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Aunt Jane’s Nieces by L. Frank Baum, CHAPTER XXIII. PATSY ADOPTS AN UNCLE.

CHAPTER XXIII. PATSY ADOPTS AN UNCLE.

Uncle John and Mr. Watson did not appear at dinner, being closeted in the former's room. This meal, however, was no longer a state function, being served by the old servants as a mere matter of routine. Indeed, the arrangements of the household had been considerably changed by the death of its mistress, and without any real head to direct them the servants were patiently awaiting the advent of a new master or mistress. It did not seem clear to them yet whether Miss Patricia or Lawyer Watson was to take charge of Elmhurst: but there were few tears shed for Jane Merrick, and the new regime could not fail to be an improvement over the last.

At dinner the young folks chatted together in a friendly and eager manner concerning the events of the day. They knew of old James' unfortunate end, but being unaware of its import gave it but passing attention. The main subject of conversation was Aunt Jane's surprising act in annulling her last will and forcing Patricia to accept the inheritance when she did not want it. Kenneth, being at his ease when alone with the three cousins, protested that it would not be right for Patsy to give him all the estate. But, as she was so generous, he would accept enough of his Uncle Tom's money to educate him as an artist and provide for himself an humble home. Louise and Beth, having at last full knowledge of their cousin's desire to increase their bequests, were openly very grateful for her good will; although secretly they could not fail to resent Patsy's choice of the boy as the proper heir of his uncle's fortune. The balance of power seemed to be in Patricia's hands, however; so it would be folly at this juncture to offend her. Altogether, they were all better provided for than they had feared would be the case; so the little party spent a pleasant evening and separated early, Beth and Louise to go to their rooms and canvass quietly the events of the day, and the boy to take a long stroll through the country lanes to cool his bewildered brain. Patsy wrote a long letter to the major, telling him she would be home in three days, and then she went to bed and slept peacefully.

After breakfast they were all again summoned to the drawing-room, to their great surprise. Lawyer Watson and Uncle John were there, looking as grave as the important occasion demanded, and the former at once proceeded to relate the scene in James' room, his story of the death of Thomas Bradley, and the subsequent finding of the will. "This will, which has just been recovered," continued the lawyer, impressively, "was made subsequent to the one under which Jane Merrick inherited, and therefore supercedes it. Miss Jane had, as you perceive, a perfect right to the use of the estate during her lifetime, but no right whatever to will a penny of it to anyone. Mr. Bradley having provided for that most fully. For this reason the will I read to you yesterday is of no effect, and Kenneth Forbes inherits from his uncle, through his mother, all of the estate." Blank looks followed Mr. Watson's statement. "Good-by to my five thousand," said Uncle John, with his chuckling laugh. "But I'm much obliged to Jane, nevertheless." "Don't we get anything at all?" asked Beth, with quivering lip.

"No, my dear," answered the lawyer, gently. "Your aunt owned nothing to give you." Patsy laughed. She felt wonderfully relieved.

"Wasn't I the grand lady, though, with all the fortune I never had?" she cried merrily. "But 'twas really fine to be rich for a day, and toss the money around as if I didn't have to dress ten heads of hair in ten hours to earn my bread and butter." Louise smiled.

"It was all a great farce," she said. "I shall take the afternoon train to the city. What an old fraud our dear Aunt Jane was! And how foolish of me to return her hundred dollar check." "I used mine," said Beth, bitterly. "It's all I'll ever get, it seems." And then the thought of the Professor and his debts overcame her and she burst, into tears.

The boy sat doubled within his chair, so overcome by the extraordinary fortune that had overtaken him that he could not speak, nor think even clearly as yet.

Patsy tried to comfort Beth.

"Never mind, dear," said she. "We're no worse off than before we came, are we? And we've had a nice vacation. Let's forget all disappointments and be grateful to Aunt Jane's memory. As far as she knew, she tried to be good to us." "I'm going home today," said Beth, angrily drying her eyes. "We'll all go home," said Patsy, cheerfully. "For my part," remarked Uncle John, in a grave voice, "I have no home." Patsy ran up and put her arm around his neck.

"Poor Uncle John!" she cried. "Why, you're worse off than any of us. What's going to become of you, I wonder?" "I'm wondering that myself," said the little man, meekly. "Ah! You can stay here," said the boy, suddenly arousing from his apathy. "No," replied Uncle John, "the Merricks are out of Elmhurst now, and it returns to its rightful owners. You owe me nothing, my lad." "But I like you," said Kenneth, "and you're old and homeless. Stay at Elmhurst, and you shall always be welcome." Uncle John seemed greatly affected, and wrung the boy's hand earnestly. But he shook his head.

