Chapter 15 A Polite Hostess

 The cabin was a rough one, built of logs, with an adobe¹ chimney. It contained two rooms and a loft². The inducements to live in such a lonely spot must have been small enough, but so many undesirable³ localities are inhabited, that it is hardly worth while to feel or express surprise at men's taste in such matters.

 

The approach of Ben and his companion was not observed by the inmate⁴ or inmates⁵ of the cabin. It was only when Bradley, dismounting from his mustang, struck the door-post with the handle of his whip-for it is needless to say that bells were not to be found in that neighborhood--that their presence became known.

 

A woman, tall, spare, and with harsh features, came to the door. She eyed Bradley askance.

 

'Well, what's wanted, and who are you?' she demanded.

 

'We are bound for the mines, ma'am,' said Bradley. 'We expected to camp out to-night, but we happened to see the smoke rising from your chimbly, and we made bold to ride up and ask you for supper and a night's lodging⁶.'

 

'We don't take in tramps,' said the woman roughly.

 

'We're on a tramp,' said Bradley, resolved not to be rebuffed, 'but we've got money to pay for our accommodations.'

 

'This ain't a hotel,' said the woman, but less roughly.

 

'Of course not,' said Bradley, in a conciliatory manner; 'but I guess you won't object to get us some supper and give us a bed. We'll pay for all the trouble we make. That's fair, ain't it?'

 

'I don't know what my husband will say,' returned the woman, in an undecided manner.

 

'Won't you ask him, ma'am?'

 

'He's gone out just now. He won't be back for an hour.'

 

'While you're waitin' for him, can't you get us some supper? Then you can send us off if he ain't willin' to keep us.'

 

'I'll do that,' said the woman. 'You'd better stay outside till I get supper ready. There ain't much room here, and you'll be in the way.'

 

'Jest as you say, ma'am. I s'pose it would be too much to ask if you kin⁷ give us a hot cup of coffee. We haven't tasted any since we left 'Frisco.'

 

'I can give you coffee,' answered the woman. 'My husband likes it, and we always keep it on hand.'

 

'Good!' said Bradley, his face lighting⁸ up with satisfaction. 'We've rid far to-day, and a cup of coffee will go to the right spot.'

 

Bradley and Ben threw themselves on the ground near-by, and awaited with complacence the call to supper.

 

'We're in luck, Ben,' said his companion. 'Who'd have expected a hot supper out here in this lonely place?'

 

'I don't much like the looks of our landlady⁹, Jake,' said Ben.

 

'She ain't handsome, I allow, Ben; but if she gives us a good supper, that don't matter. We must make the most of this, for it's uncertain when we get another.'

 

'W'on't she give us breakfast in the morning?'

 

'I didn't think of that. Maybe she will, and that'll be a good start on our to-morrow's journey.'

 

In about three-quarters of an hour the woman came to the door, and called the travelers in to supper.

 

An unpainted wooden table was set in the middle of the floor, on which was spread a simple but appetizing meal. There was a plate of meat, which appeared to have been fried; a loaf of bread, and a pot of coffee; but there was neither milk nor butter. This naturally detracted from the attractiveness of the bread and coffee, but our travelers were not disposed to be fastidious.

 

Ben tasted the meat, and it evidently puzzled him. In taste it differed from anything he had eaten before.

 

Bradley smiled at his perplexity.

 

'Don't you know what it is, Ben?' he asked.

 

'No.'

 

'Do you like it?'

 

'I am hungry enough to enjoy anything.'

 

'Well, lad, it's bear steak.'

 

'Bear steak!' repeated Ben, in surprise.

 

'Exactly. I've eaten it before two or three times. You see, we haven't any markets here to depend on, and we must take what we can get.'

 

'It isn't bad,' said Ben meditatively¹⁰.

 

During this conversation the landlady had been out of the room. As it concluded, she reentered.

 

'Your supper is good, ma'am,' said Bradley.

 

'Now if you only had a cow to supply you with milk and butter, you'd be fixed¹¹ complete.'

 

'If you want 'em you'll have to go somewhere else,' said the woman.

 

'Excuse me, ma'am. I wasn't complainin' of the fare-not by no means. I was only thinkin' of you.'

 

'There's no call to think of me, stranger.'

 

'Have you lived long in these parts, ma'am?' inquired Bradley socially.

 

'Fools ask questions, and fools answer them. I ain't a fool,' responded the polite hostess.

 

'Excuse my curiosity, ma'am. I didn't know that it would be disagreeable to you to answer.'

 

'Who told you it was?'

 

'I thought from your way of speakin'.'

 

'It's none of your business, that's all,' said the hostess.

 

Even Bradley was silenced. It was clear that their hostess was not inclined to be social. The remainder of the meal passed in silence. 

1 adobe   

n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司

参考例句：

• They live in an adobe house.他们住在一间土坯屋里。
• Adobe bricks must drived dried completely before are used.土坯砖块使用前一定要完全干燥。

2 loft   

n.阁楼，顶楼

参考例句：

• We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。
• By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下，他们就可以多出两间卧室。

3 undesirable   

adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子

参考例句：

• They are the undesirable elements among the employees.他们是雇员中的不良分子。
• Certain chemicals can induce undesirable changes in the nervous system.有些化学物质能在神经系统中引起不良变化。

4 inmate   

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

• I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
• The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。

5 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

7 kin   

n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的

参考例句：

• He comes of good kin.他出身好。
• She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。

8 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

9 landlady   

n.女房东，女地主

参考例句：

• I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
• The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。

10 meditatively   

adv.冥想地

参考例句：

• The old man looked meditatively at the darts board. 老头儿沉思不语，看着那投镖板。 来自英汉文学
• "Well,'said the foreman, scratching his ear meditatively, "we do need a stitcher. “这--"工头沉思地搔了搔耳朵。 "我们确实需要一个缝纫工。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

11 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。