章节正文
he determined to effect a sale if he could.
"It is a splendid instrument," he said, enthusiastically,
brushing off the dust with a dirty cotton handkerchief. "I have
had many chances to sell it."
"Why didn't you sell it, then?" demanded Paul, who did not
believe a word of this.
"Because it was only pawned. I kept it for the owner."
"Oh, well; if you can't sell it, it doesn't matter."
"It is for sale now," said Eliakim, quickly. "He has not come
for it, and I shall keep it no longer. Just try it. See what a
sp-l-endid instrument it is!" said the pawnbroker, dwelling on
the adjective to give emphasis to it.
Paul tried it, but not knowing how to play, of course created
only discord. He did not offer it to Phil, because the young
Italian boy would have made it sound too well and so enhanced the
price.
"It don't sound very well," said he, indifferently; "but I
suppose it will do to learn on. What do you want for it?"
"Five dollars," said Eliakim, studying the face of Paul, to
observe the effect of his announcement.
"Five dollars," repeated Paul. "Take it back, then, and wait
till A. T. Stewart wants one. I haven't got five dollars to
throw away."
But the pawnbroker did not expect to get his first price. He
named it, in order to have a chance to fall.
"Stay," he said, as Paul made a motion to leave; "what will you
give me for it?"
"I'll give you a dollar and a half," said Paul, turning back.
"A dollar and a half!" exclaimed Eliakim, holding up both hands
in horror. "Do you want to ruin me?"
"No, I think you want to ruin me. I am willing to pay a fair
price."
"You may have it for three dollars and a half."
"No doubt you'd be glad to get that. Come, Phil, we'll go."
"Stay; you may have it for three dollars, though I shall lose by
it."
"So should I, if I paid you that price. I can wait till some
other time."
But Eliakim did not intend to let this chance slip. He had found
the fiddle rather unsalable, and feared if he lost his chance of
disposing of it, it might remain on his hands for a year more.
He was willing, therefore, to take less than the profit he
usually calculated upon in the sale of articles which remained
unredeemed.
"You may have it for two dollars and a half," he said.
As far as Paul could judge, though he did not know much about the
price of violins, this was a reasonable price. But he knew that
Eliakim must have got it for considerably less, or he would not
so soon have come down to this sum. He did not hesitate,
therefore, to try to get it a little cheaper.
"I'll give you two dollars and a quarter," he said, "and not a
penny more."
Eliakim tried hard to get ten cents more, but Paul saw that he
was sure of his purchase, and remained obdurate. So, after a
pretense of putting up the fiddle, the pawnbroker finally said,
"You may have it, but I tell you that I shall lose money."
"All right," said Paul; "hand it over."
"Where is the money?" asked Eliakim, cautiously.
Paul drew from his pocket a two-dollar bill and twenty-five cents
in currency, and received the fiddle. The pawnbroker scrutinized
the money closely, fearing that it might be bad; but finally,
making up his mind on that point, deposited it in his money
drawer.
"Well, Phil, we may as well go," said Paul. "We've got through
our business."
The pawnbroker heard this, and a sudden suspicion entered his
mind that Paul had been too sharp for him.
"I might have got twenty-five cents more," he thought
regretfully; and this thought disturbed the complacency he felt
at first.
"Well, Phil, how do you like it?" asked Paul, as they emerged
into the street.
"Let me try it," said Phil, eagerly.
He struck up a tune, which he played through, his face expressing
the satisfaction he felt.
"Is it as good as your old one?"
"It is much better," said Phil. "I will pay you for it;" and he
drew out the money the sailors had given him in the morning.
"No, Phil," said his friend, "you may need that money. Keep it,
and pay me when you have more."
"But I shall be away."
"You will come to the city some day. When you do you will know
where to find me. Now go and play a tune to Jimmy. He is
waiting for you. If you remain in the streets, your old enemy,
Tim Rafferty, may want to borrow your fiddle again."
"You are very kind to me, Paolo," said Phil, raising his dark
eyes with a sudden impulse of gratitude.
