It was very seldom that Mrs. Ross condescended1 to visit her poorer neighbors, and it was, therefore, not without considerable surprise that Mrs. Gilbert called to the door about eleven o'clock, just as she had put on the potatoes to boil for dinner--recognized in the visitor on the doorstep Mrs. Colonel Ross.
"Pray come in, Mrs. Ross. I am glad to see you," said the widow.
"I will come in for five minutes," said Mrs. Ross, carefully gathering2 up her skirts, lest they should be soiled as she entered the humble3 cottage. She need not have been alarmed, for there was not a cleaner house in the village.
Mrs. Gilbert brought forward the most comfortable chair in her little sitting-room4, and the visitor seated herself.
"I am come on an unpleasant errand, Mrs. Gilbert," she commenced, frigidly5.
"Unpleasant!" repeated the widow, with quick apprehension6. "Has anything happened to my boy to Harry7?"
Improbable as it seemed that in such an event Mrs. Ross should be the messenger of ill tidings, it occurred to Mrs. Gilbert that she had come to inform her of an accident to Harry.
The visitor's lips curled. What did it matter, she thought, whether anything happened to him or not?
"Something has happened to my boy!" she said, with emphasis.
"I am very sorry," said the widow, with quick sympathy. "I hope he is not hurt."
"He might have had his neck broken," said Mrs. Ross; "and by your son," she added, spitefully.
"They haven't been fighting, have they?" asked Mrs. Gilbert, nervously8.
"No; but your son deliberately9 and maliciously10, while driving Mr. Mead11's store wagon12, drove into my son's light buggy, damaged it seriously, and my poor Philip was thrown out. Your son drove off, leaving him insensible by the roadside."
It will be perceived that Mrs. Ross had somewhat embellished13 the story, with the intention of producing a greater effect.
"Was Philip much hurt?" asked the widow, anxiously.
"He providentially escaped any serious injury, so far as we know. He may have suffered some internal injuries."
"I am sorry to hear that there has been any difficulty," said the widow, regaining14 her composure when she learned that neither of the two boys were hurt; "but I cannot accept your account. Harry is quite incapable15 of deliberately and maliciously running into Philip."
"I regret that you uphold your son in his wickedness," said Mrs. Ross, coldly; "but I am not surprised. I told my husband before I set out that you would probably do so."
"Mrs. Ross," said the widow, in a dignified16 tone, "I have known my boy for fifteen years, and watched him carefully, and I tell you positively17 that he wouldn't do what you have charged upon him."
"Do you question my statement?" demanded Mrs. Ross, haughtily18.
"Did you witness the encounter?"
"No; but my son, who is the soul of truth, told me all the circumstances."
"Your son was probably angry with Harry, and could not be depended upon to give an impartial19 statement."
"Slander20 him as much as you please," said the visitor, angrily. "I have acquainted you with your son's outrageous22 conduct, and this is all I proposed. Of course we shall expect you or your son to pay for the damage done to the buggy, and he will be fortunate if we do not have him arrested for assault and battery."
Mrs. Gilbert did not look as much terrified as Mrs. Ross expected.
"I am very poor, as you know," she replied; "but if Harry is really to blame for what has happened, I will do all that I can to repair the injury."
"I am glad to see that you are talking more sensibly."
"Don't misunderstand me," said the widow. "I have not heard Harry's statement yet. From what I know of him, I presume that Philip was more in fault than he. Of course, in that case, I shall not feel called upon to pay anything."
"Of course!" sneered23 Mrs. Ross; "your son will throw all the blame on my poor boy. Fortunately, we have laws; and it will be the law that must decide this matter. It isn't for you to decide whether you will pay or not."
This was meant as a threat, but Mrs. Gilbert answered, calmly:
"You won't need to invoke25 the law, if you have a just claim."
Mrs. Ross rose, for there seemed no more to say. She was considerably26 disappointed with the result of her mission. She supposed, as a matter of course, that the widow would defend her son; but she had not supposed that she would receive so calmly her threats of having recourse to the law.
