章节正文
words of yours will injure me with the gentleman I
have the good fortune to work for."
"Don't you be too sure! If you think he wouldn't
mind a boy, I'll refer him to pa and ma. They'll
give you a good setting out."
"I don't doubt it," said Phil indifferently, and
turned to go away.
He was called back by Alonzo, who had not quite
satisfied his curiosity.
"Say, are you boarding with that woman who
came to see ma the same day you were at the house?"
he asked.
"No; I have left her."
Alonzo looked well pleased. He knew that his
mother felt rather uneasy at the two being together,
dreading lest they should make a concerted attempt
to ingratiate themselves with her rich uncle.
"Ma says she behaved very badly," Alonzo could
not help adding.
"Mrs. Forbush is an excellent Lady," said Phil
warmly, for he could not hear one of his friends
spoken against.
"Lady! She's as poor as poverty," sneered
Alonzo.
"She is none the worse for that."
"Uncle Oliver can't bear her!"
"Indeed!" said Phil; pausing to see what else
Alonzo would say.
"Ma says she disgraced herself, and all her
relations gave her up. When you see her tell her she
had better not come sneaking round the house
again."
"If you will write a letter to that effect, I will see
that she gets it," said Phil. "That letter won't miscarry."
"I don't care to take any notice of her," said
Alonzo loftily.
"You are very kind to have wasted so much notice
upon me," said Phil, amused.
Alonzo did not see fit to answer this, but walked
away with his head in the air. He was, however,
not quite easy in mind.
"How in the world," he asked himself, "could
that boy have found out that Uncle Oliver gave me
a letter to post? If he should learn that I opened
it and took the money, there'd be a big fuss. I guess
I'd better not meet him again. If I see him any
day I'll go in a different direction. He's so artful
he may get me into trouble."
It is needless to say that neither Mr. or Mrs.
Pitkin knew of Alonzo's tampering with the letter.
Much as they would have been opposed to Phil's
receiving such a letter, they would have been too wise
to sanction such a bold step.
"Well," said Mr. Carter, when Phil returned, "did
you see Rebecca--Mrs. Forbush?"
"Yes, sir, and handed her the money. She was
overjoyed; not so much at receiving so generous a
sum as at learning that you were reconciled to her."
"Poor girl!" said the old man, forgetting that she
was now a worn woman. "I am afraid that she
must have suffered much."
"She has met with many hardships, sir, but she
won't mind them now."
"If I live her future shall be brighter than her
past. I will call to-morrow. You, Philip, shall go
with me."
"I should like to do so, sir. By the way, I met
Alonzo on Broadway."
He detailed the conversation that had taken place
between them.
"I am afraid he took the money," said Mr. Carter.
"I am sorry any relative of mine should have acted
in that way. Let him keep it. Any benefit he may
derive from it will prove to have been dearly purchased."
CHAPTER XXVI.
A WONDERFUL CHANGE.
"You may order a carriage, Philip," said Mr.
Carter the next morning. "Pick out a handsome
one with seats for four."
"Yes, sir."
In five minutes the carriage was at the door.
"Now, Philip, we will go to see my long-neglected
niece, Mrs. Forbush. Give the driver the necessary
directions."
"Mrs. Forbush does not have many carriage-callers,"
said Philip, smiling.
"Perhaps she will have more hereafter," said Mr.
Carter, "I ought not so long to have lost sight of
her. I always liked Rebecca better than Lavinia,
yet I let the latter prejudice me against her cousin,
who is in disposition, education and sincerity her
superior. You see, Philip, there are old fools in the
world as well as young ones."
"It is never too late to mend, Mr. Carter," said
Phil, smiling.
"That's very true, even if it is a young philosopher
who says it."
"I don't claim any originality for it, Mr. Carter."
"By the way, Philip, I have noticed that you always
express yourself very correctly. Your education
must be good."
"Yes, sir, thanks to my father, or the man whom
I always regarded as my father. I am a fair Latin
scholar, and know something of Greek."
"Were you preparing for college?" asked Mr.
Carter, with interest.
"Yes, sir."
"Would you like to go?"
"I should have gone had father lived, but my
step-mother said it was foolishness and would be
money thrown away."
"Perhaps she preferred to incur that expense for
her own son?" suggested the old gentleman.
"Jonas wouldn't consent to that. He detests
study, and would decidedly object to going to college."
"By the way, you haven't heard from them
lately?"
"Only that they have left our old home and gone
no one knows where."
"That is strange."