"It's nothing, Phil," said Paul, modestly" target="_blank" title="ad.谦虚地；有节制地">modestly; "you would do the same
for me if I needed it."
"Yes, I would," said Phil; "but I am poor, and I cannot help
you."
"You won't be poor always, Phil," said Paul, cheerfully, "nor I
either, I hope. I mean to be a merchant some time on a bigger
scale than now. As for you, you will be a great player, and give
concerts at the Academy of Music."
Phil laughed, but still seemed pleased at the prophecy.
"Well, Phil, I must bid you good-by for a little while, or my
clerks will be cheating me. I will see you at supper."
"Addio, Paolo," said Phil.
"Addio," said Paul, laughing. "Wouldn't I make a good Italian?"
Paul returned to his stand, and Phil took the direction of Mrs.
Hoffman's rooms. While on his way he heard the sound of a
hand-organ, and, looking across the way, saw, with some
uneasiness, his old enemy Pietro, playing to a crowd of boys.
"I hope he won't see me," said Phil to himself.
He was afraid Pietro would remember his old violin, and, seeing
the difference in the instrument he now had, inquire how he got
it. He might, if not satisfied on this point, take Phil home
with him, which would be fatal to his plans. He thought it
prudent, therefore, to turn down the next street, and get out of
sight as soon as possible. Fortunately for him Pietro had his
back turned, so that he did not observe him. Nothing would have
pleased him better than to get the little fiddler into trouble,
for, besides being naturally malicious, he felt that an
exhibition of zeal in his master's service would entitle him to
additional favors at the hands of the padrone, whom he hoped some
day to succeed.
"Oh, what a beautiful fiddle!" said Jimmy, in admiration, as
Phil reappeared. "Do you think I could play on it?"
Phil shook his head, smiling.
"Don't let Jimmy have it. He would only spoil it," said Mrs.
Hoffman. "I don't think he would succeed as well in music as in
drawing."
"Will you play something?" asked Jimmy.
Phil willingly complied, and for half an hour held Jimmy
entranced with his playing. The little boy then undertook to
teach Phil how to draw, but at this Phil probably cut as poor a
figure as his instructor would have done at playing on the
violin.
So the afternoon wore away, happily for all three, and at five
Paul made his appearance. When supper was over Phil played
again, and this attracting the attention of the neighbors, Mrs.
Hoffman's rooms were gradually filled with visitors, who finally
requested Phil to play some dancing tunes. Finding him able to
do so, an impromptu dance was got up, and Mrs. Hoffman,
considerably to her surprise, found that she was giving a
dancing-party. Paul, that nothing might be left out, took a
companion with him and they soon reappeared with cake and ice
cream, which were passed around amid great hilarity; and it was
not until midnight that the last visitor went out, and the sound
of music and laughter was hushed.
"You are getting fashionable in your old age, mother," said Paul,
gayly. "I think I shall send an account of your party to the
Home Journal."
"I believe it is usual to describe the dresses of the ladies,"
said Mrs. Hoffman, smiling.
"Oh, yes, I won't forget that. Just give me a piece of paper
and see how I will do it."
Paul, whose education, I repeat here, was considerably above that
of most boys in his position, sat down and hastily wrote the
following description, which was read to the great amusement of
his auditors
"Mrs. Hoffman, mother of the well-known artist, Jimmy Hoffman,
Esq., gave a fashionable party last evening. Her spacious and
elegant apartments were crowded with finely dressed gentlemen and
ladies from the lower part of the city. Signor Filippo, the
great Italian musician, furnished the music. Mrs. Hoffman
appeared in a costlycalico dress, and had a valuable gold ring
on one of her fingers. Her son, the artist, was richly dressed
in a gray suit, purchased a year since. Miss Bridget Flaherty,
of Mott Street, was the belle of the occasion, and danced with
such grace and energy that the floor came near giving away
beneath her fairy tread. [Miss Flaherty, by the way, weighed one
hundred and eighty pounds.] Mr. Mike Donovan, newspaper
merchant, handed round refreshments with his usual graceful and
elegant deportment. Miss Matilda Wiggins appeared in a
magnificent print dress, imported from Paris by A. T. Stewart,
and costing a shilling a yard. No gloves were worn, as they are
now dispensed with in the best society. At a late hour the
guests dispersed. Mrs. Hoffman's party will long be remembered
as the most brilliant of the season."
