Mr. Weeks, on his return home, dropped all diplomacy1 in dealing2 with the question at issue. "Cynthy," he said in his own vernacular3, "the end has come, so far as me and my folks are concerned--I never expect to visit you, and while I'm master of the house, no more visits will be received. But I haint taken any such stand onconsiderately," he concluded. "I've given up the whole forenoon to secure you a better chance of living than visiting around. If you go to Holcroft's you'll have to do some work, and so will your girl. But he'll hire someone to help you, and so you won't have to hurt yourself. Your trump4 card will be to hook him and marry him before he finds you out. To do this, you'll have to see to the house and dairy, and bestir yourself for a time at least. He's pretty desperate off for lack of women folks to look after indoor matters, but he'll sell out and clear out before he'll keep a woman, much less marry her, if she does nothing but talk. Now remember, you've got a chance which you won't get again, for Holcroft not only owns his farm, but has a snug5 sum in the bank. So you had better get your things together, and go right over while he's in the mood."
When Mrs. Mumpson reached the blank wall of the inevitable6, she yielded, and not before. She saw that the Weeks mine was worked out completely, and she knew that this exhaustion7 was about equally true of all similar mines, which had been bored until they would yield no further returns.
But Mr. Weeks soon found that he could not carry out his summary measures. The widow was bent8 on negotiations9 and binding10 agreements. In a stiff, cramped12 hand, she wrote to Holcroft in regard to the amount of "salary" he would be willing to pay, intimating that one burdened with such responsibilities as she was expected to assume "ort to be compensiated proposhundly."
Weeks groaned13 as he dispatched his son on horseback with this first epistle, and Holcroft groaned as he read it, not on account of its marvelous spelling and construction, but by reason of the vista14 of perplexities and trouble it opened to his boding15 mind. But he named on half a sheet of paper as large a sum as he felt it possible to pay and leave any chance for himself, then affixed16 his signature and sent it back by the messenger.
The widow Mumpson wished to talk over this first point between the high contracting powers indefinitely, but Mr. Weeks remarked cynically17, "It's double what I thought he'd offer, and you're lucky to have it in black and white. Now that everything's settled, Timothy will hitch18 up and take you and Jane up there at once.
But Mrs. Mumpson now began to insist upon writing another letter in regard to her domestic status and that of her child. They could not think of being looked upon as servants. She also wished to be assured that a girl would be hired to help her, that she should have all the church privileges to which she had been accustomed and the right to visit and entertain her friends, which meant every farmer's wife and all the maiden19 sisters in Oakville. "And then," she continued, "there are always little perquisites20 which a housekeeper21 has a right to look for--" Mr. Weeks irritably22 put a period to this phase of diplomacy by saying, "Well, well, Cynthy, the stage will be along in a couple of hours. We'll put you and your things aboard, and you can go on with what you call your negotiations at Cousin Abiram's. I can tell you one thing though--if you write any such letter to Holcroft, you'll never hear from him again."
Compelled to give up all these preliminaries, but inwardly resolving to gain each point by a nagging23 persistence24 of which she was a mistress, she finally declared that she "must have writings about one thing which couldn't be left to any man's changeful mind. He must agree to give me the monthly salary he names for at least a year."
Weeks thought a moment, and then, with a shrewd twinkle in his eyes, admitted, "It would be a good thing to have Holcroft's name to such an agreement. Yes, you might try that on, but you're taking a risk. If you were not so penny-wise and pound-foolish, you'd go at once and manage to get him to take you for 'better or worse.'"
"You--misjudge me, Cousin Lemuel," replied the widow, bridling26 and rocking violently. If there's any such taking to be done, he must get me to take him."
"Well, well, write your letter about a year's engagement. That'll settle you for a twelvemonth, at least."
Mrs. Mumpson again began the slow, laborious27 construction of a letter in which she dwelt upon the uncertainties28 of life, her "duty to her offspring," and the evils of "vicissitude29." "A stable home is woman's chief desire," she concluded, "and you will surely agree to pay me the salary you have said for a year."
When Holcroft read this second epistle he so far yielded to his first impulse that he half tore the sheet, then paused irresolutely30. After a few moments he went to the door and looked out upon his acres. "It'll soon be plowing31 and planting time," he thought. "I guess I can stand her---at least I can try it for three months. I'd like to turn a few more furrows32 on the old place," and his face softened33 and grew wistful as he looked at the bare, frost-bound fields. Suddenly it darkened and grew stern as he muttered, "But I'll put my hand to no more paper with that Weeks tribe."