By this time they had reached the humble dwelling
occupied by Mrs. Forbush.
"And so this is where Rebecca lives?" said Mr.
Carter.
"Yes, sir. It is not quite so nice as Mrs. Pitkin's."
"No," returned Mr. Carter thoughtfully.
Philip rang the bell, and the two were admitted
into the humbleparlor. They had not long to wait
for Mrs. Forbush, who, with an agitation which she
could not overcome, entered the presence of her long
estranged and wealthy uncle.
"Rebecca!" exclaimed the old gentleman, rising,
and showing some emotion as he saw the changes
which fifteen years had made in the niece whom he
had last met as a girl.
"Uncle Oliver! how kind you are to visit me!"
cried Mrs. Forbush, the tears starting from her
eyes.
"Kind! Nonsense! I have been very unkind to
neglect you so long. But it wasn't all my fault.
There were others who did all they could to keep us
apart. You have lost your husband?"
"Yes, uncle. He was poor, but he was one of the
kindest and best of men, and made me happy."
"I begin to think I have been an old fool,
Rebecca. Philip thinks so, too."
"Oh, Mr. Carter!" exclaimed our hero.
"Yes, you do, Philip," asserted Mr. Carter, "and
you are quite right. However, as you told me, it is
never too late to mend."
"Mrs. Forbush will think I take strange liberties
with you, sir."
"I don't object to good advice, even from a boy.
But who is this?"
Julia had just entered the room. She was a
bright, attractive girl, but held back bashfully until
her mother said:
"Julia, this is Uncle Oliver Carter. You have
heard me speak of him."
"Yes, mamma."
"And scold about him, I dare say. Well, Julia,
come and give your old uncle a kiss."
Julia blushed, but obeyed her uncle's request.
"I should know she was your child, Rebecca.
She looks as you did at her age. Now tell me, have
you any engagement this morning, you two?"
"No, Uncle Oliver."
"Then I will find one for you. I have a carriage
at the door. You will please put on your bonnets.
We are going shopping."
"Shopping?"
"Yes, I am going to fit out both of you in a
manner more befitting relatives of mine. The fact is,
Niece Rebecca, you are actually shabby."
"I know it, uncle, but there has been so many
ways of spending money that I have had to neglect
my dress.
"Very likely. I understand. Things are
different now. Now, don't be over an hour getting
ready!"
"We are not fashionable, uncle," said Mrs.
Forbush, "and we haven't any change to make."
They entered the carriage, and drove to a large
and fashionable store, where everything necessary
to a lady's toilet, including dresses quite complete,
could be obtained. Mrs. Forbush was in favor of
selecting very plain articles, but her uncle overruled
her, and pointed out costumes much more
costly.
"But, uncle," objected Mrs. Forbush, "these
things won't at all correspond with our plain home
and mode of living. Think of a boarding-house
keeper arrayed like a fine lady."
"You are going to give up taking boarders--that
is, you will have none but Philip and myself."
"Will you really live with us, uncle? But the
house is too poor."
"Of course it is, but you are going to move. I
will speak further on this point when you are
through your purchases."
At length the shopping was over, and they re-
have the good fortune to work for."
"Don't you be too sure! If you think he wouldn't
mind a boy, I'll refer him to pa and ma. They'll
give you a good setting out."
"I don't doubt it," said Phil indifferently, and
turned to go away.
He was called back by Alonzo, who had not quite
satisfied his curiosity.
"Say, are you boarding with that woman who
came to see ma the same day you were at the house?"
he asked.
"No; I have left her."
Alonzo looked well pleased. He knew that his
mother felt rather uneasy at the two being together,
dreading lest they should make a concerted attempt
to ingratiate themselves with her rich uncle.
"Ma says she behaved very badly," Alonzo could
not help adding.
"Mrs. Forbush is an excellent Lady," said Phil
warmly, for he could not hear one of his friends
spoken against.
"Lady! She's as poor as poverty," sneered
Alonzo.
"She is none the worse for that."
"Uncle Oliver can't bear her!"
"Indeed!" said Phil; pausing to see what else
Alonzo would say.
"Ma says she disgraced herself, and all her
relations gave her up. When you see her tell her she
had better not come sneaking round the house
again."
"If you will write a letter to that effect, I will see
that she gets it," said Phil. "That letter won't miscarry."
"I don't care to take any notice of her," said
Alonzo loftily.
"You are very kind to have wasted so much notice
upon me," said Phil, amused.