"I did not know you had so much talent for reporting, Paul," said
his mother. "You forgot one thing, however."
"What is that?"
"You said nothing of yourself."
"I was too modest, mother. However, if you insist upon it, I
will do so. Anything at all to please you."
Paul resumed his writing and in a short time had the following:
"Among those present we observed the handsome and accomplished
Paul Hoffman, Esq., the oldest son of the hostess. He was
elegantly dressed in a pepper-and-salt coat and vest, blue
necktie, and brown breeches, and wore a six-cent diamond
breastpin in the bosom of his shirt. His fifteen-cent
handkerchief was perfumed with cologne which he imported himself
at a cost of ten cents per bottle. He attracted general
admiration."
"You seem to have got over your modesty, Paul," said his mother.
"I am sleepy," said Jimmy, drowsily rubbing his eyes.
As this expressed the general feeling, they retired to bed at
once, and in half an hour were wandering in the land of dreams.
CHAPTER XVII
THE PADRONE IS ANXIOUS
The next morning Paul and Phil rose later that usual. They slept
longer, in order to make up for the late hour at which they
retired. As they sat down to breakfast, at half-past eight, Paul
said: "I wonder whether the padrone misses you, Phil?"
"Yes," said Phil; "he will be very angry because I did not come
back last night."
"Will he think you have run away?"
"I do not know. Some of the boys stay away sometimes, because
they are too far off to come home."
"It is a splendid instrument," he said, enthusiastically,
brushing off the dust with a dirty cotton handkerchief. "I have
had many chances to sell it."
"Why didn't you sell it, then?" demanded Paul, who did not
believe a word of this.
"Because it was only pawned. I kept it for the owner."
"Oh, well; if you can't sell it, it doesn't matter."
"It is for sale now," said Eliakim, quickly. "He has not come
for it, and I shall keep it no longer. Just try it. See what a
sp-l-endid instrument it is!" said the pawnbroker, dwelling on
the adjective to give emphasis to it.
Paul tried it, but not knowing how to play, of course created
only discord. He did not offer it to Phil, because the young
Italian boy would have made it sound too well and so enhanced the
price.
"It don't sound very well," said he, indifferently; "but I
suppose it will do to learn on. What do you want for it?"
"Five dollars," said Eliakim, studying the face of Paul, to
observe the effect of his announcement.
"Five dollars," repeated Paul. "Take it back, then, and wait
till A. T. Stewart wants one. I haven't got five dollars to
throw away."
But the pawnbroker did not expect to get his first price. He
named it, in order to have a chance to fall.
"Stay," he said, as Paul made a motion to leave; "what will you
give me for it?"
"I'll give you a dollar and a half," said Paul, turning back.
"A dollar and a half!" exclaimed Eliakim, holding up both hands
in horror. "Do you want to ruin me?"
"No, I think you want to ruin me. I am willing to pay a fair
price."
"You may have it for three dollars and a half."
"No doubt you'd be glad to get that. Come, Phil, we'll go."
"Stay; you may have it for three dollars, though I shall lose by
it."
"So should I, if I paid you that price. I can wait till some
other time."
But Eliakim did not intend to let this chance slip. He had found
the fiddle rather unsalable, and feared if he lost his chance of
disposing of it, it might remain on his hands for a year more.
He was willing, therefore, to take less than the profit he
usually calculated upon in the sale of articles which remained
unredeemed.
"You may have it for two dollars and a half," he said.
As far as Paul could judge, though he did not know much about the
price of violins, this was a reasonable price. But he knew that
Eliakim must have got it for considerably less, or he would not
so soon have come down to this sum. He did not hesitate,
therefore, to try to get it a little cheaper.
"I'll give you two dollars and a quarter," he said, "and not a
penny more."
Eliakim tried hard to get ten cents more, but Paul saw that he
was sure of his purchase, and remained obdurate. So, after a
pretense of putting up the fiddle, the pawnbroker finally said,
"You may have it, but I tell you that I shall lose money."
