Collect the whole bunch of Peppers and send them into my writing-room, Marian." Old Mr. King
mounting the stairs, turned to see that his command was heard.
"You want Mother Pepper too, I presume?" said Mrs. Whitney, pausing at the foot.
"Mother Pepper? No, indeed; the last person in the world I wish to see," cried her father irritably2.
"The bunch of Pepper children, I want, and at once; see that they all report to me directly." With
that he redoubled his efforts and was soon at the top of the long oaken steps.
Polly and Ben closely followed by Joel, David and Phronsie soon rushed over the same ascending3
thoroughfare, and presented themselves, flushed and panting, at the writing-room door.
"Come in," called Mr. King from within.
"Here we are, sir," said Ben, spokesman by virtue4 of being the eldest5.
"Yes, yes," said Mr. King nervously6, and turning away from some papers he was fumbling7 to
occupy the waiting moments. "Well, do sit down, all of you. I sent for you to have a talk about
something that you--that you--well, do sit down."
So all the Peppers deposited themselves in various resting-places; all but Joel. He immediately
marched up to the old gentleman's chair.
"If it's good news," he said abruptly8, "please let us have it right this minute. But if it's bad, why," a
gathering9 alarm stole over his chubby10 countenance11, as he scanned the face before him, "I'm going
out-doors."
"It's good or bad news according as you take it," said the old gentleman. "It ought to be good. But
there," pushing back his chair to look at the row of anxious figures the other side of the table, "do
sit down with the rest, Joe, and stop staring me out of countenance." Polly at that, pushed a chair
over toward Joel, who persuading himself into it, sat uncomfortably perched on its edge, where he
stared harder than ever.
"Hum! well, children, now you are all remarkably12 sensible boys and girls. Remarkably sensible.
I've always said so, and I see no reason to change my opinion of you now. And so, although at first
my news may not be quite to your liking13, why, you'll quickly make it so, and be very happy about
it in the end. Hem1! well, did you ever think that--that your mother might possibly marry again?"
The last words were brought out so abruptly, that to the five pairs of ears strained to catch their
import, it seemed as if the news had shot by harmlessly. But after a breathing space the dreadful
"marry," and "your mother," came back to them, bringing the several owners of the ears out of
their chairs at one bound.
"Our mother!" Ben hoarsely14 exclaimed.
"Oh! how can you?" cried Polly passionately15, a little white line showing around her mouth, "say
such perfectly16 dreadful things, sir!"
Phronsie clasped her hands in silent terror, and raised big eyes to his face. David began to walk
helplessly down the apartment. "See here!" said Joel, turning to the others, "wait a minute, and
hold on. Perhaps it's you, sir," whirling back to question, with piercing eyes, the old gentleman,
"who's going to marry our mother. Then it's all right!"
"Me!" roared the old gentleman. "Oh! bless my soul, what should I want to marry for at my time
of life? Oh! my goodness me."
His distress17 was now so frightful18 to see, that it brought the Peppers in a measure out of theirs; and
they began at once to endeavor to soothe19 him.
"Don't--oh! don't," they cried, and a common trouble overwhelming them, they rushed around the
table, seized his hands, and patted his shoulders and hair. "Oh! this is very dreadful," gasped20 Polly,
"but don't you feel badly, dear, dear Grandpapa."
"I should think it was," said Mr. King. "Phronsie, here, child, get into my lap. I'll come to myself
then. There, now, that's something like," as Phronsie, with a low cry, hopped21 into her usual nest.
"Now perhaps I can communicate the rest of my news, when I get my breath."
The Peppers held theirs, and he began once more. "Now, children, it isn't in the course of nature
for such a fine bright woman as your mother to remain single the rest of her life; somebody would
be sure to come and carry her off. I'm glad it's to be in my lifetime, for now I can be easy in my
mind, and feel that you have a protector when I am gone. There, there, we won't talk about that,"
as the young faces turned dark with sudden pain, while Joel rushed convulsively to the window,
"you can see how I feel about it."