"I've wandered all my life," he said. "I can wander yet." "See here," exclaimed Patsy. "We're all three your nieces, and we'll take care of you between us. Won't we, girls?" Louise smiled rather scornfully, and Beth scowled.

"My mother and I live so simply in our little flat," said one, "that we really haven't extra room to keep a cat. But we shall be glad to assist Uncle John as far as we are able." "Father can hardly support his own family," said the other; "but I will talk to my mother about Uncle John when I get home, and see what she says." "Oh, you don't need to, indeed!" cried Patsy, in great indignation. "Uncle John is my dear mother's brother, and he's to come and live with the Major and me, as long as he cares to. There's room and to spare, Uncle," turning to him and clasping his hand, "and a joyful welcome into the bargain. No, no! say nothing at all, sir! Come you shall, if I have to drag you; and if you act naughty I'll send for the Major to punish you!" Uncle John's eyes were moist. He looked on Patsy most affectionately and cast a wink at Lawyer Watson, who stood silently by.

"Thank you, my dear," said he; "but where's the money to come from?" "Money? Bah!" she said. "Doesn't the Major earn a heap with his bookkeeping, and haven't I had a raise lately? Why, we'll be as snug and contented as pigs in clover. Can you get ready to come with me today, Uncle John?" "Yes," he said slowly. "I'll be ready, Patsy." So the exodus from Elmhurst took place that very day, and Beth travelled in one direction, while Louise, Patsy and Uncle John took the train for New York. Louise had a seat in the parlor car, but Patsy laughed at such extravagance.

"It's so much easier than walking," she said to Uncle John, "that the common car is good enough," and the old man readily agreed with her. Kenneth and Mr. Watson came to the station to see them off, and they parted with many mutual expressions of friendship and good will. Louise, especially, pressed an urgent invitation upon the new master of Elmhurst to visit her mother in New York, and he said he hoped to see all the girls again. They were really like cousins to him, by this time. And after they were all gone he rode home on Nora's back quite disconsolate, in spite of his wonderful fortune. The lawyer, who had consented to stay at the mansion for a time, that the boy might not be lonely, had already mapped put a plan for the young heir's advancement. As he rode beside Kenneth he said:

"You ought to travel, and visit the art centers of Europe, and I shall try to find a competent tutor to go with you." "Can't you go yourself?" asked the boy.

The lawyer hesitated.

"I'm getting old, and my clients are few and unimportant, aside from the Elmhurst interests," he said. "Perhaps I can manage to go abroad with you." "I'd like that," declared the boy. "And we'd stop in New York, wouldn't we, for a time?" "Of course. Do you want to visit New York especially?" "Yes." "It's rather a stupid city," said the lawyer, doubtfully. "That may be," answered the boy. "But Patsy will be there, you know."

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CHAPTER XXIII. PATSY ADOPTS AN UNCLE. CAPÍTULO XXIII. PATSY ADOPTA UN TÍO. CAPÍTULO XXIII. PATSY ADOPTA UM TIO. ГЛАВА XXIII. ПЭТСИ УСЫНОВЛЯЕТ ДЯДЮ. BÖLÜM XXIII. PATSY BİR AMCAYI EVLAT EDİNİR. РОЗДІЛ XXIII. ПЕТСІ ВСИНОВЛЮЄ ДЯДЬКА. 第二十三章。帕西收養了一位叔叔。

Uncle John and Mr. Watson did not appear at dinner, being closeted in the former's room. L'oncle John et M. Watson n'apparaissent pas au dîner, car ils sont restés enfermés dans la chambre de l'oncle John. This meal, however, was no longer a state function, being served by the old servants as a mere matter of routine. ||однак|||||||||||||||лише|справа|| Ce repas, cependant, n'était plus une fonction de l'État et était servi par les anciens serviteurs comme une simple question de routine. Indeed, the arrangements of the household had been considerably changed by the death of its mistress, and without any real head to direct them the servants were patiently awaiting the advent of a new master or mistress. En effet, l'organisation de la maison avait été considérablement modifiée par la mort de sa maîtresse, et sans véritable chef pour les diriger, les domestiques attendaient patiemment l'arrivée d'un nouveau maître ou d'une nouvelle maîtresse. It did not seem clear to them yet whether Miss Patricia or Lawyer Watson was to take charge of Elmhurst: but there were few tears shed for Jane Merrick, and the new regime could not fail to be an improvement over the last. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||режим|||не могла не||||покращення||| Ils ne savaient pas encore si c'était Miss Patricia ou l'avocat Watson qui allait prendre la direction d'Elmhurst : mais on ne versait pas beaucoup de larmes pour Jane Merrick, et le nouveau régime ne pouvait qu'être une amélioration par rapport au précédent. Їм ще не було зрозуміло, хто очолить Елмхерст - міс Патриція чи адвокат Ватсон, але за Джейн Меррік було пролито небагато сліз, і новий режим не міг не бути кращим за попередній.

