章节正文
on his return from the store, but the more they
considered the matter the worse it looked for their
prospects.
Could anything be done?
CHAPTER XXIX.
A TRUCE.
No more distasteful news could have come to
the Pitkins than to learn that Philip and their
poor cousin had secured a firm place in the good
graces of Uncle Oliver. Yet they did not dare to
show their resentment. They had found that Uncle
Oliver had a will of his own, and meant to exercise
it. Had they been more forbearing he would still
be an inmate of their house instead of going over to
the camp of their enemies, for so they regarded Mrs.
Forbush and Phil.
"I hate that woman, Mr. Pitkin!" said his wife
fiercely. "I scorn such underhanded work. How
she has sneaked into the good graces of poor,
deluded Uncle Oliver!"
"You have played your cards wrong, Lavinia,"
said her husband peevishly.
"I? That is a strange accusation, Mr. Pitkin. It
was you, to my thinking. You sent off that errand
boy, and that is how the whole thing came about. If
he had been in your store he wouldn't have met
Uncle Oliver down at the pier."
"You and Alonzo persuaded me to discharge
him."
"Oh, of course it's Alonzo and me! When you
see Rebecca Forbush and that errand boy making
ducks and drakes out of Uncle Oliver's money you
may wish you had acted more wisely."
"Really, Lavinia, you are a most unreasonable
woman. It's no use criminating and recriminating.
We must do what we can to mend matters."
"What can we do?"
"They haven't got the money yet--remember
that! We must try to re-establish friendly relations
with Mr. Carter."
"Perhaps you'll tell me how?"
"Certainly! Call as soon as possible at the house
on Madison Avenue."
"Call on that woman?"
"Yes; and try to smooth matters over as well as
you can. Take Alonzo with you, and instruct him
to be polite to Philip."
"I don't believe Lonny will be willing to demean
himself so far."
"He'll have to," answered Mr. Pitkin firmly.
"We've all made a mistake, and the sooner we remedy
it the better."
Mrs. Pitkin thought it over. The advice was
unpalatable, but it was evidently sound. Uncle Oliver
was rich, and they must not let his money slip
through their fingers. So, after duly instructing
Alonzo in his part, Mrs. Pitkin, a day or two later,
ordered her carriage and drove in state to the house
of her once poor relative.
"Is Mrs. Forbush at home?" she asked of the servant.
"I believe so, madam," answered a dignified man-servant,
"Take this card to her."
Mrs. Pitkin and Alonzo were ushered into a drawing-
room more elegant than their own. She sat on
a sofa with Alonzo.
"Who would think that Rebecca Forbush would
come to live like this?" she said, half to herself.
"And that boy," supplemented Alonzo.
"To be sure! Your uncle is fairly infatuated."
Just then Mrs. Forbush entered, followed by her
daughter. She was no longer clad in a shabby
dress, but wore an eleganttoilet, handsome beyond
her own wishes, but insisted upon by Uncle Oliver.
"I am glad to see you, Lavinia," she said simply.
"This is my daughter."
Julia, too, was stylishly dressed, and Alonzo, in
spite of his prejudices, could not help regarding this
handsome cousin with favor.
I do not propose to detail the interview. Mrs.
Pitkin was on her good behavior, and appeared very
gracious.
Mrs. Forbush could not help recalling the difference
between her demeanor now and on the recent
occasion, when in her shabby dress she called at the
house in Twelfth Street, but she was too generous
to recall it.
As they were about to leave, Mr. Carter and Philip
entered the room, sent for by Mrs. Forbush.
"How do you do, Philip?" said Mrs. Pitkin,
graciously. "Alonzo, this is Philip."
"How do?" growled Alonzo, staring enviously at
Phil's handsome new suit, which was considerably
handsomer than his own.
"Very well, Alonzo."
"You must come and see Lonny," said Mrs.
Pitkin pleasantly.
"Thank you!" answered Phil politely.
He did not say it was a pleasure, for he was a boy
of truth, and he did not feel that it would be.
Uncle Oliver was partially deceived by his niece's
new manner. He was glad that there seemed to be
a reconciliation, and he grew more cordial than he
had been since his return.
After awhile Mrs. Pitkin rose to go.
When she was fairly in the carriage once more,
she said passionately:
"How I hate them!"
"You were awful sweet on them, ma!" said
Alonzo, opening his eyes.
"I had to be. But the time will come when I
will open the eyes of Uncle Oliver to the designs of
that scheming woman and that artful errand boy."
It was Mrs. Pitkin's true self that spoke.