"Are you glad?" cried Ben hoarsely. Polly for her life could not speak. The whole world seemed
turning round, and sinking beneath her feet.
"Yes, I am," said the old gentleman, "and it won't alter the existing state of things, for he will live
here with us, and things will be just the same, if only you children will take it rightly. But I've no
doubt you will in the end; no doubt at all," he added, brightening up, "for you are very sensible
young people. I've always said so."
"Who is he?" The dreadful question trembled on all the lips; but no one asked it. Seeing this, Mr.
King broke out, "Well, now of course you want to know who is going to marry your mother, that
is, if you are willing. For she won't have him unless you are to be happy about it. Would you like
Dr. Fisher for a father?" Joel broke away from the window with a howl, while Polly tumultuously
threw herself within the kind arms encircling Phronsie.
"Next to you," cried the boy, "why, he's a brick, Dr. Fisher is!"
"Why didn't you tell us before that it was he?" sobbed22 Polly, with joyful23 tears running over her
face. Davie, coming out of his gloomy walk, turned a happy face towards the old man's chair,
while Ben said something to himself that sounded like "Thank God!"
Phronsie alone remained unmoved. "What is Dr. Fisher going to do?" she asked presently, amid
the chatter24 that now broke forth25.
"He's going to live here," said old Mr. King, looking down at her, and smoothing her yellow hair.
"Won't that be nice, Phronsie?"
"Yes," said Phronsie, "it will. And he'll bring his funny old gig, won't he, and 111 drive
sometimes, I suppose?" she added with great satisfaction.
"Yes; you will," said the old gentleman, winking26 furiously to keep back the excited flow of
information that now threatened the child. "Well, Phronsie, you love Dr. Fisher, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," said the child, folding her hands in her lap, "love him very much indeed."
"Well, he's going to be your father," communicated Mr. King, cautiously watching her face at each
syllable27.
"Oh, no!" cried Phronsie, "he couldn't be; he's Dr. Fisher." She laughed softly at the idea. "Why,
Grandpapa, he couldn't be my father."
"Listen, Phronsie," and Mr. King took both her hands in his, "and I'll tell you about it so that you
will understand. Dr. Fisher loves your mother; he has loved her for many years--all those years
when she was struggling on in the little brown house. But he couldn't tell her so, because he had
others depending on him for support. They don't need him now, and as soon as he is free, he
comes and tells your mother and me, like a noble good man as he is, all about it. He's a gentleman,
children," he declared, turning to the others, "and you will be glad to call him father."
"I don't know what you mean," said Phronsie, with puzzled eyes. "Dear Grandpapa, please tell
me."
"Why, he is going to marry your mother, child, and we are all to live here together just the same,
and everything is going to be just as happy as possible."
Phronsie gave a sharp and sudden cry of distress. "But Mamsie, my Mamsie will be gone!" and
then she hid her face in the old gentleman's breast.
"O dear, dear! get a glass of water, Polly," cried Mr. King. "One of you run and open the window.
Phronsie, Phronsie--there, child, look up and let me tell you." But Phronsie burrowed28 yet deeper in
the protecting nest, regardless of his spotless linen29.
"Polly, speak to her," he cried in despair; "where is she? gone for the water? O dear! Here, Ben,
you try. Dear, dear, what a blunderer I am."
"Phronsie," said Ben, leaning over the shaking figure, "you are making Grandpapa sick."
Up came Phronsie's yellow head. "Oh, Grandpapa!" she wailed30, putting out an unsteady little
hand, "I didn't mean to, dear Grandpapa, only--only Mamsie will be gone now."
"Bless your heart, you'll have Mamsie more than ever," cried Mr. King heartily31. "Here, you
children, tell her. Polly, we don't want the water now, she's come to," as Polly came rushing in
with a glassful. "Make her understand; I can't."
