``By no means,'' said Mr. Wharton, as thehousekeeper was about to withdraw; ``don't imagine youare intruding³. Come in and sit down.''

　　``Thank you, sir,'' said Mrs. Bradley, in ameasured tone. ``You are very considerate, I am sure,but if you'll excuse me, I won't come in this evening.''

　　``Mrs. Bradley has been with me a good manyyears,'' explained Mr. Wharton, ``and I dare say shefeels a little disturbed at seeing another occupy herplace, even in a duty like this.''

　　``I am afraid she will be offended with me, sir,''

　　said Frank.

　　``Oh, no; I will explain matters to her. Go onwith your reading, Frank.''

　　At half-past nine, Mr. Wharton took out his watch.

　　``It is getting late,'' he said. ``I have no doubt youare tired and need rest.''

　　``I am not tired, sir.''

　　``I believe in going to bed early. I shall seldomkeep you later than this. Do you think you can findyour way out?''

　　``Yes, sir. When shall I come to-morrow evening?''

　　``A little before eight.''

　　``I will be punctual.''

　　Jasper was waiting for him, not wholly withoutanxiety, for it was very unusual for Frank to be late.

　　``Well, Frank!'' he exclaimed; ``this is a prettytime for you to come home. I began to think youhad got into trouble. I was just going around to thenearest station house in search of you.''

　　``I was in quite a different place, Jasper.''

　　Frank told his story, including an account of hisengagement.

　　``So it seems I am to lose your company in theevening. I am sorry for that, but I am glad you areso lucky.''

　　``It was better than I expected,'' said Frank, withsatisfaction.

　　``What sort of a man is this Mr. Wharton?'' saidJasper.

　　``He is very kind and generous. I am lucky tohave so good a friend. There's only one thing thatis likely to be disagreeable.''

　　``What's that?''

　　``The housekeeper¹--her name is Mrs. Bradley--for some reason or other she doesn't want me there.''

　　``What makes you think so?''

　　``Her manner, and the way she speaks. She camein to read to Mr. Wharton last evening, and didn'tseem to like it because I had been taken in her place.''

　　``She is evidently jealous. You must take care notto offend her. She might endeavor to have you dismissed.''

　　``I shall always treat her politely, but I don't thinkI can ever like her.''

　　Meanwhile, the housekeeper, on leaving thelibrary, had gone to her own room in dudgeon.

点击收听单词发音  

1 housekeeper
n.管理家务的主妇，女管家
参考例句：
A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。 She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

2 eke
v.勉强度日，节约使用
参考例句：
They had to eke out a livinga tiny income.他们不得不靠微薄收入勉强度日。 We must try to eke out our water supply.我们必须尽量节约用水。

3 intruding
v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于
参考例句：
Does he find his new celebrity intruding on his private life? 他是否感觉到他最近的成名侵扰了他的私生活？ After a few hours of fierce fighting,we saw the intruding bandits off. 经过几小时的激烈战斗，我们赶走了入侵的匪徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 possessed
adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的
参考例句：
He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。 He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

5 grumbled
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声
参考例句：
He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。 The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

6 swell
vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强
参考例句：
The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。 His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。

7 blotches
n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍
参考例句：
His skin was covered with unsightly blotches. 他的皮肤上长满了难看的疹块。 来自《简明英汉词典》 His face was covered in red blotches, seemingly a nasty case of acne. 他满脸红斑，像是起了很严重的粉刺。 来自辞典例句

8 savings
n.存款，储蓄
参考例句：
I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。 By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

9 destined
adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句：
It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。 The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

10 attachment
n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附
参考例句：
She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。 She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

11 miserable
adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的
参考例句：
It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。 Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

12 motive
n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的
参考例句：
The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。 He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

13 accomplished
adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的
参考例句：
Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。 Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。