Indeed, she had expected that the widow would beg and plead for mercy, and appear panic-stricken. As it was, she felt that she was retiring from the contest decidedly worsted. She would not leave without one parting shot.
"I regret, Mrs. Gilbert," she said, seriously, "that you defend your son in this high-handed outrage21. I had thought better of you. I knew you were poor, and I sympathized with you. Now I feel obliged to say that you will only have yourself to blame for the steps I am about to take."
The widow bowed, but did not gratify Mrs. Ross by inquiring what those steps were.
It was very provoking, certainly.
"I shall call on Mr. Mead, and insist on his discharging your son."
Knowing what a serious blow this would be, Mrs. Gilbert did look troubled for a moment, and her visitor sailed away, with a slight feeling of satisfaction, in the direction of the grocery store.
Meanwhile Harry, on his return to the store, had reported the accident, and submitted to a close cross-examination on the part of the storekeeper.
"Do you think I am to blame, Mr. Mead?" asked Harry.
"No; I don't see how you could do otherwise than you did. Young Ross is a disagreeable young puppy; but his family trades with me, and I don't like to offend them. Still, I shall not blame you."
It will be seen that Mr. Mead was a just man, though a politic27 one.
"Thank you, sir," said Harry, relieved.
"I am sorry this has occurred."
"So am I, sir; but if I hadn't done as I did I should have been there now, for Philip was determined28 not to budge29."
"Well, we must smooth it over as well as we can. I presume that I shall have a call from Colonel Ross or his wife. I hope it will be the colonel, for he won't be so unreasonable30 as his lady."
It so happened that the first person whom Mrs. Ross saw when she entered the grocery store was Harry.
Her eyes flashed with resentment31 as they fell upon the persecutor32 of her poor boy, but she would not waste any words upon him.
"Where is Mr. Mead?" she asked.
"I will call him, madam," answered Harry, politely.
Mr. Mead came forward, and Mrs. Ross rehearsed her story, in terms which the reader can imagine for himself.
"I think you misapprehend the matter, Mrs. Ross," said the storekeeper, politely. "Your son maintained his position in the middle of the road and required Harry to do all the turning out. Of course you are aware that the law will not sustain any one in this."
"Who told you that my son did not turn out?" asked Mrs. Ross, hastily.
"Harry himself."
"And do you credit his story?" demanded Mrs. Ross, with a sneer24.
"I have always found him to be a boy of truth."
"I believe he has wilfully33 deceived you. I believe he ran into my boy with the intention of injuring him," said Mrs. Ross, violently.
Harry was about to speak up, when a young man who was standing34 by saved him the trouble.
"I was there, Mr. Mead, and heard the whole," he said, "though neither of the boys saw me. I was in the piece to the left, behind the hedge. Phil Ross wouldn't turn out a mite35, and Harry had to do as he did. When Phil was thrown out Harry got down from his team and went to see if he was hurt."
Mrs. Ross listened, pale with anger.
"I don't believe a word of it!" she said angrily. "That man is in a conspiracy36 with the Gilbert boy against my poor darling. I demand that you discharge Harry Gilbert from your employment!"
"I am sorry to disoblige you, Mrs. Ross, but it would be unjust," said Mr. Mead.
"Then we shall buy our groceries elsewhere!" said Mrs. Ross, spitefully tossing her head.
"I shall be sorry to lose your custom, but I see no good reason for discharging Harry."
Angrily Mrs. Ross left the store, a second time mortified37 at her want of success.
"I am sorry, Mr. Mead, that you are likely to lose trade on my account," said Harry, with sincere regret.
Mr. Mead smiled.
"If Mrs. Ross leaves me she will have to go five miles for her groceries," he said quietly. "We shall have them back again before long."
收听单词发音 |
1
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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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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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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frigidly
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| adv.寒冷地；冷漠地；冷淡地；呆板地 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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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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embellished
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| v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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15
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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16
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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25
invoke
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| v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求 | |
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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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politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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persecutor
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| n. 迫害者 | |
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wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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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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35
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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36
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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37
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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