At dinner the young folks chatted together in a friendly and eager manner concerning the events of the day. |||||||||||||щодо||||| They knew of old James' unfortunate end, but being unaware of its import gave it but passing attention. |||||||||не усвідомлю|||||||| Ils connaissaient la fin malheureuse du vieux James, mais, ignorant son importance, n'y prêtaient qu'une attention passagère. The main subject of conversation was Aunt Jane's surprising act in annulling her last will and forcing Patricia to accept the inheritance when she did not want it. |||||||||||||||||||||спадщина|||||| Kenneth, being at his ease when alone with the three cousins, protested that it would not be right for Patsy to give him all the estate. Kenneth, qui se sentait à l'aise lorsqu'il était seul avec les trois cousins, protesta qu'il n'était pas juste que Patsy lui donne tous les biens. But, as she was so generous, he would accept enough of his Uncle Tom's money to educate him as an artist and provide for himself an humble home. ||||||||||||||||навчити||||||||||скромний| Mais, comme elle était si généreuse, il accepta suffisamment d'argent de son oncle Tom pour lui donner une formation d'artiste et lui offrir un humble foyer. Louise and Beth, having at last full knowledge of their cousin's desire to increase their bequests, were openly very grateful for her good will; although secretly they could not fail to resent Patsy's choice of the boy as the proper heir of his uncle's fortune. |||||||||||||||||відверто||вдячні||||||||||||||||||||належний||||| Louise et Beth, ayant enfin pleinement connaissance du désir de leur cousine d'augmenter leurs legs, étaient ouvertement très reconnaissantes de sa bonne volonté, bien que secrètement elles ne pouvaient manquer d'en vouloir à Patsy d'avoir choisi le garçon comme héritier légitime de la fortune de son oncle. The balance of power seemed to be in Patricia's hands, however; so it would be folly at this juncture to offend her. ||||здавалося||||||||||||||||образити| L'équilibre du pouvoir semble toutefois être entre les mains de Patricia ; il serait donc insensé de l'offenser à ce stade. Altogether, they were all better provided for than they had feared would be the case; so the little party spent a pleasant evening and separated early, Beth and Louise to go to their rooms and canvass quietly the events of the day, and the boy to take a long stroll through the country lanes to cool his bewildered brain. ||||||||||||||||||||||||розійшлися|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||збентежений| Dans l'ensemble, ils étaient tous mieux pourvus qu'ils ne l'avaient craint ; le petit groupe passa donc une soirée agréable et se sépara de bonne heure, Beth et Louise pour aller dans leurs chambres et passer en revue tranquillement les événements de la journée, et le garçon pour faire une longue promenade dans les chemins de campagne afin de rafraîchir son cerveau dérouté. Patsy wrote a long letter to the major, telling him she would be home in three days, and then she went to bed and slept peacefully. Patsy écrivit une longue lettre au major, lui disant qu'elle serait de retour dans trois jours, puis elle alla se coucher et dormit paisiblement.

After breakfast they were all again summoned to the drawing-room, to their great surprise. ||||||покликані|||||||| Lawyer Watson and Uncle John were there, looking as grave as the important occasion demanded, and the former at once proceeded to relate the scene in James' room, his story of the death of Thomas Bradley, and the subsequent finding of the will. ||||||||||||||||||||приступив до||||||||||||||||||потім|||| L'avocat Watson et l'oncle John étaient là, l'air aussi grave que l'exigeait l'importante occasion, et le premier commença immédiatement à raconter la scène dans la chambre de James, son histoire de la mort de Thomas Bradley et la découverte subséquente du testament. "This will, which has just been recovered," continued the lawyer, impressively, "was made subsequent to the one under which Jane Merrick inherited, and therefore supercedes it. ||||||відновлене|||||||||||||||успадкована|||| "Ce testament, qui vient d'être retrouvé, poursuit l'avocat d'un ton impressionné, a été rédigé après celui en vertu duquel Jane Merrick a hérité et, par conséquent, il le remplace. "Цей заповіт, який щойно було віднайдено, - переконливо продовжив адвокат, - був складений після того, за яким успадкувала Джейн Меррік, а отже, замінює його. Miss Jane had, as you perceive, a perfect right to the use of the estate during her lifetime, but no right whatever to will a penny of it to anyone. Miss Jane avait, comme vous le voyez, un droit parfait à l'utilisation du domaine pendant sa vie, mais pas le droit d'en léguer un centime à qui que ce soit. Mr. Bradley having provided for that most fully. |||забезпечив|||| M. Bradley y a pourvu de la manière la plus complète. For this reason the will I read to you yesterday is of no effect, and Kenneth Forbes inherits from his uncle, through his mother, all of the estate." Blank looks followed Mr. Watson's statement. "Good-by to my five thousand," said Uncle John, with his chuckling laugh. |||||||||||хихикаючи| "But I'm much obliged to Jane, nevertheless." ||||||однак "Don't we get anything at all?" asked Beth, with quivering lip. demanda Beth, la lèvre frémissante.