"All right," said Paul; "hand it over."
"Where is the money?" asked Eliakim, cautiously.
Paul drew from his pocket a two-dollar bill and twenty-five cents
in currency, and received the fiddle. The pawnbroker scrutinized
the money closely, fearing that it might be bad; but finally,
making up his mind on that point, deposited it in his money
drawer.
"Well, Phil, we may as well go," said Paul. "We've got through
our business."
The pawnbroker heard this, and a sudden suspicion entered his
mind that Paul had been too sharp for him.
"I might have got twenty-five cents more," he thought
regretfully; and this thought disturbed the complacency he felt
at first.
"Well, Phil, how do you like it?" asked Paul, as they emerged
into the street.
"Let me try it," said Phil, eagerly.
He struck up a tune, which he played through, his face expressing
the satisfaction he felt.
"Is it as good as your old one?"
"It is much better," said Phil. "I will pay you for it;" and he
drew out the money the sailors had given him in the morning.
"No, Phil," said his friend, "you may need that money. Keep it,
and pay me when you have more."
"But I shall be away."
"You will come to the city some day. When you do you will know
where to find me. Now go and play a tune to Jimmy. He is
waiting for you. If you remain in the streets, your old enemy,
Tim Rafferty, may want to borrow your fiddle again."
"You are very kind to me, Paolo," said Phil, raising his dark
eyes with a sudden impulse of gratitude.
"It's nothing, Phil," said Paul, modestly" target="_blank" title="ad.谦虚地；有节制地">modestly; "you would do the same
for me if I needed it."
"Yes, I would," said Phil; "but I am poor, and I cannot help
you."
"You won't be poor always, Phil," said Paul, cheerfully, "nor I
either, I hope. I mean to be a merchant some time on a bigger
scale than now. As for you, you will be a great player, and give
concerts at the Academy of Music."
Phil laughed, but still seemed pleased at the prophecy.
"Well, Phil, I must bid you good-by for a little while, or my
clerks will be cheating me. I will see you at supper."
"Addio, Paolo," said Phil.
"Addio," said Paul, laughing. "Wouldn't I make a good Italian?"
Paul returned to his stand, and Phil took the direction of Mrs.
Hoffman's rooms. While on his way he heard the sound of a
hand-organ, and, looking across the way, saw, with some
uneasiness, his old enemy Pietro, playing to a crowd of boys.
"I hope he won't see me," said Phil to himself.
He was afraid Pietro would remember his old violin, and, seeing
the difference in the instrument he now had, inquire how he got
it. He might, if not satisfied on this point, take Phil home
with him, which would be fatal to his plans. He thought it
prudent, therefore, to turn down the next street, and get out of
sight as soon as possible. Fortunately for him Pietro had his
back turned, so that he did not observe him. Nothing would have
pleased him better than to get the little fiddler into trouble,
for, besides being naturally malicious, he felt that an
exhibition of zeal in his master's service would entitle him to
additional favors at the hands of the padrone, whom he hoped some
day to succeed.
"Oh, what a beautiful fiddle!" said Jimmy, in admiration, as
Phil reappeared. "Do you think I could play on it?"
Phil shook his head, smiling.
"Don't let Jimmy have it. He would only spoil it," said Mrs.
Hoffman. "I don't think he would succeed as well in music as in
drawing."
"Will you play something?" asked Jimmy.
Phil willingly complied, and for half an hour held Jimmy
entranced with his playing. The little boy then undertook to
teach Phil how to draw, but at this Phil probably cut as poor a
figure as his instructor would have done at playing on the
violin.
So the afternoon wore away, happily for all three, and at five
Paul made his appearance. When supper was over Phil played
again, and this attracting the attention of the neighbors, Mrs.
Hoffman's rooms were gradually filled with visitors, who finally
requested Phil to play some dancing tunes. Finding him able to
do so, an impromptu dance was got up, and Mrs. Hoffman,
considerably to her surprise, found that she was giving a
dancing-party. Paul, that nothing might be left out, took a
companion with him and they soon reappeared with cake and ice
cream, which were passed around amid great hilarity; and it was
not until midnight that the last visitor went out, and the sound
of music and laughter was hushed.
