章节正文
library, had gone to her own room in dudgeon.
``Mr. Wharton's a fool!'' she muttered to herself.
``What possessed him to take this cash-boy from the
streets, invite him to dinner, and treat him as an
honored guest, and finally to engage him as a reader?
I never heard of anything so ridiculous! Is this little
vagabond to take my place in the old man's good
graces? I've been slaving and slaving for twenty
years, and what have I got by it? I've laid up two
thousand dollars; and what is that to provide for
my old age? If the old man would die, and remember
me handsomely in his will, it would be worth
while; but this new favorite may stand in my way.
If he does I'll be revenged on him as sure as my name
is Ulrica Bradley.''
Here the area bell rang, and in a moment one of
the housemaids entered Mrs. Bradley's room.
``There's your nephew outside, ma'am, and wanting
to see you.''
``Tell him to come in,'' and the housekeeper's cold
face became softer and pleasanter in aspect as a
young man of twenty entered and greeted her carelessly.
``How are you, aunt?''
``Pretty well, Thomas,'' she answered. ``You
haven't been here for some time.''
``No. I've had a lot of work to do. Nothing but
work, work, all the time,'' he grumbled. ``I wish I
was rich.''
``You get through at six o'clock, don't you?''
``Yes.''
``I hope you spend your evenings profitably,
Thomas?''
``I ain't likely to go on any sprees, aunt, if that's
what you mean. I only get twelve dollars a week.''
``I should think you might live on it.''
``Starve, you mean. What's twelve dollars to a
young fellow like me when he's got his board to pay,
and has to dress like a gentleman?''
``You are not in debt, I hope, Thomas?'' said Mrs.
Bradley, uneasily.
``I owe for the suit I have on, and I don't know
where I'm going to get the money to pay for it.''
He was dressed in a flashy style, not unlike what is
popularly denominated a swell. His coarse features
were disfigured with unhealthy blotches, and his outward
appearance was hardly such as to recommend
him. But to him alone the cold heart of the
housekeeper was warm. He was her sister's son and her
nearest relative. Her savings were destined for him,
and in her attachment she was not conscious of his
disagreeable characteristics. She had occasionally
given him a five-dollar bill to eke out what he termed
his miserable pay, and now whenever he called he
didn't spare hints that he was out of pocket, and
that a further gift would be acceptable. Indeed, the
only tie that bound him to his aunt was a mercenary
one.
But the housekeeper, sharp-sighted as she
ordinarily was, did not detect the secret motive of such
attention she received from her nephew. She flattered
herself that he really loved her, not suspecting
that he was too selfish to love anybody but himself.
``Thomas,'' she said, with a sudden thought, ``I
may be able to help you to an increase of your income.
Mr. Wharton needs somebody to read to him
evenings. On my recommendation he might take
you.''
``Thank you, aunt, but I don't see it. I don't
want to be worked to death.''
``But, think, Thomas,'' said his aunt, earnestly.
``He is very rich. He might take a fancy to you
and remember you in his will.''
``I wish somebody would remember me in his will.
Do you really think there's any chance of the old
boy's doing something handsome for me?''
``That depends on yourself. You must try to
please him.''
``Well, I must do something. What'll he give?''
``I don't know yet. In fact, there's another
reading to him just now.''
``Then there's no chance for me.''
``Listen to me. It's a boy he's picked up in the
streets, quite unsuited for the place. He's a cash-
boy at Gilbert & Mack's. Why, that's where you
are,'' she added, with sudden recollection.
``A cash-boy from my own place? What's his
name?''
``Fowler, I believe.''
``I know him--he's lately come. How did he get
in with the old man?''
``Mr. Wharton fell in the street, and he happened
to be near, and helped him home.''
``You'll have to manage it, aunt.''
``I'll see what I can do to-morrow. He ought to
prefer my nephew to a strange boy, seeing I have
been twenty years in his service. I'll let you know
as soon as I have accomplished anything.''
``I don't half like the idea of giving up my
evenings. I don't believe I can stand it.''
``It is only for a little while, to get him interested
in you.''
