Joshua looked around him disdainfully.
"Is this Fast Day?" he asked.
"You know very well that Fast Day comes in April," said his father.
"I only judged from the looks of the table," said Joshua, not very respectfully. "You don't mean that we shall any of us suffer from the gout."
"Bread and butter and pie are good enough for anybody," said Mr. Drummond, stiffly.
"I don't see any pie. Excuse me, there is a little,—so little that I did not at first see it."
[Pg 39]
This was too much for Mr. Drummond's temper.
"Unmannerly boy!" he exclaimed; "if you are dissatisfied with the fare you get at home, you can engage board elsewhere."
"I would like to," muttered Joshua, in a low voice, which his father chose not to hear.
In silence he helped himself to bread and butter, and in due time accepted a piece of pie, which Mrs. Drummond made larger at the expense of her own share.
Harmony thus being restored, Mr. Drummond remarked, "I've had a telegram to-day from Willoughby."
"From Willoughby?" repeated his wife. "Isn't that where your cousin William Conrad lives?"
"He doesn't live there any longer. He's dead."
"Dead! When did he die?"
"I don't know. Yesterday, I suppose. The funeral is to be day after to-morrow."
"Shall you go?"
"Yes. It will cost me considerable; as much as five dollars or more; but he was my cousin, and it is[Pg 40] my duty to go," said Mr. Drummond, with the air of a man who was making a great sacrifice.
"He was rich, wasn't he?" asked Joshua, becoming interested.
"Probably worth a hundred thousand dollars," said his father, complacently4.
"I should think he might have left me something," said Joshua.
"He never saw you, Joshua," said his mother.
"Joshua stands a better chance of getting a legacy5 from one who doesn't know him, than from one who does," said Mr. Drummond, with grim pleasantry.
"He leaves children, doesn't he, Mr. Drummond?"
"One child—a boy. Let me see, he must be fifteen by this time."
"And his mother isn't living?"
"No."
"Poor boy!"
"He'll be a rich boy, Mrs. Drummond, and I'll tell you what, I shouldn't wonder if we had a good chance to know him."
[Pg 41]
"How so?"
"It's likely I will be appointed his guardian6. I'm the nearest relative, so that will be the most proper course."
"Will he come here, then?" asked Joshua.
"Very probably."
"Then I hope you'll live better, or he won't stand it."
"When I require any advice from you, Joshua, I will apply for it," said his father.
Joshua inwardly hoped that his father would be appointed guardian, as it might make a difference in the family living; and, besides, if his cousin were rich, he meant to wheedle7 himself into his confidence, in the hope of future advantage.
"When shall you set out?" asked Mrs. Drummond.
"To-morrow morning, I think," said her husband. "It will be hard to leave, but it's due to my cousin's memory."
Mr. Drummond had become very punctilious8 all at once, considering that for the last dozen years Mr. Conrad, who had by no means admired him, had had[Pg 42] little or no communication with him. But then he had died rich, and who knows what sort of a will he had left? At any rate, Jacob began to feel a strong interest in him now. He might have put off going to Willoughby till the morning train on the day of the funeral, for two o'clock was the hour fixed9 for the last ceremony; but he was in a hurry to learn all he could about the property, and secure, if possible, the guardianship10 for himself. This was the secret of his willingness to sacrifice time and money out of regard to his cousin's memory. The next day, therefore, he started, taking with him in his valise a lunch of bread and meat tied up in a piece of brown paper. He didn't intend to spend any more money than was absolutely necessary on tavern11 bills.
Shortly after his arrival, he called at the house of mourning.
"I am Jacob Drummond, of Stapleton, the cousin of the deceased," he explained to Nancy, who opened the door to admit him. "Is my young relative, Mr. Conrad's son, at home?"
"Yes, sir," said Nancy, taking an inventory12 of his[Pg 43] features, and deciding that he was a very disagreeable looking man.
"Will you mention my name to him, and say that I should like to see him?"