"You are getting fashionable in your old age, mother," said Paul,
gayly. "I think I shall send an account of your party to the
Home Journal."
"I believe it is usual to describe the dresses of the ladies,"
said Mrs. Hoffman, smiling.
"Oh, yes, I won't forget that. Just give me a piece of paper
and see how I will do it."
Paul, whose education, I repeat here, was considerably above that
of most boys in his position, sat down and hastily wrote the
following description, which was read to the great amusement of
his auditors
"Mrs. Hoffman, mother of the well-known artist, Jimmy Hoffman,
Esq., gave a fashionable party last evening. Her spacious and
elegant apartments were crowded with finely dressed gentlemen and
ladies from the lower part of the city. Signor Filippo, the
great Italian musician, furnished the music. Mrs. Hoffman
appeared in a costlycalico dress, and had a valuable gold ring
on one of her fingers. Her son, the artist, was richly dressed
in a gray suit, purchased a year since. Miss Bridget Flaherty,
of Mott Street, was the belle of the occasion, and danced with
such grace and energy that the floor came near giving away
beneath her fairy tread. [Miss Flaherty, by the way, weighed one
hundred and eighty pounds.] Mr. Mike Donovan, newspaper
merchant, handed round refreshments with his usual graceful and
elegant deportment. Miss Matilda Wiggins appeared in a
magnificent print dress, imported from Paris by A. T. Stewart,
and costing a shilling a yard. No gloves were worn, as they are
now dispensed with in the best society. At a late hour the
guests dispersed. Mrs. Hoffman's party will long be remembered
as the most brilliant of the season."
"I did not know you had so much talent for reporting, Paul," said
his mother. "You forgot one thing, however."
"What is that?"
"You said nothing of yourself."
"I was too modest, mother. However, if you insist upon it, I
will do so. Anything at all to please you."
Paul resumed his writing and in a short time had the following:
"Among those present we observed the handsome and accomplished
Paul Hoffman, Esq., the oldest son of the hostess. He was
elegantly dressed in a pepper-and-salt coat and vest, blue
necktie, and brown breeches, and wore a six-cent diamond
breastpin in the bosom of his shirt. His fifteen-cent
handkerchief was perfumed with cologne which he imported himself
at a cost of ten cents per bottle. He attracted general
admiration."
"You seem to have got over your modesty, Paul," said his mother.
"I am sleepy," said Jimmy, drowsily rubbing his eyes.
As this expressed the general feeling, they retired to bed at
once, and in half an hour were wandering in the land of dreams.
CHAPTER XVII
THE PADRONE IS ANXIOUS
The next morning Paul and Phil rose later that usual. They slept
longer, in order to make up for the late hour at which they
retired. As they sat down to breakfast, at half-past eight, Paul
said: "I wonder whether the padrone misses you, Phil?"
"Yes," said Phil; "he will be very angry because I did not come
back last night."
"Will he think you have run away?"
"I do not know. Some of the boys stay away sometimes, because
they are too far off to come home."
