CHAPTER XXXIV — THE WILL AT LAST

 The next three months passed very unsatisfactorily for Andy. In a small country town like that in which he lived there was little opportunity for a boy, however industrious¹, to earn money. The farmers generally had sons of their own, or were already provided with assistants, and there was no manufacturing establishment in the village to furnish employment to those who didn't like agriculture. Andy had some idea of learning the carpenter trade, there being a carpenter who was willing to take an apprentice², but, unfortunately, he was unwilling³ to pay any wages for the first year—only boarding the apprentice—and our hero felt, for his mother's sake, that it would not do to make such an engagement.

 

When the three months were over, the stock of money which Andy and his mother had saved up was almost gone. In fact, he had not enough left to pay the next quarter's rent to Dr. Townley.

 

Things were in this unsatisfactory state, when something happened that had a material effect upon Andy's fortunes, and, as my readers will be glad to know, for their improvement.

 

To explain what it was, I must go back to a period shortly before Colonel's Preston's death. One day he met the doctor in the street, and stopped to speak to him.

 

"Dr. Townley," he said, "I have a favor to ask of you."

 

"I shall be very glad to serve you, Colonel Preston," said the doctor.

 

Thereupon Colonel Preston drew from his inside pocket a sealed envelope of large size.

 

"I want you to take charge of this for me," he said.

 

"Certainly," said the doctor, in some surprise.

 

"Please read what I have written upon the envelope."

 

The doctor, his attention called to the envelope, read, inscribed⁴ in large, distinct characters:

 

"Not to be opened till six months after my death."

 

"I see you want an explanation," said the colonel. "Here it is—the paper contained in this envelope is an important one. I won't tell you what it is. When you come to open it, it will explain itself."

 

"But, colonel, you are likely to live as long as I. In that case, I can't follow your directions."

 

"Of course, we can't tell the duration of our lives. Still, I think you will outlive me. If not, I shall reclaim⁵ the paper. Meanwhile, I shall be glad to have you take charge of it for me."

 

"Of course I will. It is a slight favor to ask."

 

"It may prove important. By the way, there is no need of telling anyone, unless, perchance, your wife. I don't want to force you to keep anything secret from her. Mrs. Townley, I know, may be depended upon."

 

"I think she may. Well, Colonel Preston, set your mind at rest. I will take care of the paper."

 

When Colonel Preston died, not long afterward⁶, the doctor naturally thought of the paper, and, as no will was left, it occurred to him that this might be a will; but, in that case, he couldn't understand why he should have been enjoined⁷ to keep it six months before opening it. On the whole, he concluded that it was not a will.

 

Seated at the supper table, about this time, Mrs. Townley said, suddenly:

 

"Henry, how long is it since Colonel Preston died?"

 

"Let me see," said the doctor, thoughtfully. "It is—yes, it is siX — months to-morrow."

 

"Then it is time for you to open that envelope he gave into your charge."

 

"So it is. My dear, your feminine curiosity inspired that thought," said the doctor, smiling.

 

"Perhaps you are right. I own I am a little inquisitive⁹ in the matter."

 

"I am glad you mentioned it. I have so much on my mind that I should have let the day pass, and I should be sorry not to fulfill¹⁰ to the letter the promise I made to my friend."

 

"Have you any suspicion as to the nature of the document?"

 

"I thought it might be a will; but, if so, I can't understand why a delay of six months should have been interposed."

 

"Colonel Preston may have had his reasons. Possibly he did not fully⁸ trust his wife's attention to his requests."

 

"It may be so. I am afraid his married life was not altogether harmonious¹¹. Mrs. Preston always struck me as a very selfish woman."

 

"No doubt of that."

 

"She evidently regarded herself as superior to the rest of us."

 

"In that respect Godfrey is like her. He is a self-conceited, disagreeable young jackanapes. I wouldn't give much for his chances of honorable distinction in life. I'll tell you of a boy who will, in my opinion, beat him in the race of life."

 

"Who is that?"

 

"Andy Burke."

 

"Andy is a good boy, but I am afraid the family is doing poorly now."

 

"So I fear. The, fact is, there doesn't appear to be much opening for a lad like Andy in this village."

 

"I hear that Mr. Graves, the storekeeper, who is getting old, wants to get a boy, or young man, with a small capital to take an interest in his business, and, eventually, succeed him."

