“I hate that woman, Mr. Pitkin!” said his wife fiercely. “I scorn such underhanded work. How she has sneaked3 into the good graces of poor, deluded4 Uncle Oliver!”
“I? That is a strange accusation6, Mr. Pitkin. It was you, to my thinking. You sent off that errand boy, and that is how the whole thing came about. If he had been in your store he wouldn't have met Uncle Oliver down at the pier7.”
“You and Alonzo persuaded me to discharge him.”
“Oh, of course it's Alonzo and me! When you see Rebecca Forbush and that errand boy making ducks and drakes out of Uncle Oliver's money you may wish you had acted more wisely.”
“Really, Lavinia, you are a most unreasonable8 woman. It's no use criminating and recriminating. We must do what we can to mend matters.”
“What can we do?”
“They haven't got the money yet—remember that! We must try to re-establish friendly relations with Mr. Carter.”
“Perhaps you'll tell me how?”
“Certainly! Call as soon as possible at the house on Madison Avenue.”
“Call on that woman?”
“Yes; and try to smooth matters over as well as you can. Take Alonzo with you, and instruct him to be polite to Philip.”
“I don't believe Lonny will be willing to demean himself so far.”
“He'll have to,” answered Mr. Pitkin firmly.
“We've all made a mistake, and the sooner we remedy it the better.”
Mrs. Pitkin thought it over. The advice was unpalatable, but it was evidently sound. Uncle Oliver was rich, and they must not let his money slip through their fingers. So, after duly instructing Alonzo in his part, Mrs. Pitkin, a day or two later, ordered her carriage and drove in state to the house of her once poor relative.
“Is Mrs. Forbush at home?” she asked of the servant.
“Take this card to her.”
Mrs. Pitkin and Alonzo were ushered10 into a drawing-room more elegant than their own. She sat on a sofa with Alonzo.
“Who would think that Rebecca Forbush would come to live like this?” she said, half to herself.
“And that boy,” supplemented Alonzo.
“To be sure! Your uncle is fairly infatuated.”
Just then Mrs. Forbush entered, followed by her daughter. She was no longer clad in a shabby dress, but wore an elegant toilet, handsome beyond her own wishes, but insisted upon by Uncle Oliver.
“I am glad to see you, Lavinia,” she said simply. “This is my daughter.”
Julia, too, was stylishly11 dressed, and Alonzo, in spite of his prejudices, could not help regarding this handsome cousin with favor.
I do not propose to detail the interview. Mrs. Pitkin was on her good behavior, and appeared very gracious.
Mrs. Forbush could not help recalling the difference between her demeanor12 now and on the recent occasion, when in her shabby dress she called at the house in Twelfth Street, but she was too generous to recall it.
As they were about to leave, Mr. Carter and Philip entered the room, sent for by Mrs. Forbush.
“How do you do, Philip?” said Mrs. Pitkin, graciously. “Alonzo, this is Philip.”
“How do?” growled13 Alonzo, staring enviously14 at Phil's handsome new suit, which was considerably15 handsomer than his own.
“Very well, Alonzo.”
“You must come and see Lonny,” said Mrs. Pitkin pleasantly.
“Thank you!” answered Phil politely.
He did not say it was a pleasure, for he was a boy of truth, and he did not feel that it would be.
Uncle Oliver was partially16 deceived by his niece's new manner. He was glad that there seemed to be a reconciliation17, and he grew more cordial than he had been since his return.
After awhile Mrs. Pitkin rose to go.
When she was fairly in the carriage once more, she said passionately18:
“How I hate them!”
“You were awful sweet on them, ma!” said Alonzo, opening his eyes.
“I had to be. But the time will come when I will open the eyes of Uncle Oliver to the designs of that scheming woman and that artful errand boy.”
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收听单词发音
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1
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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2
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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3
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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4
deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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6
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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7
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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8
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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9
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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10
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
stylishly
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| adv.时髦地，新式地 | |
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12
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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13
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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14
enviously
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| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
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15
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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16
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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17
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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18
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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19
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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