A boy, a little smaller than Herbert, ran out of the front door, and opened the door of the carriage before Pompey had time to descend5 from the box.
“What, grandpa, come back?” he said, in surprise.
“Yes, Oscar, we were too late for the train,” said his mother. “I brought you back a companion for a few hours. This is Herbert Mason, whom I intrust to your care, depending upon you to see that he passes his time pleasantly.”
Oscar looked at Herbert inquisitively6.
Herbert offered his hand, saying, “I am glad to make your acquaintance, Oscar.”
“How long are you going to stay?” asked Oscar, as his mother and grandfather went into the house.
“I must return in time to take the twelve o'clock train.”
“Is grandpa going, too?”
“Yes.”
“And are you going to take care of him?”
“I believe so.”
“I wouldn't want to.'
“Why not?”
“Oh, it's an awful bore to be tied to a blind man.”
“You'd find it more of a bore to be blind yourself,” said Herbert.
“Yes, I suppose I should. Grandpa wants me to go to walk with him sometimes, but I don't like it.”
“If I had a grandfather who was blind, I think I should be willing.”
“Wait till you have one, and you'll see how it is then.”
“I suppose he needs somebody.”
“Oh, well, he can take one of the servants, then. It's their business to work.”
“Where do you live?” he asked, after a pause.
“I am going to live in New York.”
“Are you? I should like to go there.”
“Perhaps you wouldn't want to go as I am going.”
“What, alone? Yes, I should rather go that way. Then I could do as I pleased. Now it's 'Oscar, do this,' and 'You mustn't do that,' all the time.”
“That isn't what I mean exactly. I've got to earn my own living after I get there, and I don't know anybody in the city.”
“You haven't run away from home, have you?”
“I haven't got any home.”
“Where's your father and mother?”
“They are both dead.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I hope to get into a store or counting-room and learn to be a merchant.”
“I shan't have to work for a living,” said Oscar, in a tone of importance.
“Because your family is rich, I suppose,” said Herbert.
“Yes, we've got a large estate, ever so many acres. That's what mother's got. Then grandpa is rich besides, and I expect he will leave me a good deal of his money. He's pretty old, and I don't believe he'll live very long.”
Oscar said this with such evident satisfaction that Herbert was disgusted, thinking it not very creditable to him to speculate so complacently7 upon his grandfather's speedy death.
“You seem to be well off, then,” said he, at last, to the boy.
“Yes,” said Oscar, “our family is one of the first in the State. My father is a Peyton.”
“Is he?” asked Herbert, not appearing as much awestruck as Oscar expected.
“We've got a plantation8 in Virginia. We live there part of the year. My father's there now. I hope we shall go there soon.”
“Do you like it better than here?”
“Yes, a good deal.”
“This is a handsome place.”
“Yes, this is mother's estate. The other belongs to father.”
“Have you any brothers and sisters, Oscar?”
“I've got one sister. She's about twelve. But, I say, I thought you were a gentleman's son when I first saw you.”
“So I am,” said Herbert, emphatically.
“Was your father rich?”
“No.”
“Did he have to work for a living?”
“Yes.”
“Then he wasn't a gentleman,” said Oscar, decidedly.
“Isn't anybody a gentleman that has to work for a living?” asked Herbert, his indignation excited by his companion's assumption of superiority.
“Of course not,” said Oscar, coolly. “It isn't respectable to work. Niggers and servants work.”
“That is where I don't agree with you,” said Herbert, his face flushing.
“You don't pretend to be a gentleman, do you?” demanded Oscar, insolently9.
“Yes, I do,” said Herbert, firmly.
“But you're not one, you know.”
“I don't know anything of the kind,” said Herbert, angrily. “I suppose you call yourself one.”
“Of course, I am a gentleman,” said Oscar, complacently.
“You don't talk like one, at any rate,” retorted Herbert.
This was new language for Oscar to hear. He had been accustomed to have his own way pretty much, and had been used to order round his father's servants and slaves like a little despot. The idea of being told by a boy who had to work for a living that he did not talk like a gentleman, did not suit him at all. His black eyes flashed and he clenched10 his fists.