"No, my dear," answered the lawyer, gently. "Your aunt owned nothing to give you." Patsy laughed. She felt wonderfully relieved. |||полегшено

"Wasn't I the grand lady, though, with all the fortune I never had?" "N'étais-je pas la grande dame, avec toute la fortune que je n'ai jamais eue ?" she cried merrily. s'écrie-t-elle joyeusement. "But 'twas really fine to be rich for a day, and toss the money around as if I didn't have to dress ten heads of hair in ten hours to earn my bread and butter." |it was||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| "Mais c'était vraiment bien d'être riche pour un jour, et de jeter l'argent par les fenêtres comme si je n'avais pas à coiffer dix têtes en dix heures pour gagner mon pain et mon beurre". Louise smiled.

"It was all a great farce," she said. |||||фарс|| "I shall take the afternoon train to the city. What an old fraud our dear Aunt Jane was! |||шарлатанка||||| Quelle vieille fraude était notre chère tante Jane ! And how foolish of me to return her hundred dollar check." "I used mine," said Beth, bitterly. "It's all I'll ever get, it seems." And then the thought of the Professor and his debts overcame her and she burst, into tears. ||||||||||||||вибухнула|| Puis la pensée du professeur et de ses dettes l'a envahie et elle a fondu en larmes. А потім думка про професора і його борги здолала її, і вона розридалася, розплакалася.

The boy sat doubled within his chair, so overcome by the extraordinary fortune that had overtaken him that he could not speak, nor think even clearly as yet. ||||всередині||||||||||||||||||||||| Le garçon resta assis sur sa chaise, tellement bouleversé par l'extraordinaire fortune qui l'avait frappé qu'il ne pouvait ni parler, ni même penser clairement pour l'instant.

Patsy tried to comfort Beth.

"Never mind, dear," said she. "We're no worse off than before we came, are we? "Nous ne sommes pas plus mal lotis qu'avant notre arrivée, n'est-ce pas ? And we've had a nice vacation. Let's forget all disappointments and be grateful to Aunt Jane's memory. |||розчарування||||||| As far as she knew, she tried to be good to us." "I'm going home today," said Beth, angrily drying her eyes. "We'll all go home," said Patsy, cheerfully. "For my part," remarked Uncle John, in a grave voice, "I have no home." Patsy ran up and put her arm around his neck.

"Poor Uncle John!" she cried. "Why, you're worse off than any of us. What's going to become of you, I wonder?" "I'm wondering that myself," said the little man, meekly. "Ah! You can stay here," said the boy, suddenly arousing from his apathy. ||||||||прокинувшись|||апатії "No," replied Uncle John, "the Merricks are out of Elmhurst now, and it returns to its rightful owners. "Non", répond l'oncle John, "les Merrick ont quitté Elmhurst maintenant, et la ville revient à ses propriétaires légitimes. You owe me nothing, my lad." |винен|||| "But I like you," said Kenneth, "and you're old and homeless. Stay at Elmhurst, and you shall always be welcome." Uncle John seemed greatly affected, and wrung the boy's hand earnestly. ||здавалося||вражений||сильно потиснув|||| But he shook his head.

"I've wandered all my life," he said. |блукав||||| "I can wander yet." "See here," exclaimed Patsy. "We're all three your nieces, and we'll take care of you between us. Won't we, girls?" Louise smiled rather scornfully, and Beth scowled. |||зневажливо|||насупила бров Louise sourit d'un air plutôt méprisant, et Beth se renfrogne.