- handkerchief [´hæŋkətʃif]
n.手帕，手绢 (初中英语单词) - instrument [´instrumənt] n.仪器；手段；乐器 (初中英语单词)
- dwelling [´dweliŋ] n.住所；寓所 (初中英语单词)
- knowing [´nəuiŋ] a.会意的，心照不宣的 (初中英语单词)
- horror [´hɔrə] n.恐怖；战栗 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- reasonable [´rizənəbəl] a.合理的；有理智的 (初中英语单词)
- suspicion [sə´spiʃən] n.怀(猜)疑；嫌疑 (初中英语单词)
- satisfaction [,sætis´fækʃən] n.满意；满足 (初中英语单词)
- impulse [´impʌls] n.推动(力)；冲动；刺激 (初中英语单词)
- player [´pleiə] n.游戏的人；选手 (初中英语单词)
- academy [ə´kædəmi] n.专科学校；学会；协会 (初中英语单词)
- entitle [in´taitl] vt.称做；命名；授权 (初中英语单词)
- admiration [,ædmə´reiʃən] n.赞赏，钦佩 (初中英语单词)
- instructor [in´strʌktə] n.教师；指导者 (初中英语单词)
- midnight [´midnait] n.午夜；漆黑 (初中英语单词)
- visitor [´vizitə] n.访问者；来宾；参观者 (初中英语单词)
- laughter [´lɑ:ftə] n.笑，笑声 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- hastily [´heistili] ad.急速地；草率地 (初中英语单词)
- description [di´skripʃən] n.描写 (初中英语单词)
- amusement [ə´mju:zmənt] n.娱乐；文娱设施 (初中英语单词)
- well-known [,wel´nəun] a.著名的，众所周知的 (初中英语单词)
- italian [i´tæliən] a.意大利 n.意大利人 (初中英语单词)
- costly [´kɔstli] a.昂贵的；费用大的 (初中英语单词)
- valuable [´væljuəbəl, -jubəl] a.有价值的，贵重的 (初中英语单词)
- energy [´enədʒi] n.活力，精力；能力 (初中英语单词)
- graceful [´greisfəl] a.优美的，流畅的 (初中英语单词)
- brilliant [´briliənt] a.灿烂的；杰出的 (初中英语单词)
- talent [´tælənt] n.天才；才干；天资 (初中英语单词)
- modest [´mɔdist] a.谦虚的；朴素的 (初中英语单词)
- writing [´raitiŋ] n.书写；写作；书法 (初中英语单词)
- emphasis [´emfəsis] n.强调；重点 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- motion [´məuʃən] n.手势 vt.打手势 (高中英语单词)
- considerably [kən´sidərəbli] ad.显著地；十分 (高中英语单词)
- currency [´kʌrənsi] n.通货；通用；货币 (高中英语单词)
- cheerfully [´tʃiəfuli] ad.高兴地，愉快地 (高中英语单词)
- fortunately [´fɔ:tʃənətli] ad.幸运地 (高中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- fashionable [´fæʃənəbəl] a.流行的，时髦的 (高中英语单词)
- spacious [´speiʃəs] a.广阔的，宽敞的 (高中英语单词)
- crowded [´kraudid] a.充(拥)满了的 (高中英语单词)
- finely [´fainli] ad.美好地；精细地 (高中英语单词)
- musician [mju:´ziʃən] n.音乐家，作曲家 (高中英语单词)
- shilling [´ʃiliŋ] n.先令 (高中英语单词)
- hostess [´həustis] n.女主人；旅馆女老板 (高中英语单词)
- adjective [´ædʒiktiv] n.形容词 (英语四级单词)
- fiddle [´fidl] n.小提琴 v.拉提琴 (英语四级单词)
- violin [,vaiə´lin] n.(小)提琴 (英语四级单词)
- willingly [´wiliŋli] ad.情愿地，乐意地 (英语四级单词)
- undertook [,ʌndə´tuk] undertake的过去式 (英语四级单词)
- calico [´kælikəu] n.白棉布；印花布 (英语四级单词)
- richly [´ritʃli] ad.富裕地；浓厚地 (英语四级单词)
- breeches [´britʃiz] n.裤子；马裤 (英语四级单词)
- cologne [kə´ləun] n.科隆香水 (英语四级单词)
- modesty [´mɔdisti] n.谨慎；端庄；羞怯 (英语四级单词)
- discord [´diskɔ:d] n.不一致；不和谐 (英语六级单词)
- indifferently [in´difrəntli] ad.不关心地；冷淡地 (英语六级单词)
- holding [´həuldiŋ] n.保持，固定，存储 (英语六级单词)
- modestly [´mɔdistli] ad.谦虚地；有节制地 (英语六级单词)
- malicious [mə´liʃəs] a.恶意的；预谋的 (英语六级单词)
- deportment [di´pɔ:tmənt] n.举止，风度；品行 (英语六级单词)
- retired [ri´taiəd] a.退休的；通职的 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
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