CHAPTER XXX.
PHIL'S TRUST.
Among the duties which devolved upon Phil
was Mr. Carter's bank business. He generally
made deposits for Uncle Oliver, and drew money
on his personal checks whenever he needed it.
It has already been said that Mr. Carter was a
silent partner in the firm of which Mr. Pitkin was
the active manager. The arrangement between the
partners was, that each should draw out two hundred
dollars a week toward current expenses, and
that the surplus, if any, at the end of the year,
should be divided according to the terms of the
partnership.
When Phil first presented himself with a note
from Mr. Carter, he was an object of attention to
the clerks, who knew that he had been discharged by
Mr. Pitkin. Yet here he was, dressed in a new suit
provided with a watch, and wearing every mark of
prosperity. One of the most surprised was Mr. G.
Washington Wilbur, with whom, as an old friend,
Phil stopped to chat.
"Is old Pitkin going to take you back?" he inquired.
"No," answered Phil promptly. "He couldn't
have me if he wanted me."
"Have you got another place?"
"Yes."
"What's the firm?"
"It isn't in business. I am private secretary to
Mr. Carter."
Mr. Wilbur regarded him with surprise and respect.
"Is it a soft place?" he inquired.
"It's a very pleasant place."
"What wages do you get?"
"Twelve dollars a week and board."
"You don't mean it?"
"Yes, I do."
"Say, doesn't he want another secretary?" asked
Mr. Wilbur.
"No, I think not."
"I'd like a place of that sort. You're a lucky
fellow, Phil."
"I begin to think I am."
"Of course you don't live at the old place."
"No; I live on Madison Avenue. By the way,
Wilbur, how is your lady-love?"
Mr. Wilbur looked radiant.
"I think I'm getting on," he said. "I met her
the other evening, and she smiled."
"That is encouraging," said Phil, as soberly as
possible. "All things come to him who waits!
That's what I had to write in my copy-book
once."
Phil was received by Mr. Pitkin with more
graciousness than he expected. He felt that he must do
what he could to placate Uncle Oliver, but he was
more dangerous when friendly in his manner than
when he was rude and impolite. He was even now
plotting to get Phil into a scrape which should lose
him the confidence of Uncle Oliver.
Generally Phil was paid in a check payable to the
order of Mr. Carter. But one Saturday two hundred
dollars in bills were placed in his hands instead.
"You see how much confidence I place in your
honesty," said Mr. Pitkin. "You couldn't use the
check. This money you could make off with."
"It would be very foolish, to say the least,"
responded Phil.
"Of course, of course. I know you are trustworthy,
or I would have given you a check instead."
When Phil left the building he was followed,
though he did not know it, by a man looking like a
clerk.
Ah, Phil, you are in danger, though you don't
suspect it.
CHAPTER XXXI.
PHIL IS SHADOWED.
Phil felt that he must be more than usually
careful, because the money he had received was
in the form of bills, which, unlike the check, would
be of use to any thief appropriating it. That he
was in any unusual danger, however, he was far from
suspecting.
He reached Broadway, and instead of taking an
omnibus, started to walk up-town. He knew there
was no haste, and a walk up the great busy thoroughfare
had its attractions for him, as it has for
many others.
considered the matter the worse it looked for their
prospects.
Could anything be done?
CHAPTER XXIX.
A TRUCE.
No more distasteful news could have come to
the Pitkins than to learn that Philip and their
poor cousin had secured a firm place in the good
graces of Uncle Oliver. Yet they did not dare to
show their resentment. They had found that Uncle
Oliver had a will of his own, and meant to exercise
it. Had they been more forbearing he would still
be an inmate of their house instead of going over to
the camp of their enemies, for so they regarded Mrs.
Forbush and Phil.
"I hate that woman, Mr. Pitkin!" said his wife
fiercely. "I scorn such underhanded work. How
she has sneaked into the good graces of poor,
deluded Uncle Oliver!"
"You have played your cards wrong, Lavinia,"
said her husband peevishly.
"I? That is a strange accusation, Mr. Pitkin. It
was you, to my thinking. You sent off that errand
boy, and that is how the whole thing came about. If
he had been in your store he wouldn't have met
Uncle Oliver down at the pier."
"You and Alonzo persuaded me to discharge
him."
"Oh, of course it's Alonzo and me! When you
see Rebecca Forbush and that errand boy making
ducks and drakes out of Uncle Oliver's money you
may wish you had acted more wisely."
"Really, Lavinia, you are a most unreasonable
woman. It's no use criminating and recriminating.