He strode to the stable, saying to Timothy Weeks, as he passed, "I'll answer this letter in person."
Away cantered Timothy, and soon caused a flutter of expectancy35 in the Weeks household, by announcing that "Old Holcroft looked black as a thundercloud and was comin' himself."
"I tell you what 'tis, Cynthy, it's the turn of a hair with you now," growled36 Weeks. "Unless you agree to whatever Holcroft says, you haven't the ghost of a chance."
The widow felt that a crisis had indeed come. Cousin Abiram's was the next place in the order of visitation, but her last experience there left her in painful doubt as to a future reception. Therefore she tied on a new cap, smoothed her apron37, and rocked with unwonted rapidity. "It'll be according to the ordering of Providence--"
"Oh, pshaw!" interrupted Cousin Lemuel, "it'll be according to whether you've got any sense or not."
Mrs. Weeks had been in a pitiable state of mind all day. She saw that her husband had reached the limit of his endurance--that he had virtually already "flown off the handle." But to have her own kin25 actually bundled out of the house--what would people say?
Acceptance of Holcroft's terms, whatever they might be, was the only way out of the awkward predicament, and so she began in a wheedling38 tone, "Now, Cousin Cynthy, as Lemuel says, you've got a first-rate chance. Holcroft's had an awful time with women, and he'll be glad enough to do well by anyone who does fairly well by him. Everybody says he's well off, and once you're fairly there and get things in your own hands, there's no telling what may happen. He'll get a girl to help you, and Jane's big enough now to do a good deal. Why, you'll be the same as keeping house like the rest of us."
Further discussion was cut short by the arrival of the victim. He stood awkwardly in the door of the Weeks sitting room for a moment, seemingly at a loss how to state his case.
Mr. And Mrs. Weeks now resolved to appear neutral and allow the farmer to make his terms. Then, like other superior powers in the background, they proposed to exert a pressure on their relative and do a little coercing39. But the widow's course promised at first to relieve them of all further effort. She suddenly seemed to become aware of Holcroft's presence, sprang up, and gave him her hand very cordially.
"I'm glad to see you, sir," she began. "It's very considerate of you to come for me. I can get ready in short order, and as for Jane, she's never a bit of trouble. Sit down, sir, and make yourself to home while I get our things together and put on my bonnet40;" and she was about to hasten from the room.
She, too, had been compelled to see that Holcroft's farmhouse41 was the only certain refuge left, and while she had rocked and waited the thought had come into her scheming mind, "I've stipulated42 to stay a year, and if he says nothing against it, it's a bargain which I can manage to keep him to in spite of himself, even if I don't marry him."
But the straightforward43 farmer was not to be caught in such a trap. He had come himself to say certain words and he would say them. He quietly, therefore, stood in the door and said, "Wait a moment, Mrs. Mumpson. It's best to have a plain understanding in all matters of business. When I've done, you may conclude not to go with me, for I want to say to you what I said this morning to your cousin, Lemuel Weeks. I'm glad he and his wife are now present, as witnesses. I'm a plain man, and all I want is to make a livin' off the farm I've been brought up on. I'll get a girl to help you with the work. Between you, I'll expect it to be done in a way that the dairy will yield a fair profit. We'll try and see how we get on for three months and not a year. I'll not bind11 myself longer than three months. Of course, if you manage well, I'll be glad to have this plain business arrangement go on as long as possible, but it's all a matter of business. If I can't make my farm pay, I'm going to sell or rent and leave these parts."
"Oh, certainly, certainly, Mr. Holcroft! You take a very senserble view of affairs. I hope you will find that I will do all that I agree to and a great deal more. I'm a little afraid of the night air and the inclement45 season, and so will hasten to get myself and my child ready," and she passed quickly out.
Weeks put his hand to his mouth to conceal46 a grin as he thought, "She hasn't agreed to do anything that I know on. Still, she's right; she'll do a sight more than he expects, but it won't be just what he expects."
Mrs. Weeks followed her relative to expedite matters, and it must be confessed that the gathering47 of Mrs. Mumpson's belongings48 was no heavy task. A small hair trunk, that had come down from the remote past, held her own and her child's wardrobe and represented all their worldly possessions.
Mr. Weeks, much pleased at the turn of affairs, became very affable, but confined his remarks chiefly to the weather, while Holcroft, who had an uneasy sense of being overreached in some undetected way, was abstracted and laconic49. He was soon on the road home, however, with Mrs. Mumpson and Jane. Cousin Lemuel's last whispered charge was, "Now, for mercy's sake, do keep your tongue still and your hands busy."
