A few miles from Elmira, upon an eminence1 from which there was a fine view of the surrounding country, stood the handsome country mansion2 of Stephen Ray, already referred to as the cousin of Ernest's father. It passed into his possession by inheritance from poor Ernest's grandfather, the will under which the bequest3 was made cutting off his son for no worse a crime than marrying a girl thoroughly4 respectable but of humble5 birth.
Stephen Ray, since he came into possession of his uncle's estate, had improved it considerably6. He had torn down the old stable and built an imposing7 new one. The plain carriage which had satisfied his uncle had been succeeded by an elegant coach, and the sober but rather slow horse by a pair of spirited steeds.
Mr. Ray had become pompous8, and by his manner made it clear that he considered him self a man of great consequence. He was a local magistrate9, and had for years endeavored to obtain a nomination10 for Congress.
Had he been of popular manners he would probably have succeeded, but he was not a favorite among the poorer classes, and their vote must be considered.
There is an old saying, "Like father, like son," and Clarence, now turned sixteen, the only child of the country magnate, was like his father in all objectionable qualities. He was quite as much impressed with ideas of his own consequence.
It was about three o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Ray sat on the piazza11, the day being unusually warm, reading a newspaper. In the street, near by, his son Clarence was moving swiftly on a new bicycle which his father had just purchased for him.
"Out of the way, there!" he called out, as a shabbily-dressed stranger with a weary step plodded12 along the pathway.
Whether because he was hard of hearing or because his mind was preoccupied13, the stranger did not heed14 the warning, and Clarence, who might easily have avoided the collision, ran into him recklessly. Had the bicycle been moving at a greater rate of speed, he might have been seriously hurt. As it was, he was nearly thrown down.
But he rallied, and seizing the offending rider with no gentle grasp, dragged him from the wheel and shook him vigorously.
"Let me alone, you tramp!" exclaimed Clarence, furiously.
But the stranger did not release his hold.
"Not till you apologize for running into me," he answered sternly.
"Apologize to a man like you!" ejaculated Clarence, struggling furiously for his freedom. "What do you take me for?"
"Let me alone, I tell you!"
"Will you apologize?"
"There is no need of an apology. You got in my way."
"You have no business on the sidewalk with your bicycle. It is meant for foot-passengers."
"No, I don't, nor do I care."
These words of Clarence had the effect he desired. The stranger released him and eyed him with close scrutiny19.
"So you are the son of Stephen Ray?" he said.
"Yes. What have you to say now?"
"That you had no right to run into me, whoever your father may be."
"I might have known you were Stephen Ray's son," said the stranger thoughtfully.
"Do you know my father?" asked Clarence in considerable surprise.
"I am on my way to call upon him."
"I don't think it will do any good. He never gives money to tramps."
"I have a great mind to give you another shaking up," said the man, and in some fear Clarence edged away from him.
It was evident that this shabby-looking stranger had not a proper respect for those who were in a higher station.
"I will tell him not to give you anything," continued Clarence.
"Like father, like son," said the stranger thoughtfully, apparently21 not disturbed by the boy's threats.
Evidently he was no common tramp, or he would have been more respectful to the son of the man from whom he was probably about to ask a favor.
"You just wait till you see my father. He'll give you a lecture that you won't soon forget."
"You'd better get on your wheel, boy, and go right along," said the stranger calmly.
"Do you know where my father lives?"
"Yes, at yonder fine house. I see him sitting out on the piazza. Shall we go along together?"
"No, I don't keep such company as you. Tramps are not my style."
"And yet some day you may be as poor and friendless as myself."
"That isn't very likely; my father is a very rich man."
"I knew him when he was poor."
More and more puzzled by the independent manner of this shabby stranger, Clarence made a spurt22, and soon found himself in the grounds of his father's house.
"With whom were you talking, Clarence?" asked Stephen Ray, as his son joined him on the piazza.
"One of the most impudent tramps I ever came across," answered Clarence. "He made an attack upon me, and pulled me from my bicycle."
Stephen Ray's cheek flamed with anger. An insult to his son was an insult to him.
"Why did he do this? How dared he?" he demanded angrily.
"Because I happened to touch him as I passed," answered Clarence.
"He actually pulled you from your bicycle?" asked Stephen Ray, almost incredulous.
"Yes."
"You will have a chance to meet him. He told me he was going to call upon you there he is now, entering the gate."
Stephen was glad to hear it. He wanted to empty the vials of his wrath24 on the audacious offender25. He prided himself on his grand manner.
He was accustomed to seeing men of the stamp of this stranger quail26 before him and show nervous alarm at his rebukes27. He had no doubt that his majestic28 wrath would overwhelm the shabby outcast who had audaciously assaulted his son and heir.
He rose to his feet, and stood the personification of haughty29 displeasure as the poor man, who dared his anger, walked composedly up the path. He now stood by the piazza steps.
"It is well you have come here," began the squire in a dignified30 tone. "My son tells me that you have committed an unprovoked outrage31 upon him in dragging him from his wheel. I can only conclude that you are under the influence of liquor."
Stephen Ray waited curiously32 to hear what the man would say. He was prepared for humble apologies.
"I am no more drunk than yourself, if that is what you mean, Stephen Ray," was the unexpected reply.
"You must be drunk or you would not dare to talk in this way. Who authorized34 you to address me in this familiar way?"
"You are only a man, I believe, Stephen Ray. I have addressed you as respectfully as you have spoken to me."
"Respect to you?" repeated Mr. Ray, disdainfully. "Has the time come when we must be respectful to tramps?"
"A poor tramp is quite as deserving of respect as a rich rascal."
"What do you mean by that?" demanded the squire suspiciously.
"It was a general remark."
"It is well that it was. But it has no application in the present instance. If you are poor I will give you a quarter, but only on condition that you apologize to my son."
The stranger laughed.
"Why should I apologize to your son?" he asked.
"You pulled him off his bicycle. Do you deny it?"
"No, I do not. Do you know what he did?"
"He brushed against you with his wheel, he tells me, accidentally."
"So that is his version of it? He deliberately35 ran into me."
"I gave you warning. I said 'Out of the way, there!'" interrupted Clarence.
"Yes, but you had no right on the side walk. That is meant for foot-passengers."
"It seems to me, sir, that you are remarkably36 independent for a man of your rank. Even if it had been as you say, you had no right to assault my son. I might have you arrested on your own confession37, but I will forbear doing so on condition that you leave town at once."
"I have a little business with you, first, Stephen Ray."
"If you expect alms, you have come to the wrong man. I don't believe in encouraging beggars."
"I know very well that you are not charitable. You see, I used to be acquainted with you."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Benjamin Bolton."
Stephen Ray looked startled.
"Benjamin Bolton!" he repeated, half incredulous. "I can't believe it."
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1
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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2
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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bequest
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| n.遗赠；遗产，遗物 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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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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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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7
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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8
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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nomination
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| n.提名，任命，提名权 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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14
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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18
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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27
rebukes
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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29
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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31
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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32
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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33
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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34
authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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36
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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