We must do what we can to mend matters."
"What can we do?"
"They haven't got the money yet--remember
that! We must try to re-establish friendly relations
with Mr. Carter."
"Perhaps you'll tell me how?"
"Certainly! Call as soon as possible at the house
on Madison Avenue."
"Call on that woman?"
"Yes; and try to smooth matters over as well as
you can. Take Alonzo with you, and instruct him
to be polite to Philip."
"I don't believe Lonny will be willing to demean
himself so far."
"He'll have to," answered Mr. Pitkin firmly.
"We've all made a mistake, and the sooner we remedy
it the better."
Mrs. Pitkin thought it over. The advice was
unpalatable, but it was evidently sound. Uncle Oliver
was rich, and they must not let his money slip
through their fingers. So, after duly instructing
Alonzo in his part, Mrs. Pitkin, a day or two later,
ordered her carriage and drove in state to the house
of her once poor relative.
"Is Mrs. Forbush at home?" she asked of the servant.
"I believe so, madam," answered a dignified man-servant,
"Take this card to her."
Mrs. Pitkin and Alonzo were ushered into a drawing-
room more elegant than their own. She sat on
a sofa with Alonzo.
"Who would think that Rebecca Forbush would
come to live like this?" she said, half to herself.
"And that boy," supplemented Alonzo.
"To be sure! Your uncle is fairly infatuated."
Just then Mrs. Forbush entered, followed by her
daughter. She was no longer clad in a shabby
dress, but wore an eleganttoilet, handsome beyond
her own wishes, but insisted upon by Uncle Oliver.
"I am glad to see you, Lavinia," she said simply.
"This is my daughter."
Julia, too, was stylishly dressed, and Alonzo, in
spite of his prejudices, could not help regarding this
handsome cousin with favor.
I do not propose to detail the interview. Mrs.
Pitkin was on her good behavior, and appeared very
gracious.
Mrs. Forbush could not help recalling the difference
between her demeanor now and on the recent
occasion, when in her shabby dress she called at the
house in Twelfth Street, but she was too generous
to recall it.
As they were about to leave, Mr. Carter and Philip
entered the room, sent for by Mrs. Forbush.
"How do you do, Philip?" said Mrs. Pitkin,
graciously. "Alonzo, this is Philip."
"How do?" growled Alonzo, staring enviously at
Phil's handsome new suit, which was considerably
handsomer than his own.
"Very well, Alonzo."
"You must come and see Lonny," said Mrs.
Pitkin pleasantly.
"Thank you!" answered Phil politely.
He did not say it was a pleasure, for he was a boy
of truth, and he did not feel that it would be.
Uncle Oliver was partially deceived by his niece's
new manner. He was glad that there seemed to be
a reconciliation, and he grew more cordial than he
had been since his return.
After awhile Mrs. Pitkin rose to go.
When she was fairly in the carriage once more,
she said passionately:
"How I hate them!"
"You were awful sweet on them, ma!" said
Alonzo, opening his eyes.
"I had to be. But the time will come when I
will open the eyes of Uncle Oliver to the designs of
that scheming woman and that artful errand boy."
It was Mrs. Pitkin's true self that spoke.
CHAPTER XXX.
PHIL'S TRUST.
Among the duties which devolved upon Phil
was Mr. Carter's bank business. He generally
made deposits for Uncle Oliver, and drew money
on his personal checks whenever he needed it.
It has already been said that Mr. Carter was a
silent partner in the firm of which Mr. Pitkin was
the active manager. The arrangement between the
partners was, that each should draw out two hundred
dollars a week toward current expenses, and
that the surplus, if any, at the end of the year,
should be divided according to the terms of the
partnership.
When Phil first presented himself with a note
from Mr. Carter, he was an object of attention to
the clerks, who knew that he had been discharged by
Mr. Pitkin. Yet here he was, dressed in a new suit
provided with a watch, and wearing every mark of
prosperity. One of the most surprised was Mr. G.
Washington Wilbur, with whom, as an old friend,
Phil stopped to chat.
"Is old Pitkin going to take you back?" he inquired.
"No," answered Phil promptly. "He couldn't
have me if he wanted me."
"Have you got another place?"
"Yes."
"What's the firm?"
"It isn't in business. I am private secretary to
Mr. Carter."
Mr. Wilbur regarded him with surprise and respect.
"Is it a soft place?" he inquired.
"It's a very pleasant place."
"What wages do you get?"
"Twelve dollars a week and board."
"You don't mean it?"
"Yes, I do."