“Do you mean to insult me?” he demanded.
“I never insult anybody,” said Herbert, not feeling particularly alarmed by this hostile demonstration11. “It is you that have insulted me.”
“Didn't you tell me I was not a gentleman?” said Oscar, hotly.
“I said you did not talk like one.”
“That's about the same thing,” said Oscar.
“Just as you like. Even if I did say so, you said the same of me.”
“Well, suppose I did.”
“I am as much a gentleman as you, to say the least,” asserted Herbert.
“If you say that again, I'll knock you down,” said Oscar, furiously.
Perhaps it would have been better for Herbert to stop disputing, and to have taken no notice of Oscar's words. But Herbert was not perfect. He had plenty of spirit, and he was provoked by the airs Oscar chose to assume, and by no means inclined to allow him to arrogate13 a superiority over himself, merely on account of his wealth. Though manly14 and generous, he was quick to resent an insult, and accordingly, when Oscar dared to repeat what he had said, he instantly accepted the challenge as recorded above.
Had Oscar been prudent15, he would have hesitated before endeavoring to carry his threat into execution. A moment's glance at the two boys would have satisfied anyone that the chances, in a personal contest, were decidedly in our hero's favor. Herbert was not only a little taller than Oscar, perhaps an inch and a half, but his shoulders were broader and his frame more muscular. Oscar had never done any work to strengthen his arms, while Herbert had been forced by circumstances to do so.
Oscar flung himself upon Herbert, and endeavored to bear him to the ground. But the latter, without an effort, repelled16 the charge, and flung himself free from his antagonist's grasp.
This naturally made Oscar more determined17 to overcome his foe18. His face red with passion, he showered blows upon Herbert, which the latter parried with ease. At first he acted wholly upon the defensive19, but, finding that Oscar's impetuosity did not abate20, suddenly closed with him and threw him down.
Oscar rose but little hurt, for Herbert used no unnecessary force, and recommenced the assault. But the result was the same as before. Oscar was almost beside himself with mingled21 rage and mortification22, and it is hard to tell how long the contest would have lasted, had not a servant come up and informed the boys that Mrs. Peyton wished to see them immediately. She had witnessed the whole scene from a window and felt called upon to interfere23.
“How is this, young gentleman?” she asked, gravely. “You have scarcely been together twenty minutes, and I find you fighting.”
“I beg your pardon, Mrs. Peyton,” said Herbert, in a manly tone. “I feel ashamed of myself, but Oscar attacked me for claiming to be a gentleman, and I am afraid that my blood was up, and so we got into a fight.”
“How is this, Oscar?” said his mother. “Did you so wholly lose your politeness as to attack your guest for asserting his claims to be a gentleman? I am annoyed with you.”
“So may you, some time.”
“I am rich.”
“You may not always be. At any rate, being rich doesn't insure gentlemanly behavior, as your conduct to-day clearly shows. Herbert, I hope you will excuse my son's rudeness.”
“Here is my hand, Oscar,” said Herbert, cordially. “Let us be friends.”
Oscar hardly knew how to receive this overture25, but he was finally thawed26 by Herbert's manner, and they were soon sauntering about on the lawn on the best of terms.
At half-past eleven, after an inviting27 lunch, the carriage was ordered, and Herbert and Mr. Carroll were driven to the depot28, accompanied by Oscar, who went in his mother's place.
Herbert purchased tickets for both, being intrusted with Mr. Carrol's pocketbook for that purpose. He found a comfortable seat for the old gentleman, and sat down beside him.
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1
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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2
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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3
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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4
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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5
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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6
inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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7
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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8
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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9
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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10
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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12
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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13
arrogate
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| v.冒称具有...权利，霸占 | |
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14
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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15
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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16
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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17
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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18
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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19
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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20
abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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21
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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22
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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23
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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24
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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25
overture
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| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
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26
thawed
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| 解冻 | |
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27
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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28
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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