CHAPTER XV — THE LARKINS ARE IN LUCK

 Luke and his mother, accompanied by Roland Reed, took their way from the court-room to the widow's modest cottage.

 

"You may take the tin box, Luke," said the stranger, "if you are not afraid to keep in your charge what has given you so much trouble."

 

"All's well that ends well!" said Luke.

 

"Yes; I don't think it will occasion you any further anxiety."

 

Roland Reed walked in advance with Mrs. Larkin, leaving Luke to follow.

 

"What sort of a man is this Mr. Duncan?" he asked abruptly¹.

 

"Squire² Duncan?"

 

"Yes, if that is his title."

 

"He is, upon the whole, our foremost citizen," answered the widow, after a slight hesitation³.

 

"Is he popular?"

 

"I can hardly say that."

 

"He is president of the bank, is he not?"

 

"Yes."

 

"How long has he lived in Groveton?"

 

"Nearly twenty years."

 

"Was he born in this neighborhood?"

 

"I think he came from the West."

 

"Does he say from what part of the western country?"

 

"He says very little about his past life."

 

Roland Reed smiled significantly.

 

"Perhaps he has his reasons," he said meditatively⁴.

 

"Is he thought to be rich?" he asked, after a pause.

 

"Yes, but how rich no one knows. He is taxed for his house and grounds, but he may have a good deal of property besides. It is generally thought he has."

 

"He does not appear to be friendly toward your son."

 

"No," answered Mrs. Larkin, with a trace of indignation, "though I am sure he has no cause to dislike him. He seemed convinced that Luke had come by your tin box dishonestly."

 

"It seemed to me that he was prejudiced against Luke. How do you account for it?"

 

"Perhaps his son, Randolph, has influenced him."

 

"So he has a son—how old?"

 

"Almost Luke's age. He thinks Luke beneath him, though why he should do so, except that Luke is poor, I can't understand. Not long since there was a skating match for a prize of a Waterbury watch, offered by the grammar-school teacher, which Luke would have won had not Randolph arranged with another boy to get in his way and leave the victory to him."

 

"So Randolph won the watch?"

 

"Yes."

 

"I suppose he had a watch of his own already."

 

"Yes, a silver one, while Luke had none. This makes it meaner in him."

 

"I don't mind it now, mother," said Luke, who had overheard the last part of the conversation. "He is welcome to his watches—I can wait."

 

"Has Squire Duncan shown his hostility⁵ to Luke in any other way?" inquired the stranger.

 

"Yes; Luke has for over a year been janitor⁶ at the school-house. It didn't bring much—only a dollar a week—but it was considerable to us. Lately Squire Duncan was appointed on the school committee to fill a vacancy⁷, and his first act was to remove Luke from his position."

 

"Not in favor of his son, I conclude."

 

Luke laughed.

 

"Randolph would be shocked at the mere⁸ supposition," he said. "He is a young man who wears kid gloves, and the duties of a school janitor he would look upon as degrading."

 

"I really think, Luke, you have been badly treated," said Roland Reed, with a friendly smile.

 

"I have thought so, too, sir, but I suppose I have no better claim to the office than any other boy."

 

"You needed the income, however."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

By this time they were at the door of the cottage.

 

"Won't you come in, sir?" asked Mrs. Larkin, cordially.

 

"Thank you. I will not only do so, but as I don't care to stay at the hotel, I will even crave⁹ leave to pass the night under your roof."

 

"If you don't mind our poor accommodations, you will be very welcome."

 

"I am not likely to complain, Mrs. Larkin. I have not been nursed in the lap of luxury. For two years I was a California miner, and camped out. For that long period I did not know what it was to sleep in a bed. I used to stretch myself in a blanket, and lie down on the ground."

 

"You won't have to do that here, Mr. Reed," said Luke, smiling. "But it must have been great fun."

 

"How can you say so, Luke?" expostulated his mother. "It must have been very uncomfortable, and dangerous to the health."

 

"I wouldn't mind it a bit, mother," said Luke, stoutly¹⁰.

 

Roland Reed smiled.

 

"I am not surprised that you and your mother regard the matter from different points of view," he said. "It is only natural. Women are not adapted to roughing it. Boys like nothing better, and so with young men. But there comes a time—when a man passes forty—when he sets a higher value on the comforts of life. I don't mind confessing that I wouldn't care to repeat my old mining experiences."

 

"I hope you were repaid for your trouble and privations, sir."

