mrs. Preston, I entirely⁶ disagree with you," said Mr. Stone, firmly. "As a teacher, I have nothing whatever to do with the social position of the children who come to me as pupils. From me a poor boy will receive the same instruction, and the same treatment precisely⁷ as the son of rich parents. If he behaves as he should, he will always find in me a friend, as well as a teacher. Your son Godfrey shall have no just complaint to make of my treatment. I will give him credit for good conduct and faithful study, but no more than to Andrew Burke, or to any other pupil under the same circumstances."

 

"Mr. Stone, I am surprised at your singular style of talking. You wish to do away with all social distinctions."

 

"I certainly do, madam, in my schoolroom, at least. There must be social differences, I am aware. We cannot all be equally rich or honored, but whatever may be the world's rule, I mean to maintain strict impartiality⁸ in my schoolroom."

 

"Will you require Andy Burke to apologize to Godfrey?"

 

"Why should I?"

 

"For his violent assault upon him."

 

"Certainly not. He was justified⁹ in his conduct."

 

"If my son was doing wrong, the Irish boy, instead of interfering¹⁰, should have waited till you came, and then reported the matter to you."

 

"And, meanwhile, stood by and seen Alfred Parker inhumanly¹¹ treated?"

 

"I presume the matter has been greatly exaggerated."

 

"I do not, madam."

 

"Do I understand that you decline to make reparation to my son?"

 

"Reparation for what?"

 

"For the manner in which he has been treated."

 

"I must have talked to little purpose, if I have not made it clear that your son has only received his deserts. Of course, he is entitled to no reparation, as you term it."

 

"Then, Mr. Stone," said Mrs. Preston, her thin lips compressed with indignation, "since Godfrey cannot meet with fair treatment, I shall be compelled to withdraw him from your school."

 

"That must be as you please, madam," said the teacher, quite unmoved by the threatened withdrawal¹² of his richest pupil.

 

"I shall report to Colonel Preston your treatment of his son."

 

"I have no objection, madam."

 

"You are pursuing a very unwise course in alienating¹³ your wealthiest patrons."

 

"I have no patrons, madam," said Mr. Stone, proudly. "I return faithful service for the moderate wages I receive, and the obligation, if there is any, is on the part of those whose children I instruct."

 

"Really," thought Mrs. Preston, "this man is very independent for a poor teacher."

 

She resolved upon another shot, not in the best of taste.

 

"You must not be surprised, Mr. Stone," she said, "if the school trustees refuse to employ you again."

 

"You mistake me utterly," said the teacher, with dignity, "if you suppose that any such threat or consideration will make me swerve¹⁴ from my duty. However, though I did not propose to mention it, I will state that this is the last term I shall teach in this village. I have been engaged at double the salary in a neighboring city."

 

Mrs. Preston was disappointed to hear this. It was certainly vexatious that the man who had treated her son with so little consideration, who had actually taken the part of a working boy against him, should be promoted to a better situation. She had thought to make him feel that he was in her power, but she now saw that her anticipations¹⁵ were not to be realized.

 

As she did not speak, Mr. Stone considered the interview closed, and rose.

 

"Good-evening, Mrs. Preston," he said.

 

"Good-evening, sir," she responded, coldly.

 

He bowed and withdrew.

 

When Godfrey, who was not far off, though he had not thought it best to play the part of eavesdropper¹⁶ again, heard the door close, he hurried into the room.

 

"Well, mother, what did he say?" he inquired, eagerly.

 

"He obstinately¹⁷ refused to make any reparation to you."

 

"Did you tell him what you thought of his treatment of me?" said Godfrey, rather surprised that his mother's remonstrance¹⁸ had produced no greater effect.

 

"Yes, I expressed my opinion very plainly. I must say that he's a very impudent¹⁹ man. The idea of a poor teacher putting on such airs!" continued Mrs. Preston, tossing her head.

 

"What did he say?"

 

"That that Irish boy was superior to you."

 

"I'd like to knock him over," said Godfrey, wrathfully.

 

Mrs. Preston was a lady, and it is not to be supposed that she should join in her son's wish. Still, it did not occur to her that she should mourn very much if Mr. Stone met with a reverse. She would like to see his pride humbled²⁰, not reflecting that her own was greater and less justifiable²¹.