Whatever possibilities there may be for the Ethiopian or the leopard50, there was no hope that Mrs. Mumpson would materially change any of her characteristics. The chief reason was that she had no desire to change. A more self-complacent person did not exist in Oakville. Good traits in other people did not interest her. They were insipid51, they lacked a certain pungency52 which a dash of evil imparts; and in the course of her minute investigations53 she had discerned or surmised54 so much that was reprehensible55 that she had come to regard herself as singularly free from sins of omission56 and commission. "What have I ever done?" she would ask in her self-communings. The question implied so much truth of a certain kind that all her relatives were in gall57 and bitterness as they remembered the weary months during which she had rocked idly at their firesides. With her, talking was as much of a necessity as breathing; but during the ride to the hillside farm she, in a sense, held her breath, for a keen March wind was blowing.
She was so quiet that Holcroft grew hopeful, not realizing that the checked flow of words must have freer course later on. A cloudy twilight58 was deepening fast when they reached the dwelling59. Holcroft's market wagon60 served for the general purposes of conveyance61, and he drove as near as possible to the kitchen door. Descending62 from the front seat, which he had occupied alone, he turned and offered his hand to assist the widow to alight, but she nervously63 poised64 herself on the edge of the vehicle and seemed to be afraid to venture. The wind fluttered her scanty65 draperies, causing her to appear like a bird of prey66 about to swoop67 down upon the unprotected man. "I'm afraid to jump so far--" she began.
"There's the step, Mrs. Mumpson."
"But I can't see it. Would you mind lifting me down?"
He impatiently took her by the arms, which seemed in his grasp like the rounds of a chair, and put her on the ground.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, in gushing68 tones, "there's nothing to equal the strong arms of a man."
He hastily lifted out her daughter, and said, "You had getter hurry in to the fire. I'll be back in a few minutes," and he led his horses down to the barn, blanketed and tied them. When he returned, he saw two dusky figures standing44 by the front door which led to the little hall separating the kitchen from the parlor69.
"Bless me!" he exclaimed. "You haven't been standing here all this time?"
"It's merely due to a little oversight70. The door is locked, you see, and--"
"But the kitchen door is not locked."
"Well, it didn't seem quite natural for us to enter the dwelling, on the occasion of our first arrival, by the kitchen entrance, and--"
Holcroft, with a grim look, strode through the kitchen and unlocked the door.
"Ah!" exclaimed the widow. "I feel as if I was coming home. Enter, Jane, my dear. I'm sure the place will soon cease to be strange to you, for the home feeling is rapidly acquired when--"
"Just wait a minute, please," said Holcroft, "and I'll light the lamp and a candle." This he did with the deftness71 of a man accustomed to help himself, then led the way to the upper room which was to be her sleeping apartment. Placing the candle on the bureau, he forestalled72 Mrs. Mumpson by saying, "I'll freshen up the fire in the kitchen and lay out the ham, eggs, coffee, and other materials for supper. Then I must go out and unharness and do my night work. Make yourselves to home. You'll soon be able to find everything," and he hastened away.
It would not be their fault if they were not soon able to find everything. Mrs. Mumpson's first act was to take the candle and survey the room in every nook and corner. She sighed when she found the closet and bureau drawers empty. Then she examined the quantity and texture73 of the bedding of the "couch on which she was to repose," as she would express herself. Jane followed her around on tiptoe, doing just what her mother did, but was silent.
At last they shivered in the fireless apartment, threw off their scanty wraps, and went down to the kitchen. Mrs. Mumpson instinctively74 looked around for a rocking chair, and as none was visible she hastened to the parlor, and, holding the candle aloft, surveyed this apartment. Jane followed in her wake as before, but at last ventured to suggest, "Mother, Mr. Holcroft'll be in soon and want his supper."
"I suppose he'll want a great many things," replied Mrs. Mumpson with dignity, "but he can't expect a lady of my connections to fly around like a common servant. It is but natural, in coming to a new abode75, that I should wish to know something of that abode. There should have been a hired girl here ready to receive and get supper for us. Since there is not one to receive us, bring that rocking chair, my dear, and I will direct you how to proceed."
The child did as she was told, and her mother was soon rocking on the snuggest77 side of the kitchen stove, interspersing78 her rather bewildering orders with various reflections and surmises79.