Mr. Drummond was ushered13 into the parlor14, where he had a little chance to look around him before Walter appeared.
"It's all nonsense wasting so much money on furniture," he mentally ejaculated. "The money spent is a dead loss when it might be drawing handsome interest."
Walter did not long keep him waiting.
Mr. Drummond rose at his entrance.
"I suppose you don't know me," he said; "but I was your father's nearest living relation."
"Mr. Drummond, I believe."
"Yes, Jacob Drummond, of Stapleton. You have probably heard your father speak of me?"
"Yes, sir," said Walter.
"I came as soon as I could after getting the telegram. I left my business to take care of itself. I wanted to offer you my sympathy on your sad loss."
Mr. Drummond's words were kind, though the [Pg 44]reference to his sacrifice in leaving his business might have been as well left out. Still Walter could not feel as grateful as he wanted to do. Somehow he didn't fancy Mr. Drummond.
"You are very kind," he said.
"I mean to be. You know I'm your nearest relation now. I truly feel for you in your desolate15 condition, and though it may not be the right time to say it, I must tell you that I hope, when the funeral is over, you will accompany me home, and share our humble16 hospitality. Mrs. Drummond joins with me in the invitation."
Mrs. Drummond had not been consulted in the matter, but her husband thought it would sound well to say so.
"I have not had time to think of future arrangements," said Walter; "but I thank you for your invitation."
Walter did not know the motives17 which induced Mr. Drummond to extend this invitation, but supposed it to be meant in kindness, and so acknowledged it.
"My son Joshua, too," said Mr. Drummond, "is[Pg 45] longing18 to make your acquaintance. He is older than you, but not much larger. How old are you?"
"I am fifteen."
"You are well grown of your age; Joshua is eighteen, but he will make a very pleasant companion for you. Let me hope that you will accept my invitation."
"Thank you, Mr. Drummond; I will consult my friends about it."
"I wonder how much board I could venture to ask," thought Mr. Drummond. "If I am his guardian, I can fix that to suit myself. A hundred thousand dollars would make me a rich man. That is, I could make money from it, without injuring the boy."
Mr. Drummond asked a few more questions about Mr. Conrad's sickness and death. Walter answered them, but did not think it necessary to speak of his losses by the Mining Company. Mr. Drummond was a stranger, and not a man to inspire confidence. So Walter told as little as he could. At length the visitor, having exhausted19 inquiries20, rose.
"I shall be here to-morrow," he said. "I am[Pg 46] stopping at the tavern. I shall return to Stapleton after the ceremony. I hope you will make up your mind to go back with me."
"I could not be ready so soon," answered Walter, doubtfully.
"I can wait till the next day."
"That will not be necessary, Mr. Drummond. I shall have no difficulty in making the journey alone, if I conclude to accept your kind invitation."
Mr. Drummond shook our hero's hand sympathetically, and at length withdrew. As he went down the avenue, he took a backward glance at the handsome mansion21 in which his cousin had lived.
"That boy owns all that property," he said, half enviously22, "and never worked a day for it. I've had to work for all my money. But it was foolish to spend so much money on a house. A third the sum would have built a comfortable house, and the rest might have been put at interest. If it turns out that I am the boy's guardian, I think I shall sell it. That'll be the best course."
With these reflections Mr. Drummond pursued his way back to the village tavern, where he had taken[Pg 47] the precaution to ascertain23 that he should be charged but a dollar and a quarter a day. He considered that a dollar would have been sufficient, but still it was proper to make some sacrifice to his cousin's memory. Mr. Conrad's mining speculation24 was not generally known in the village as yet, so that Mr. Drummond did not hear a word as to his loss of property.
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1
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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2
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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3
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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4
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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5
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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6
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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7
wheedle
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| v.劝诱，哄骗 | |
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8
punctilious
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| adj.谨慎的，谨小慎微的 | |
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9
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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10
guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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11
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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12
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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13
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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15
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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16
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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17
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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18
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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19
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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20
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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21
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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22
enviously
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| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
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23
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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24
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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