 

"That would be a good chance for Andy, if he had the small capital; but he probably hasn't ten dollars in the world."

 

"That's a pity."

 

"If I were a capitalist, I wouldn't mind starting him myself; but as you, my dear, are my most precious property, and are not readily convertible¹² into cash, I don't quite see my way to do anything to assist him."

 

"I didn't think of you, Henry. Country doctors are not likely to get rich. But I thought Colonel Preston, who seemed to take an interest in the boy, might do something for him."

 

"If he had lived, he might have done so—probably he would. But Mrs. Preston and Godfrey hate the Burkes like poison, for no good reason that I know of, and there is no chance of help from that quarter."

 

"I should think not."

 

The next day, Dr. Townley, immediately after breakfast, drew the envelope already referred to from among his private papers, and, breaking the seal, opened it.

 

To his surprise and excitement, he discovered that the inclosure was the last will and testament¹³ of his deceased friend. Accompanying it was the following note:

 

    "MY DEAR FRIEND, DR. TOWNLEY: This is the duplicate of a will

    executed recently, and expresses my well-considered wishes as

    to the disposition¹⁴ of my property. The original will may have

    been found and executed before you open this envelope. In

    that case, of course, this will be of no value, and you can

    destroy it. But I am aware that valuable papers are liable to

    loss or injury, and, therefore, I deem it prudent¹⁵ to place

    this duplicate in your possession, that, if the other be

    lost, you may see it carried into execution. I have named you

    my executor, and am sure, out of regard to me, you will

    accept the trust, and fulfill it to the best of your ability.

    I have always felt the utmost confidence in your friendship,

    and this will account for my troubling you on the present

    occasion.

                                  "Your friend,

                                       "Anthony Preston."

From this letter Dr. Townley turned to the perusal¹⁶ of the will. The contents filled him with equal surprise and pleasure.

 

"Five thousand dollars to Andy Burke!" he repeated. "That is capital! It will start the boy in life, and with his good habits it will make him sure of a competence¹⁷ by and by. With half of it he can buy an interest in Graves' store, and the balance will, if well invested, give him a handsome addition to his income. Then there's the bequest¹⁸ for the town library—a capital idea, that! It will do a great deal to make the town attractive, and be a powerful agency for refining and educating the people."

 

Just then Mrs. Townley, who knew what her husband was about, came into the room.

 

"Well, Henry," she said, "is the paper important?"

 

"I should say it was. It is Colonel Preston's last will and testatment."

 

"Is it possible? How does he leave his property?"

 

"He leaves five thousand dollars for a town library."

 

"Does he remember Andy Burke?"

 

"He leaves him five thousand dollars, and gives his mother the house they used to live in."

 

"That's splendid! But what will Mrs. Preston say?"

 

"Well, that remains¹⁹ to be seen," said the doctor, laughing.

1 industrious   

adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的

参考例句：

• If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
• She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

2 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

3 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

4 inscribed   

v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接

参考例句：

• His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。
• The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

6 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

7 enjoined   

v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The embezzler was severely punished and enjoined to kick back a portion of the stolen money each month. 贪污犯受到了严厉惩罚，并被责令每月退还部分赃款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She enjoined me strictly not to tell anyone else. 她严令我不准告诉其他任何人。 来自辞典例句

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 inquisitive   

adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的

参考例句：

• Children are usually inquisitive.小孩通常很好问。
• A pat answer is not going to satisfy an inquisitive audience.陈腔烂调的答案不能满足好奇的听众。

10 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

11 harmonious   

adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的

参考例句：

• Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
• The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。

12 convertible   

adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车

参考例句：

• The convertible sofa means that the apartment can sleep four.有了这张折叠沙发，公寓里可以睡下4个人。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了。

13 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

14 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

15 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

16 perusal   

n.细读，熟读；目测

参考例句：

• Peter Cooke undertook to send each of us a sample contract for perusal.彼得·库克答应给我们每人寄送一份合同样本供阅读。
• A perusal of the letters which we have published has satisfied him of the reality of our claim.读了我们的公开信后，他终于相信我们的要求的确是真的。

17 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

18 bequest   

n.遗赠；遗产，遗物

参考例句：

• In his will he made a substantial bequest to his wife.在遗嘱里他给妻子留下了一大笔遗产。
• The library has received a generous bequest from a local businessman.图书馆从当地一位商人那里得到了一大笔遗赠。

19 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。