Alonzo did not see fit to answer this, but walked
away with his head in the air. He was, however,
not quite easy in mind.
"How in the world," he asked himself, "could
that boy have found out that Uncle Oliver gave me
a letter to post? If he should learn that I opened
it and took the money, there'd be a big fuss. I guess
I'd better not meet him again. If I see him any
day I'll go in a different direction. He's so artful
he may get me into trouble."
It is needless to say that neither Mr. or Mrs.
Pitkin knew of Alonzo's tampering with the letter.
Much as they would have been opposed to Phil's
receiving such a letter, they would have been too wise
to sanction such a bold step.
"Well," said Mr. Carter, when Phil returned, "did
you see Rebecca--Mrs. Forbush?"
"Yes, sir, and handed her the money. She was
overjoyed; not so much at receiving so generous a
sum as at learning that you were reconciled to her."
"Poor girl!" said the old man, forgetting that she
was now a worn woman. "I am afraid that she
must have suffered much."
"She has met with many hardships, sir, but she
won't mind them now."
"If I live her future shall be brighter than her
past. I will call to-morrow. You, Philip, shall go
with me."
"I should like to do so, sir. By the way, I met
Alonzo on Broadway."
He detailed the conversation that had taken place
between them.
"I am afraid he took the money," said Mr. Carter.
"I am sorry any relative of mine should have acted
in that way. Let him keep it. Any benefit he may
derive from it will prove to have been dearly purchased."
CHAPTER XXVI.
A WONDERFUL CHANGE.
"You may order a carriage, Philip," said Mr.
Carter the next morning. "Pick out a handsome
one with seats for four."
"Yes, sir."
In five minutes the carriage was at the door.
"Now, Philip, we will go to see my long-neglected
niece, Mrs. Forbush. Give the driver the necessary
directions."
"Mrs. Forbush does not have many carriage-callers,"
said Philip, smiling.
"Perhaps she will have more hereafter," said Mr.
Carter, "I ought not so long to have lost sight of
her. I always liked Rebecca better than Lavinia,
yet I let the latter prejudice me against her cousin,
who is in disposition, education and sincerity her
superior. You see, Philip, there are old fools in the
world as well as young ones."
"It is never too late to mend, Mr. Carter," said
Phil, smiling.
"That's very true, even if it is a young philosopher
who says it."
"I don't claim any originality for it, Mr. Carter."
"By the way, Philip, I have noticed that you always
express yourself very correctly. Your education
must be good."
"Yes, sir, thanks to my father, or the man whom
I always regarded as my father. I am a fair Latin
scholar, and know something of Greek."
"Were you preparing for college?" asked Mr.
Carter, with interest.
"Yes, sir."
"Would you like to go?"
"I should have gone had father lived, but my
step-mother said it was foolishness and would be
money thrown away."
"Perhaps she preferred to incur that expense for
her own son?" suggested the old gentleman.
"Jonas wouldn't consent to that. He detests
study, and would decidedly object to going to college."
"By the way, you haven't heard from them
lately?"
"Only that they have left our old home and gone
no one knows where."
"That is strange."
By this time they had reached the humble dwelling
occupied by Mrs. Forbush.
"And so this is where Rebecca lives?" said Mr.
Carter.
"Yes, sir. It is not quite so nice as Mrs. Pitkin's."
"No," returned Mr. Carter thoughtfully.
Philip rang the bell, and the two were admitted
into the humbleparlor. They had not long to wait
for Mrs. Forbush, who, with an agitation which she
could not overcome, entered the presence of her long
estranged and wealthy uncle.
"Rebecca!" exclaimed the old gentleman, rising,
and showing some emotion as he saw the changes
which fifteen years had made in the niece whom he
had last met as a girl.
"Uncle Oliver! how kind you are to visit me!"
cried Mrs. Forbush, the tears starting from her
eyes.
"Kind! Nonsense! I have been very unkind to
neglect you so long. But it wasn't all my fault.
There were others who did all they could to keep us
apart. You have lost your husband?"
"Yes, uncle. He was poor, but he was one of the
kindest and best of men, and made me happy."
"I begin to think I have been an old fool,
Rebecca. Philip thinks so, too."
"Oh, Mr. Carter!" exclaimed our hero.
"Yes, you do, Philip," asserted Mr. Carter, "and
you are quite right. However, as you told me, it is
never too late to mend."
"Mrs. Forbush will think I take strange liberties
with you, sir."
"I don't object to good advice, even from a boy.
But who is this?"