"My mother and I live so simply in our little flat," said one, "that we really haven't extra room to keep a cat. But we shall be glad to assist Uncle John as far as we are able." ||||||допомогти|||||||| "Father can hardly support his own family," said the other; "but I will talk to my mother about Uncle John when I get home, and see what she says." "Oh, you don't need to, indeed!" "Oh, vous n'avez pas besoin de le faire, en effet !" cried Patsy, in great indignation. "Uncle John is my dear mother's brother, and he's to come and live with the Major and me, as long as he cares to. There's room and to spare, Uncle," turning to him and clasping his hand, "and a joyful welcome into the bargain. ||||з надлишком||||||стиснувши|||||||||додатково Il y a de la place et à revendre, mon oncle", se tournant vers lui et lui serrant la main, "et un accueil joyeux dans l'affaire. No, no! say nothing at all, sir! Come you shall, if I have to drag you; and if you act naughty I'll send for the Major to punish you!" Uncle John's eyes were moist. ||||вологі He looked on Patsy most affectionately and cast a wink at Lawyer Watson, who stood silently by. |||||||кинув||||||||| Il regarde Patsy avec beaucoup d'affection et fait un clin d'œil à l'avocat Watson, qui se tient silencieusement à ses côtés.

"Thank you, my dear," said he; "but where's the money to come from?" "Money? Bah!" she said. "Doesn't the Major earn a heap with his bookkeeping, and haven't I had a raise lately? "Le major ne gagne-t-il pas beaucoup d'argent avec sa comptabilité, et n'ai-je pas eu une augmentation dernièrement ? Why, we'll be as snug and contented as pigs in clover. ||||затишні|||||| Nous serons aussi bien installés et satisfaits que des cochons dans le trèfle. Can you get ready to come with me today, Uncle John?" "Yes," he said slowly. "I'll be ready, Patsy." So the exodus from Elmhurst took place that very day, and Beth travelled in one direction, while Louise, Patsy and Uncle John took the train for New York. ||вихід||||||||||||||||||||||||| L'exode d'Elmhurst a donc eu lieu le jour même, et Beth a voyagé dans une direction, tandis que Louise, Patsy et l'oncle John ont pris le train pour New York. Louise had a seat in the parlor car, but Patsy laughed at such extravagance. ||||||салон||||||| Louise avait un siège dans la voiture de salon, mais Patsy riait d'une telle extravagance.

"It's so much easier than walking," she said to Uncle John, "that the common car is good enough," and the old man readily agreed with her. ||||||||||||||||||||||охоче||| "C'est tellement plus facile que de marcher", dit-elle à l'oncle John, "qu'une simple voiture suffit", et le vieil homme est d'accord avec elle. Kenneth and Mr. Watson came to the station to see them off, and they parted with many mutual expressions of friendship and good will. ||||||||||||||попрощалися||||||||| Kenneth et M. Watson sont venus à la gare pour les voir partir, et ils se sont quittés avec de nombreuses expressions mutuelles d'amitié et de bonne volonté. Louise, especially, pressed an urgent invitation upon the new master of Elmhurst to visit her mother in New York, and he said he hoped to see all the girls again. ||наполягала||||||||||||||||||||||||||| They were really like cousins to him, by this time. And after they were all gone he rode home on Nora's back quite disconsolate, in spite of his wonderful fortune. Une fois qu'ils furent tous partis, il rentra chez lui sur le dos de Nora, assez inconsolable, malgré sa merveilleuse fortune. The lawyer, who had consented to stay at the mansion for a time, that the boy might not be lonely, had already mapped put a plan for the young heir's advancement. |адвокат|||||||||||||||||||||склав||||||||просування кар'єри L'avocat, qui avait accepté de rester au manoir pendant un certain temps afin que le garçon ne se sente pas seul, avait déjà élaboré un plan pour l'avancement du jeune héritier. As he rode beside Kenneth he said:

"You ought to travel, and visit the art centers of Europe, and I shall try to find a competent tutor to go with you." |повинен|||||||||||||||||||||| "Can't you go yourself?" asked the boy.

The lawyer hesitated.

"I'm getting old, and my clients are few and unimportant, aside from the Elmhurst interests," he said. ||||||||||крім|||||| "Je me fais vieux et mes clients sont peu nombreux et peu importants, à part les intérêts d'Elmhurst", a-t-il déclaré. "Perhaps I can manage to go abroad with you." "I'd like that," declared the boy. "J'aimerais bien", déclare le garçon. "And we'd stop in New York, wouldn't we, for a time?" "Of course. Do you want to visit New York especially?" Voulez-vous visiter New York en particulier ?" "Yes." "It's rather a stupid city," said the lawyer, doubtfully. "That may be," answered the boy. "But Patsy will be there, you know."