"Say, doesn't he want another secretary?" asked
Mr. Wilbur.
"No, I think not."
"I'd like a place of that sort. You're a lucky
fellow, Phil."
"I begin to think I am."
"Of course you don't live at the old place."
"No; I live on Madison Avenue. By the way,
Wilbur, how is your lady-love?"
Mr. Wilbur looked radiant.
"I think I'm getting on," he said. "I met her
the other evening, and she smiled."
"That is encouraging," said Phil, as soberly as
possible. "All things come to him who waits!
That's what I had to write in my copy-book
once."
Phil was received by Mr. Pitkin with more
graciousness than he expected. He felt that he must do
what he could to placate Uncle Oliver, but he was
more dangerous when friendly in his manner than
when he was rude and impolite. He was even now
plotting to get Phil into a scrape which should lose
him the confidence of Uncle Oliver.
Generally Phil was paid in a check payable to the
order of Mr. Carter. But one Saturday two hundred
dollars in bills were placed in his hands instead.
"You see how much confidence I place in your
honesty," said Mr. Pitkin. "You couldn't use the
check. This money you could make off with."
"It would be very foolish, to say the least,"
responded Phil.
"Of course, of course. I know you are trustworthy,
or I would have given you a check instead."
When Phil left the building he was followed,
though he did not know it, by a man looking like a
clerk.
Ah, Phil, you are in danger, though you don't
suspect it.
CHAPTER XXXI.
PHIL IS SHADOWED.
Phil felt that he must be more than usually
careful, because the money he had received was
in the form of bills, which, unlike the check, would
be of use to any thief appropriating it. That he
was in any unusual danger, however, he was far from
suspecting.
He reached Broadway, and instead of taking an
omnibus, started to walk up-town. He knew there
was no haste, and a walk up the great busy thoroughfare
had its attractions for him, as it has for
many others.
- errand [´erənd]
n.差使，使命 (初中英语单词) - instruct [in´strʌkt] vt.教育；指导；通知 (初中英语单词)
- polite [pə´lait] a.有礼貌的；温和的 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- evidently [´evidəntli] ad.明显地 (初中英语单词)
- carriage [´kæridʒ] n.马车；客车；货运 (初中英语单词)
- interview [´intəvju:] n.&vt.接见；会见；交谈 (初中英语单词)
- awhile [ə´wail] ad.少顷；片刻 (初中英语单词)
- opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)
- scheming [´ski:miŋ] a.计划的；诡计多端 (初中英语单词)
- whenever [wen´evə] conj.&ad.无论何时 (初中英语单词)
- partner [´pɑ:tnə] n.伙伴 v.同....合作 (初中英语单词)
- manager [´mænidʒə] n.经理；管理人；干事 (初中英语单词)
- arrangement [ə´reindʒmənt] n.整理；排列；筹备 (初中英语单词)
- promptly [´prɔmptli] ad.敏捷地；即时地 (初中英语单词)
- unlike [,ʌn´laik] a.不同的 prep.不象... (初中英语单词)
- unusual [ʌn´ju:ʒuəl] a.不平常的；异常的 (初中英语单词)
- resentment [ri´zentmənt] n.不满；怨恨；忿恨 (高中英语单词)
- dignified [´dignifaid] a.尊贵的 (高中英语单词)
- elegant [´eligənt] a.文雅的；优美的 (高中英语单词)
- toilet [´tɔilit] n.梳妆(台)；卫生间 (高中英语单词)
- regarding [ri´gɑ:diŋ] prep.关于 (高中英语单词)
- behavior [bi´heiviə] n.举止，行为 (高中英语单词)
- shabby [´ʃæbi] a.(衣服)破旧的 (高中英语单词)
- cordial [´kɔ:diəl] a.热忱的；亲切的 (高中英语单词)
- surplus [´sə:pləs] n.&a.剩余(的) (高中英语单词)
- broadway [´brɔ:dwei] n.&a.百老汇大街(的) (高中英语单词)
- accusation [ækju:´zeiʃən] n.谴责；告发 (英语四级单词)
- partially [´pɑ:ʃəli] ad.部分地；局部地 (英语四级单词)
- soberly [´səubəli] ad.严肃地；清醒地 (英语四级单词)
- scrape [skreip] v.&n.刮，削，擦；搔 (英语四级单词)
- distasteful [dis´teistful] a.讨厌的；乏味的 (英语六级单词)
- inmate [´inmeit] n.(医院，监狱)同宿者 (英语六级单词)
- reconciliation [,rekənsili´eiʃən] n.调停；和解；服从 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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