Julia had just entered the room. She was a
bright, attractive girl, but held back bashfully until
her mother said:
"Julia, this is Uncle Oliver Carter. You have
heard me speak of him."
"Yes, mamma."
"And scold about him, I dare say. Well, Julia,
come and give your old uncle a kiss."
Julia blushed, but obeyed her uncle's request.
"I should know she was your child, Rebecca.
She looks as you did at her age. Now tell me, have
you any engagement this morning, you two?"
"No, Uncle Oliver."
"Then I will find one for you. I have a carriage
at the door. You will please put on your bonnets.
We are going shopping."
"Shopping?"
"Yes, I am going to fit out both of you in a
manner more befitting relatives of mine. The fact is,
Niece Rebecca, you are actually shabby."
"I know it, uncle, but there has been so many
ways of spending money that I have had to neglect
my dress.
"Very likely. I understand. Things are
different now. Now, don't be over an hour getting
ready!"
"We are not fashionable, uncle," said Mrs.
Forbush, "and we haven't any change to make."
They entered the carriage, and drove to a large
and fashionable store, where everything necessary
to a lady's toilet, including dresses quite complete,
could be obtained. Mrs. Forbush was in favor of
selecting very plain articles, but her uncle overruled
her, and pointed out costumes much more
costly.
"But, uncle," objected Mrs. Forbush, "these
things won't at all correspond with our plain home
and mode of living. Think of a boarding-house
keeper arrayed like a fine lady."
"You are going to give up taking boarders--that
is, you will have none but Philip and myself."
"Will you really live with us, uncle? But the
house is too poor."
"Of course it is, but you are going to move. I
will speak further on this point when you are
through your purchases."
At length the shopping was over, and they re-
- injure [´indʒə]
vt.伤害，损害，毁坏 (初中英语单词) - generous [´dʒenərəs] a.慷慨的；丰盛的 (初中英语单词)
- learning [´lə:niŋ] n.学习；学问；知识 (初中英语单词)
- relative [´relətiv] a.有关系的 n.亲属 (初中英语单词)
- carriage [´kæridʒ] n.马车；客车；货运 (初中英语单词)
- disposition [,dispə´ziʃən] n.安排；性情；倾向 (初中英语单词)
- humble [´hʌmbəl] a.谦卑的 vt.贬抑 (初中英语单词)
- parlor [´pɑ:lə] n.客厅；起居室 (初中英语单词)
- overcome [,əuvə´kʌm] vt.战胜，克服 (初中英语单词)
- wealthy [´welθi] a.富有的；丰富的 (初中英语单词)
- emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)
- attractive [ə´træktiv] a.有吸引力；诱人的 (初中英语单词)
- engagement [in´geidʒmənt] n.婚约；雇用；受聘 (初中英语单词)
- actually [´æktʃuəli] ad.事实上；实际上 (初中英语单词)
- pointed [´pɔintid] a.尖(锐)的；中肯的 (初中英语单词)
- uneasy [ʌn´i:zi] a.不安的；不自在的 (高中英语单词)
- needless [´ni:dləs] a.不必要的；无用的 (高中英语单词)
- sanction [´sæŋkʃən] n.&vt.批准；认可 (高中英语单词)
- prejudice [´predʒədis] n.偏见；不利 vt.损害 (高中英语单词)
- correctly [kə´rektli] ad.正确地；恰当地 (高中英语单词)
- decidedly [di´saididli] ad.坚决地，果断地 (高中英语单词)
- agitation [,ædʒi´teiʃən] n.鼓动；摇动；焦虑 (高中英语单词)
- fashionable [´fæʃənəbəl] a.流行的，时髦的 (高中英语单词)
- toilet [´tɔilit] n.梳妆(台)；卫生间 (高中英语单词)
- correspond [,kɔri´spɔnd] vi.符合；相当；通信 (高中英语单词)
- setting [´setiŋ] n.安装；排字；布景 (英语四级单词)
- dearly [´diəli] ad.深深地(爱等)；昂贵 (英语四级单词)
- sincerity [sin´seriti] n.真诚；诚意 (英语四级单词)
- unkind [,ʌn´kaind] a.不客气的；不和善的 (英语四级单词)
- indifferently [in´difrəntli] ad.不关心地；冷淡地 (英语六级单词)
- originality [ə,ridʒi´næliti] n.独创性；创举；新颖 (英语六级单词)
- foolishness [´fu:liʃnis] n.愚蠢 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
京公网安备 11011202003401号