So Polly, setting down her glass, the others crowding around, took up the task of making the piece
of news as delightful32 as possible, and presently Phronsie came out of her despair, to ask questions.
"Are you really and truly very glad, Polly?" she asked.
"Really and truly I am so glad I don't know what to do," said Polly, kneeling down by the chair-
side. "Don't you see we are so much the richer, Phronsie? We have lost nothing, and we gain Dr.
Fisher. Dear splendid Dr. Fisher!"
"You've always wanted to repay Dr. Fisher for his kindness," said Mr. King, "and now's your
chance, Polly."
"I guess he'll get his pay back for his stove," cried Joel in a burst; "Polly will wait on him, and kill
herself doing things for him."
"And for your new eyes," sang Phronsie in a pleased way. "Oh, Polly!" She jumped out of the old
gentleman's lap, and began to dance around the room, softly clapping her hands and exclaiming,
"Oh, Polly!"
"Well, now, children," said Mr. King, as the excitement ran low, "you just run and tell your
mother, every one of you, how happy she will make you by bringing Dr. Fisher here as your
father. Scamper33, now!"
No need to urge them. On the wings of the wind ran the five Peppers up into Mamsie's own room.
Mrs. Pepper for once turning aside from the claim of her pressing duties, was standing34 by the work
table. Here stood the mending basket before her, piled to the brim with the weekly installment35 of
stockings big and little, clamoring for attention. But the usually busy needle lay idle, and the
busier hands were folded, as the mother-heart went over the words she knew were being rehearsed
downstairs by the kind friend who had made a home for them. He was pleading her cause with her
children.
"They shall be happy, anyway," she said softly to herself, "bless their hearts!" as they burst in.
"Mother," said Ben--How the boy's cheek glowed! And what a world of joy rang in the usually
quiet tones!--"we want to thank you for giving us Dr. Fisher for a father."
"Mamsie," Polly hid her happy face on the dear neck, "I've always loved him, you know; oh! I'm
so glad."
Joel whooped36 out something incoherent, but his face told the words, while Davie clasped one of
the firm, closely folded hands.
"If you'll take me in your lap as much as ever," said Phronsie deliberately37, and patting the other
hand, "why I shall be really and truly glad, Mamsie."
"Bless your dear heart!" cried Mother Pepper, clasping her tightly, "and you children, all of you,"
and she drew them all within her arms. "Now I want you to understand, once for all, that it isn't to
be unless you all wish it. You are sure Mr. King hasn't persuaded you to like it?"
"Look at us," cried Ben, throwing back his head to see her eyes. "Do we act as if we had been
talked over?"
At that, Polly burst into a merry laugh; and the others joining, Mother Pepper laughing as heartily
as the rest, the big room became the jolliest place imaginable.
"No, I don't really think you do," said Mrs. Pepper, wiping her eyes.
"Dear me!" cried Jasper, putting his head in the doorway38, "what good fun is going on? I'm not
going to be left out."
"Come in, Jasper," they all called.
"And we've a piece of news that will make your hair stand on end," said Joel gaily39.
"Joe, don't announce it so," cried Polly in dismay, who dearly enjoyed being elegant. "Ben must
tell it; he is the oldest."
"No, no; let Polly," protested Ben.
"Polly shall," said Jasper, hurrying in to stand the picture of patience before the group. "Hurry, do,
for I must say my curiosity is hard to keep within bounds."
So Polly was gently pushed into the center of the circle. "Go on," said Joel, "and hurry up, or I
shall tell myself."
"Jasper," said Polly, her breath coming fast, "oh! you can't think; we are so glad"--But she got no
further, for Phronsie, rushing out of Mother Pepper's arms, piped out suddenly:
"Dr. Fisher is coming here to live always and forever, and I'm going to ride in his gig, and Mamsie
likes him, and I'm going to call him father; now, Jasper, I told you!"
"I should think you did," exclaimed Ben.
