``The Widder Fowler is dead,'' remarked DeaconPinkerton, at the supper table. ``She died this afternoon.''

　　``I suppose she won't leave anything,'' said Mrs.

　　Pinkerton.

　　``No. I hold a mortgage on her furniture, and thatis all she has.''

　　``What will become of the children?''

　　``As I observed, day before yesterday, they will beconstrained to find a refuge in the poorhouse.''

　　``What do you think Sam Pomeroy told me,father?''

　　``I am not able to conjecture² what Samuel wouldbe likely to observe, my son.''

　　``He observed that Frank Fowler said he wouldn'tgo to the poorhouse.''

　　``Ahem!'' coughed the deacon. ``The boy will notbe consulted.''

　　``That's what I say, father,'' said Tom, who desiredto obtain his father's co-operation. ``You'll makehim go to the poorhouse, won't you?''

　　``I shall undoubtedly³ exercise my authority, if itshould be necessary, my son.''

　　``He told Sam Pomeroy that all the Deacon Pinkertonsin the world couldn't make him go to the poorhouse.''

　　``I will constrain¹ him,'' said the deacon.

　　``I would if I were you, father,'' said Tom, elatedat the effect of his words. ``Just teach him a lesson.''

　　``Really, deacon, you mustn't be too hard upon thepoor boy,'' said his better-hearted wife. ``He's gottrouble enough on him.''

　　``I will only constrain him for his good, Jane. Inthe poorhouse he will be well provided for.''

　　Meanwhile another conversation respecting ourhero and his fortunes was held at Sam Pomeroy'shome. It was not as handsome as the deacon's, forMr. Pomeroy was a poor man, but it was a happyone, nevertheless, and Mr. Pomeroy, limited as werehis means, was far more liberal than the deacon.

　　``I pity Frank Fowler,'' said Sam, who was warm-hearted and sympathetic, and a strong friend ofFrank. ``I don't know what he will do.''

　　``I suppose his mother left nothing.''

　　``I understood,'' said Mr. Pomeroy, ``that DeaconPinkerton holds a mortgage on her furniture.''

　　``The deacon wants to send Frank and his sisterto the poorhouse.''

　　``That would be a pity.''

　　``I should think so; but Frank positively⁴ says hewon't go.''

　　``I am afraid there isn't anything else for him.

点击收听单词发音  

1 constrain
vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制
参考例句：
She tried to constrain herself from a cough in class.上课时她竭力忍住不咳嗽。 The study will examine the factors which constrain local economic growth.这项研究将考查抑制当地经济发展的因素。

2 conjecture
n./v.推测，猜测
参考例句：
She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。 This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

3 undoubtedly
adv.确实地，无疑地
参考例句：
It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。 He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

4 positively
adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实
参考例句：
She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。 The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

5 enlisted
adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）
参考例句：
enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵 He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 pompousness
豪华；傲慢
参考例句：

9 abated
减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼）
参考例句：
The worker's concern about cuts in the welfare funding has not abated. 工人们对削减福利基金的关心并没有减少。 The heat has abated. 温度降低了。

10 briefly
adv.简单地，简短地
参考例句：
I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。 He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

11 incumbent
adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的
参考例句：
He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。 It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 steadily
adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地
参考例句：
The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。 Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

13 paupers
n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷
参考例句：
The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵，你这穷鬼根本买不起！ 来自互联网 Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索，马拉维，这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网

14 afterward
adv.后来；以后
参考例句：
Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。 Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。