 

"You ought to have told him that he would lose his school," said Godfrey. "That would have frightened him, for he is a poor man, and depends on the money he gets for teaching."

 

"He is not going to teach here after this term."

 

"Good! Did he tell you that?"

 

"Yes."

 

"He is afraid of me, after all."

 

"You are mistaken, Godfrey. He is offered considerably²² higher pay in another place."

 

Godfrey's countenance²³ fell. It was as disagreeable to him as to his mother to learn that Mr. Stone was to be promoted in his profession.

 

"Shall I have to go to school again, mother?" he asked, after a pause.

 

"No," said Mrs. Preston, with energy. "Upon that I have determined²⁴. While Mr. Stone is teacher, you shall not go back. I will take care to let it be known in the neighborhood why I keep you at home. I hope the next teacher will be a man who understands the respect due to social position. I don't care to have you put on an equality with such boys as Andrew Burke. He is no fit associate for you."

 

"That is what I think, mother," said Godfrey. "The low beggar! I'd like to come up with him. Perhaps, I shall have a chance some day."

 

When Colonel Preston returned home, the whole story was told to him; but, colored though it was, he guessed how matters actually stood, and was far from becoming his son's partisan²⁵. He privately²⁶ went to Mr. Stone and obtained his version of the affair.

 

"You did right, Mr. Stone," he said, at the end. "If my son chooses to act the bully²⁷, he must take the consequences. Mrs. Preston does not look upon it in the same light, and insists upon my taking Godfrey from school. For the sake of peace, I must do so, but you must not construe²⁸ it as showing any disapproval²⁹ on my part of your course in the matter."

 

"Thank you, Colonel Preston," said the teacher, warmly. "I can only regret Mrs. Preston's displeasure. Your approval I highly value, and it will encourage me in the path of duty."

1 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。

2 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

3 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

4 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

5 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

8 impartiality   

n. 公平, 无私, 不偏

参考例句：

• He shows impartiality and detachment. 他表现得不偏不倚，超然事外。
• Impartiality is essential to a judge. 公平是当法官所必需的。

9 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

10 interfering   

adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词

参考例句：

• He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事！
• I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预，让我自己拿主意。

11 inhumanly   

adv.无人情味地，残忍地

参考例句：

12 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

13 alienating   

v.使疏远( alienate的现在分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在，体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网
• How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢？ 来自互联网

14 swerve   

v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离

参考例句：

• Nothing will swerve him from his aims.什么也不能使他改变目标。
• Her car swerved off the road into a 6ft high brick wall.她的车突然转向冲出了马路，撞向6英尺高的一面砖墙。

15 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。

16 eavesdropper   

偷听者

参考例句：

• Now that there is one, the eavesdropper's days may be numbered. 既然现在有这样的设备了，偷窥者的好日子将屈指可数。
• In transit, this information is scrambled and unintelligible to any eavesdropper. 在传输过程，对该信息进行编码，使窃听者无法获知真正的内容。

17 obstinately   

ad.固执地，顽固地

参考例句：

• He obstinately asserted that he had done the right thing. 他硬说他做得对。
• Unemployment figures are remaining obstinately high. 失业数字仍然顽固地居高不下。

18 remonstrance   

n抗议，抱怨

参考例句：

• She had abandoned all attempts at remonstrance with Thomas.她已经放弃了一切劝戒托马斯的尝试。
• Mrs. Peniston was at the moment inaccessible to remonstrance.目前彭尼斯顿太太没功夫听她告状。

19 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

20 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

21 justifiable   

adj.有理由的，无可非议的

参考例句：

• What he has done is hardly justifiable.他的所作所为说不过去。
• Justifiable defense is the act being exempted from crimes.正当防卫不属于犯罪行为。

22 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。

23 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

24 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

25 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

26 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

27 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

28 construe   

v.翻译，解释

参考例句：

• He had tried to construe a passage from Homer.他曾尝试注释荷马著作的一段文字。
• You can construe what he said in a number of different ways.他的话可以有好几种解释。

29 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。