 

"Yes, I was handsomely repaid. I may soon be as rich as your local magnate, Prince Duncan, but I have had to work harder for it, probably."

 

"So you know the squire's name?" said Mrs. Larkin, in some surprise.

 

"I must have heard it somewhere," remarked Roland Reed. "Have I got it right?"

 

"Yes; it's a peculiar¹¹ name."

 

When they reached the cottage Mrs. Larkin set about getting supper. In honor of her guest she sent out for some steak, and baked some biscuit, so that the table presented an inviting¹² appearance when the three sat down to it. After supper was over, Roland Reed said: "I told you that I wished to speak to you on business, Mrs. Larkin. It is briefly¹³ this: Are you willing to receive a boarder?"

 

"I am afraid, sir, that you would hardly be satisfied with our humble¹⁴ accommodations."

 

"Oh, I am not speaking of myself, but of a child. I am a widower¹⁵, Mrs. Larkin, and have a little daughter eight years of age. She is now boarding in New York, but I do not like the people with whom I have placed her. She is rather delicate, also, and I think a country town would suit her better than the city air. I should like to have her under just such nice motherly care as I am sure you would give her."

 

"I shall be very glad to receive her," said Mrs. Larkin, with a flush of pleasure.

 

"And for the terms?"

 

"I would rather you would name them, sir."

 

"Then I will say ten dollars a week."

 

"Ten dollars!" exclaimed the widow, in amazement¹⁶. "It won't be worth half that."

 

"I don't pay for board merely, but for care and attendance as well. She may be sick, and that would increase your trouble."

 

"She would in that case receive as much care as if she were my own daughter; but I don't ask such an exorbitant¹⁷ rate of board."

 

"It isn't exorbitant if I choose to pay it, Mrs. Larkin," said Mr. Reed, smiling. "I am entirely¹⁸ able to pay that price, and prefer to do so."

 

"It will make me feel quite rich, sir," said the widow, gratefully. "I shall find it useful, especially as Luke has lost his situation."

 

"Luke may find another position."

 

"When do you wish your daughter to come?" asked Mrs. Larkin.

 

"Luke will accompany me to the city to-morrow, and bring her back with him. By the way, I will pay you four weeks in advance."

 

He drew four ten-dollar bills from his pocket and put them into the widow's hand.

 

"I am almost afraid this is a dream," said Mrs. Larkin. "You have made me very happy."

 

"You mustn't become purse-proud, mother," said Luke, "because you have become suddenly rich."

 

"Can you be ready to take the first train to New York with me in the morning, Luke?" asked Roland Reed.

 

"Yes, sir; it starts at half-past seven."

 

"Your breakfast will be ready on time," said the widow, "and Luke will call you."

1 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

2 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

3 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

4 meditatively   

adv.冥想地

参考例句：

• The old man looked meditatively at the darts board. 老头儿沉思不语，看着那投镖板。 来自英汉文学
• "Well,'said the foreman, scratching his ear meditatively, "we do need a stitcher. “这--"工头沉思地搔了搔耳朵。 "我们确实需要一个缝纫工。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

5 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

6 janitor   

n.看门人，管门人

参考例句：

• The janitor wiped on the windows with his rags.看门人用褴褛的衣服擦着窗户。
• The janitor swept the floors and locked up the building every night.那个看门人每天晚上负责打扫大楼的地板和锁门。

7 vacancy   

n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺

参考例句：

• Her going on maternity leave will create a temporary vacancy.她休产假时将会有一个临时空缺。
• The vacancy of her expression made me doubt if she was listening.她茫然的神情让我怀疑她是否在听。

8 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

9 crave   

vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求

参考例句：

• Many young children crave attention.许多小孩子渴望得到关心。
• You may be craving for some fresh air.你可能很想呼吸呼吸新鲜空气。

10 stoutly   

adv.牢固地，粗壮的

参考例句：

• He stoutly denied his guilt.他断然否认自己有罪。
• Burgess was taxed with this and stoutly denied it.伯杰斯为此受到了责难，但是他自己坚决否认有这回事。

11 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

12 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

13 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

14 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。

15 widower   

n.鳏夫

参考例句：

• George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。
• Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后，他终于决定二婚了。

16 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

17 exorbitant   

adj.过分的；过度的

参考例句：

• More competition should help to drive down exorbitant phone charges.更多的竞争有助于降低目前畸高的电话收费。
• The price of food here is exorbitant. 这儿的食物价格太高。

18 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。