Only An Irish Boy Andy Burke's Fortunes
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CHAPTER IV — MRS. PRESTON

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 Whenever Godfrey Preston had any difficulty with his father, he always went to his mother, and from her, right or wrong, he was sure to obtain sympathy. So in the present instance, failing to receive from his father that moral support to which he deemed himself entitled, on entering the house he sought out his mother.
 
Mrs. Preston, who was rather a spare lady, with thin lips and a sharp, hatchet-like face, was in her own room. She looked up as Godfrey entered.
 
"Well, Godfrey, what's the matter?" she asked, seeing on her son's face an unmistakable expression of discontent.
 
"Matter enough, mother. Father's always against me."
 
"I know it. He appears to forget that you are his son. What is it now?"
 
"He came up just as I was thrashing a boy down in the yard."
 
"What boy?"
 
"Nobody you know, mother. It was only an Irish boy."
 
"What was your reason for punishing him?" asked Mrs. Preston, adopting Godfrey's version of the affair.
 
"He was impudent1 to me. He was leaning against the fence, and I ordered him away. He was a ragged2 boy, with a bundle on a stick. Of course, when he wouldn't move, I went out and thrashed him."
 
"Was your father there?"
 
"He came up in the midst of it, and, instead of taking my part, he took the part of the Irish boy."
 
"I don't see how Mr. Preston can be so unfair," said his wife. "It is his duty to stand by his family."
 
"I felt ashamed to have him scold me before the impudent boy. Of course, he enjoyed it, and I suppose he will think he can be impudent to me again."
 
"No doubt. I will speak to your father about it. He really shouldn't be so inconsiderate. But what is that stain on your coat, Godfrey? I should think you had been down on your back on the ground."
 
"Oh," said Godfrey, rather embarrassed, "I happened to slip as I was wrestling with the fellow, and fell on my back. However, I was up again directly and gave it to him, I can tell you. If father hadn't stopped me I'd have laid him out," he continued, in a swaggering tone.
 
It will be seen that Godfrey did not always confine himself to the truth. Indeed, he found it rather hard at all times to admit either that he had been in the wrong or had been worsted. Even if his mother sometimes suspected that his accounts were a trifle distorted, she forbore to question their accuracy. Mother and son had a sort of tacit compact by which they stood by each other, and made common cause against Colonel Preston.

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1 impudent X4Eyf     
adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的
参考例句：
  • She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
  • The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。
2 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的
参考例句：
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
3 essentially nntxw     
adv.本质上，实质上，基本上
参考例句：
  • Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
  • She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。
4 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 brutal bSFyb     
adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的
参考例句：
  • She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
  • They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
6 meek x7qz9     
adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的
参考例句：
  • He expects his wife to be meek and submissive.他期望妻子温顺而且听他摆布。
  • The little girl is as meek as a lamb.那个小姑娘像羔羊一般温顺。
7 scanty ZDPzx     
adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的
参考例句：
  • There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
  • The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

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