Sketching80 the child Jane is a sad task, and pity would lead us to soften34 every touch if this could be done in truthfulness81. She was but twelve years of age, yet there was scarcely a trace of childhood left in her colorless face. Stealthy and catlike in all her movements, she gave the impression that she could not do the commonest thing except in a sly, cowering82 manner. Her small greenish-gray eyes appeared to be growing nearer together with the lease of time, and their indirect, furtive83 glances suggested that they had hardly, if ever, seen looks of frank affection bent upon her. She had early learned, on the round of visits with her mother, that so far from being welcome she was scarcely tolerated, and she reminded one of a stray cat that comes to a dwelling and seeks to maintain existence there in a lurking84, deprecatory manner. Her kindred recognized this feline85 trait, for they were accustomed to remark, "She's always snoopin' around."
She could scarcely do otherwise, poor child! There had seemed no place for her at any of the firesides. She haunted halls and passage-ways, sat in dusky corners, and kept her meager86 little form out of sight as much as possible. She was the last one helped at table when she was permitted to come at all, and so had early learned to watch, like a cat, and when people's backs were turned, to snatch something, carry it off, and devour87 it in secret. Detected in these little pilferings, to which she was almost driven, she was regarded as even a greater nuisance than her mother.
The latter was much too preoccupied88 to give her child attention. Ensconced in a rocking chair in the best room, and always in full tide of talk if there was anyone present, she rarely seemed to think where Jane was or what she was doing. The rounds of visitation gave the child no chance to go to school, so her developing mind had little other pabulum than what her mother supplied so freely. She was acquiring the same consuming curiosity, with the redeeming89 feature that she did not talk. Listening in unsuspected places, she heard much that was said about her mother and herself, and the pathetic part of this experience was that she had never known enough of kindness to be wounded. She was only made to feel more fully90 how precarious91 was her foothold in her transient abiding92 place, and therefore was rendered more furtive, sly, and distant in order to secure toleration by keeping out of everyone's way. In her prowlings, however, she managed to learn and understand all that was going on even better than her mother, who, becoming aware of this fact, was acquiring the habit of putting her through a whispered cross-questioning when they retired93 for the night. It would be hard to imagine a child beginning life under more unfavorable auspices94 and still harder to predict the outcome.
In the course of her close watchfulness95 she had observed how many of the domestic labors96 had been performed, and she would have helped more in the various households if she had been given a chance; but the housewives had not regarded her as sufficiently97 honest to be trusted in the pantries, and also found that, if there was a semblance98 of return for such hospitality as they extended, Mrs. Mumpson would remain indefinitely. Moreover, the homely99, silent child made the women nervous, just as her mother irritated the men, and they did not want her around. Thus she had come to be but the specter of a child, knowing little of the good in the world and as much of the evil as she could understand.
She now displayed, however, more sense than her mother. The habit of close scrutiny100 had made it clear that Holcroft would not long endure genteel airs and inefficiency101, and that something must be done to keep this shelter. She did her best to get supper, with the aid given from the rocking chair, and at last broke out sharply, "You must get up and help me. He'll turn us out of doors if we don't have supper ready when he comes in."
Spurred by fear of such a dire76 possibility, Mrs. Mumpson was bustling102 around when Holcroft entered. "We'll soon be ready," she gushed103, "we'll soon place our evening repast upon the table."
"Very well," was the brief reply, as he passed up the stairs with the small hair trunk on his shoulder.
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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vernacular
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| adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名 | |
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trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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boding
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| adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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perquisites
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| n.（工资以外的）财务补贴( perquisite的名词复数 )；额外收入；（随职位而得到的）好处；利益 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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nagging
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| adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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bridling
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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uncertainties
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| 无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物 | |
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vicissitude
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| n.变化，变迁，荣枯，盛衰 | |
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irresolutely
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plowing
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| v.耕( plow的现在分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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furrows
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| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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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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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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wheedling
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| v.骗取（某物），哄骗（某人干某事）( wheedle的现在分词 ) | |
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coercing
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| v.迫使做( coerce的现在分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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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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inclement
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| adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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48
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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pungency
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| n.（气味等的）刺激性；辣；（言语等的）辛辣；尖刻 | |
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investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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reprehensible
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| adj.该受责备的 | |
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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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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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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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oversight
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| n.勘漏，失察，疏忽 | |
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deftness
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forestalled
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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snuggest
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| adj.整洁的( snug的最高级 )；温暖而舒适的；非常舒适的；紧身的 | |
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interspersing
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| v.散布，散置( intersperse的现在分词 )；点缀 | |
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surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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sketching
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| n.草图 | |
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truthfulness
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| n. 符合实际 | |
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cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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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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redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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101
inefficiency
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| n.无效率，无能；无效率事例 | |
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102
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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103
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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