"Whew!" cried Jasper, "that is a piece of news all in one breath. Well, Mrs. Pepper, I'm glad of it,
too. I congratulate you." With that, he marched up to her, Phronsie hanging to his arm, and shook
her hand heartily.
And in two days everybody in the King set knew that the mother of the five little Peppers was
going to be married.
"I should think you'd want to be condoled40 with, Ben," said Pickering Dodge41, clapping him on the
shoulder as he rushed down the aisle42 of the store occupied by Cabot & Van Meter.
"Halloo!" said Ben, "can't stop," rushing past.
"I suppose not," said Pickering carelessly, and striding after, "so I'll whisper my gentle
congratulations in your ear 'on the wing.' But I'm awfully43 sorry for you, Ben," he added, as he
came up to him.
"You needn't be," said Ben brightly, "we are all as glad as can be."
"Sweet innocent, you don't know a stepfather," said Pickering lugubriously44.
"I know Dr. Fisher," said Ben, "that's enough."
"Well, when you want comfort, come to me," said Pickering, "or your uncle!"
"Don't you fill Ben's ears with your foolishness," said the Senior Partner, coming out of the
counting-room. "Take yourself off, Pickering; you're hindering Ben."
Pickering laughed. "I'm caught in the very act. Now, Ben, remember I'm your friend when you get
into trouble with your dear pa. Good-by, Uncle," with a bright nod, and a lazy shake of his long
figure. "Trade always demoralizes me. I'll get back to my books," and he vanished as quickly as he
came.
"Back to your books," said his uncle grimly, "hum, I wish you would. See here, Ben," he put a
controlling hand on the boy's shoulder, "one word with you," marching him into the private office
of the firm. "Don't you follow Pickering too closely, my boy," he said abruptly; "he's a good lad in
the main, but if he is my nephew, I must give you warning. He's losing ground."
Ben lifted his head in sudden alarm. "Oh! I hope not, sir," he said.
"It's a fact. Master Nelson says he could be first scholar in the grammar, but for the last six months
he's failed steadily45. There's no particular reason, only ambition's gone. And when you say that, you
mean there's a general collapse46 of all my hopes concerning him."
"Oh! no, sir," Ben kept on protesting, his ruddy cheek losing its color. "He'll take hold by and by
and give a pull at his books again."
"It isn't a pull now and then that gets a man up hill," observed Mr. Cabot, leaning back in his
revolving47 chair to look into the blue eyes, "that you know as well as I. Now, Ben, I'm not going to
see you throw away your prospects48, too. Don't let him influence you in the wrong way. He's bright
and attractive, but don't pay attention to his ridicule49 of good things."
"I've a mother," said Ben proudly, "and I don't believe any boy could say much to me, that I'd
think of twice, if she didn't like it."
"You always tell her everything, do you, Ben?" asked Mr. Cabot with a curious glance.
"I should think so, sir," said Ben, with a short laugh.
"You'll do, then," said Mr. Cabot, bringing his palm down on a pile of unread letters awaiting him.
"Go ahead. I don't promise anything, but I will say this. If you work on as you have done these
two years since you came in here as errand boy, Ben, I'll make you a power in the house.
Understand I don't expect you to do brilliant things; that isn't in your line. You will be a success
only as a steady, faithful worker. But keep at it, and hang on to Cabot & Van Meter, and we'll
hang on to you."
点击
收听单词发音
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1
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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2
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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5
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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6
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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7
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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8
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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9
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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10
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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11
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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12
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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13
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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14
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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15
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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16
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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17
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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18
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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19
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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20
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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21
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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22
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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23
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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25
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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26
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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27
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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28
burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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29
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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30
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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32
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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34
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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installment
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| n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期 | |
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36
whooped
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| 叫喊( whoop的过去式和过去分词 )； 高声说； 唤起 | |
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37
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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38
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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40
condoled
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| v.表示同情，吊唁( condole的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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42
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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43
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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44
lugubriously
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45
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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46
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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47
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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48
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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49
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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