Poor Paul! It seemed to him a dream of inexpressible sorrow. His father and mother both gone, he felt that he was indeed left alone in the world. No thought of the future had yet entered his mind. He was wholly occupied with his present sorrow. Desolate1 at heart he slipped away from the graveyard2 after the funeral ceremony was over, and took his way back again to the lonely dwelling3 which he had called home.
As he was sitting in the corner, plunged4 in sorrowful thought, there was a scraping heard at the door, and a loud hem5!
Looking up, Paul saw entering the cottage the stiff form of Squire6 Benjamin Newcome, who, as has already been stated, was the owner.
“Paul,” said the Squire, with measured deliberation.
“Did I not address you by your baptismal appellation8?” demanded the Squire, who thought the boy's question superfluous9.
“Paul,” pursued Squire Newcome, “have you thought of your future destination?”
“No, sir,” said Paul, “I suppose I shall live here.”
“That arrangement would not be consistent with propriety10. I suppose you are aware that your deceased parent left little or no worldly goods.”
“I know he was poor.”
“Therefore it has been thought best that you should be placed in charge of a worthy11 man, who I see is now approaching the house. You will therefore accompany him without resistance. If you obey him and read the Bible regularly, you will—ahem!—you will some time or other see the advantage of it.”
With this consolatory12 remark Squire Newcome wheeled about and strode out of the house.
Immediately afterwards there entered a rough-looking man arrayed in a farmer's blue frock.
“You're to come with me, youngster,” said Mr. Nicholas Mudge, for that was his name.
In fact there was nothing attractive in the appearance or manners of Mr. Mudge. He had a coarse hard face, while his head was surmounted15 by a shock of red hair, which to all appearance had suffered little interference from the comb for a time which the observer would scarcely venture to compute16. There was such an utter absence of refinement17 about the man, that Paul, who had been accustomed to the gentle manners of his father, was repelled18 by the contrast which this man exhibited.
“To be sure you're to go with me,” said Mr. Mudge. “You did not calc'late you was a goin' to stay here by yourself, did you? We've got a better place for you than that. But the wagon's waitin' outside, so just be lively and bundle in, and I'll carry you to where you're a goin' to live.”
“Where's that?”
“Wal, some folks call it the Poor House, but it ain't any the worse for that, I expect. Anyhow, them as has no money may feel themselves lucky to get so good a home. So jest be a movin', for I can't be a waitin' here all day.”
Paul quietly submitted himself to the guidance of Mr. Mudge. He was so occupied with the thought of his sad loss that he did not realize the change that was about to take place in his circumstances.
About half a mile from the village in the bleakest20 and most desolate part of the town, stood the Poor House. It was a crazy old building of extreme antiquity21, which, being no longer considered fit for an ordinary dwelling-house, had been selected as a suitable residence for the town's poor. It was bleak19 and comfortless to be sure, but on that very account had been purchased at a trifling22 expense, and that was, of course, a primary consideration. Connected with the house were some dozen acres of rough-looking land, plentifully23 overspread with stones, which might have filled with despair the most enterprising agriculturist. However, it had this recommendation at least, that it was quite in character with the buildings upon it, which in addition to the house already described, consisted of a barn of equal antiquity and a pig pen.
This magnificent domain24 was under the superintendence of Mr. Nicholas Mudge, who in consideration of taking charge of the town paupers25 had the use of the farm and buildings, rent free, together with a stipulated26 weekly sum for each of the inmates27.
“Well, Paul,” said Mr. Mudge, as they approached the house, in a tone which was meant to be encouraging, “this is goin' to be your home. How do you like it?”
Thus addressed, Paul ventured a glance around him.
“I don't know,” said he, doubtfully; “it don't look very pleasant.”
“Don't look very pleasant!” repeated Mr. Mudge in a tone of mingled28 amazement29 and indignation. “Well, there's gratitude30 for you. After the town has been at the expense of providin' a nice, comfortable home for you, because you haven't got any of your own, you must turn up your nose at it.”
“I didn't mean to complain,” said Paul, feeling very little interest in the matter.
“Perhaps you expected to live in a marble palace,” pursued Mr. Mudge, in an injured tone. “We don't have any marble palaces in this neighborhood, we don't.”
Mr. Mudge deigned33 to accept Paul's apology, and as they had now reached the door, unceremoniously threw it open, and led the way into a room with floor unpainted, which, to judge from its appearance, was used as a kitchen.
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1
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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2
graveyard
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| n.坟场 | |
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3
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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7
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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8
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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9
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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10
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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12
consolatory
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| adj.慰问的，可藉慰的 | |
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13
recoiling
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| v.畏缩( recoil的现在分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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14
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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15
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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16
compute
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| v./n.计算，估计 | |
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17
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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18
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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19
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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20
bleakest
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| 阴冷的( bleak的最高级 )； （状况）无望的； 没有希望的； 光秃的 | |
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21
antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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22
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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23
plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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24
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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25
paupers
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| n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷 | |
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26
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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28
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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29
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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30
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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31
disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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33
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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