The poorhouse was not far away. It was a three-story frame house, which badly needed painting, with a dilapidated barn, and shed near by.
A three-story farmhouse4 is not common in the country, but this dwelling5 had been erected6 by a Mr. Parmenter, in the expectation of making a fortune by taking summer boarders.
There was room enough for them, but they did not come. The situation was the reverse of pleasant, the soil about was barren, and there were no shade or fruit trees. It was a crazy idea, selecting such a spot for a summer boarding-house, and failure naturally resulted.
There had, indeed, been two boarders—a man and his wife—who paid one week's board, and managed to owe six before the unlucky landlord decided7 that they were a pair of swindlers. He had spent more money than he could afford on his house, and went steadily8 behind-hand year after year, till the town—which was in want of a poorhouse—stepped in and purchased the house and farm at a bargain. So it came to be a boarding-house, after all, but in a sense not contemplated9 by the proprietor10, and, at present, accommodated eleven persons—mostly old and infirm—whom hard fortune compelled to subsist11 on charity.
Mr. Tucker had this advantage, that his boarders, had no recourse except to stay with him, however poor his fare or harsh his treatment, unless they were in a position to take care of themselves.
When Philip came in sight of the almshouse—which he had often seen, and always considered a very dreary-looking building—he was strengthened in his determination not long to remain a tenant12.
Mr. Tucker drove up to the front door with a flourish.
A hard-featured woman came out, and regarded the contents of the wagon with curiosity.
“Who is it?”
“Well, it ain't likely to be Squire14 Pope!” said Joe facetiously15; “and Zeke and I are regular boarders on the free list.”
“Is it that boy?”
“Yes; it's Phil Gray.”
“Humph! boys are a trial!” remarked Mrs. Tucker, whose experience with Zeke had doubtless convinced her of this fact.
“I sha'n't trouble you long, Mrs. Tucker,” said Philip. “I don't intend to stay.”
“You don't, hey?” retorted Joe Tucker, with a wolfish grin and an emphatic16 nod of the head. “We'll see about that—won't we, Squire Pope?”
“The boy is rather rebellious17, Mrs. Tucker,” said the selectman. “He appears to think he knows better what is good for him than we do. You may look upon him as a permanent boarder. What he says is of no account.”
Philip said nothing, but he looked full at the squire with an unflinching gaze. If ever determination was written upon any face, it was on his.
“Come down there!” said Mrs. Tucker, addressing our hero. “You're at home now.”
“Mr. Dunbar won't know what has become of me,” said Philip, with a sudden thought. “They will be anxious. May I go back there and tell them where I am?”
“Do you think I am green enough for that?” Mr. Tucker, touching18 the side of his nose waggishly19. “We shouldn't be likely to set eyes on you again.”
“I will promise to come back here this evening,” said Philip.
“And will you promise to stay?” asked Squire Pope doubtfully.
“No, sir,” answered Philip boldly. “I won't do that, but I will engage to come back. Then Mr. Tucker will have to look out for me, for I tell you and him frankly20 I don't mean to stay.”
“Did you ever hear such talk, squire!” asked Mr. Tucker, with a gasp21 of incredulity. “He actually defies you, who are a selectman and an overseer of the poor.”
“So he does, Mr. Tucker. I'm shocked at his conduct.”
“Shall we let him go?”
“No, of course not.”
“I agree with you, squire. I know'd you wouldn't agree to it. What shall I do about his wantin' to run away?”
“It will be best to confine him just at first, Mr. Tucker.”
“I think it will be the best thing to do, Mr. Tucker.”
Philip took all this very coolly. As to the way in which they proposed to dispose of him for the present he cared very little, as he did not intend stay till morning if there was any possible chance of getting away. The only thing that troubled him was the doubt and anxiety of his good friends, the Dunbars, when he did not return to the house.
“Squire Pope,” he said, turning to that official, “will you do me a favor?”
“Ahem! Explain yourself,” said the squire suspiciously.
“Will you call at Mr. Dunbar's and tell them where I am.”
Now, for obvious reasons, the squire did not like to do this. He knew that the Dunbars would manifest great indignation at the arbitrary step which he had adopted, and he did not like to face their displeasure, especially as his apology would perforce be a lame23 one.
“I don't think I am called upon to do you a favor, seeing how you've acted, Philip,” he said hesitatingly. “Besides, it would be out of my way, and I ought to get home as soon as possible.”
“Then you refuse, sir?”
“Well, I'd rather not.”
“Will you get word to them, Mr. Tucker?” asked Philip, turning to him.
“I hain't got time,” answered Mr. Tucker, who feared that the Dunbars would come for Philip and release him in the course of the evening.
Philip was nonplused. Always considerate of the feelings of others, he was unwilling24 that his friends should suffer anxiety on his account.
As Mr. Tucker and Squire Pope walked away together, our hero turned to Zeke.
“I suppose it's no use to ask you to do me a favor, Zeke?” he said.
“Do you want me to tell Frank Dunbar where you are?”
“Yes, I wish you would.”
“Then I'll do it.”
“You're a better fellow than I thought you were, Zeke,” said Philip, surprised.
“No, I ain't! Do you want to know why I'm willin' to go?”
“Why?”
“I know Frank Dunbar'll feel bad, and I hate him.”
“So that is your object, is it, Zeke?”
“You've got it.”
“Well, whatever your motive25 may be, I shall be much obliged to you if you go. Here's ten cents for you!”
Zeke grasped at the coin with avidity, for his father was very parsimonious26, and his mother no less so, and he seldom got any ready money.
“Thank you!” said Zeke, with unusual politeness. “I'll go right off. But, I say, don't you tell dad where I've gone, or he might prevent me, and don't you let on you've given me this dime27, or he'd try to get it away.”
“No, I won't say anything about it,” answered Philip.
“A curious family this is!” he thought, “There doesn't seem to be much confidence in each other.”
Zeke sauntered away carelessly, to avert28 suspicion but when he had got round a bend of the road he increased his speed, never looking back, lest he should see his father signaling for him.
Philip breathed a sigh of relief.
“I've got a messenger at last,” he said. “Now my friends will know what has become of me when I don't come home to supper.”
He was a little curious to learn what they were going to do with him, but he was not long kept in suspense29.
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收听单词发音
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1
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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2
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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3
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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5
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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6
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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7
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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8
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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9
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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11
subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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12
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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13
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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15
facetiously
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| adv.爱开玩笑地；滑稽地，爱开玩笑地 | |
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16
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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17
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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18
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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19
waggishly
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| adv.waggish（滑稽的，诙谐的）的变形 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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21
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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22
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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23
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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24
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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26
parsimonious
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| adj.吝啬的，质量低劣的 | |
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27
dime
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| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
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28
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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29
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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