``Maybe I might try it a week, and then tell him
my health was failing, and get him to do something
else for me.''
``At any rate, the first thing must be to become
acquainted.''
Thomas now withdrew, for he did not enjoy spending
an evening with his aunt, the richer by five dollars,
half of which was spent before the evening
closed at a neighboring billiard saloon.
CHAPTER X
THE HOUSEKEEPER SCHEMING
If Mrs. Bradley had been wiser, she would have
felt less confident of her nephew's producing a favorable
impression upon Mr. Wharton. She resolved to
open the subject at the breakfast table
``I didn't know, Mr. Wharton,'' she commenced,
``that you intended to engage a reader.''
``Nor did I propose to do so until last evening.''
``I think--you'll excuse me for saying so--that
you will find that boy too young to suit you.''
``I don't think so. He reads very clearly and
distinctly.''
``If I had known you thought of engaging a
reader, I would have asked you to engage my
nephew.''
``Indeed, I was not aware that you had a nephew
in the city. Is he a boy?''
``No; he is a young man. He was twenty years
old last June.''
``Is he unfavorably situated?''
``He has a place as salesman.''
``With what firm?''
``Gilbert & Mack.''
``Why, that is the same firm that employs my
young friend. It is a good firm.''
``Perhaps it is, but my poor nephew receives a
very small salary. He finds it very hard to get
along.''
``Your nephew is young. He will be promoted if
he serves his employers well.''
``Thomas would have been glad to read to you in
the evening, sir,'' said Mrs. Bradley, commencing
the attack.
``But for my present engagement, I might have
taken him,'' said Mr. Wharton, politely.
``Have you engaged that boy for any length of
time?''
``No; but it is understood that he will stay while
I need him, and he continues to suit me. I have a
favorable opinion of him. Besides, he needs the pay.
He receives but three dollars a week as a cash-boy,
and has a sister to support as well as himself.''
``I am sorry,'' she said in an injured tone. ``I
hope you'll excuse my mentioning it, but I took the
liberty, having been for twenty years in your employ.''
``To be sure! You were quite right,'' said her
employer, kindly. ``Perhaps I may be able to do
something for your nephew, though not that. Tell
him to come and see me some time.''
``Thank you, sir,'' said the housekeeper.
There was one question she wanted to determine,
and that was the amount of compensation received
by Frank. She did not like to inquire directly from
Mr. Wharton, but resolved to gain the information
from our hero. Some evenings later she had the
opportunity. Mr. Wharton had an engagement, and
asked her to tell Frank, when he arrived that he
was released from duty. Instead of this she received
him in the library herself.
``Probably Mr. Wharton will not be at home this
evening,'' she said. ``If he does not return in half
an hour, you need not wait.''
She took up her work, seated in Mr. Wharton's
usual place, and Frank remained ready for duty.
``Mr. Wharton tells me you have a sister,'' she
said.
``Yes, ma'am.''
``You must find it hard work to provide for her
as well as yourself.''
``I do, or rather I did till I came here.''
``How much does Mr. Wharton pay you?'' she
asked, in an indifferent tone.
``Five dollars a week,'' answered Frank.
``You are lucky that you have such a chance,'' she
said.
``Yes, ma'am; it is more than I earn, I know, but
it is a great help to me.''
``And how much do you get as cash-boy?''
``Three dollars a week.''
``So you actually receive nearly twice as much for
a couple of hours in the evening as for the whole
day.''
``Yes, ma'am.''
``What a pity Thomas can't have this chance,'' she
thought.
When it was nine o'clock, she said:
``You need not wait any longer. Mr. Wharton
will not be home in time to hear you read.''
``Good-evening, Mrs. Bradley,'' said Frank.
``Good-evening!'' she responded, coldly.
``Mr. Wharton's a fool!'' she muttered to herself.
``What possessed him to take this cash-boy from the
streets, invite him to dinner, and treat him as an
honored guest, and finally to engage him as a reader?
I never heard of anything so ridiculous! Is this little
vagabond to take my place in the old man's good
graces? I've been slaving and slaving for twenty
years, and what have I got by it? I've laid up two
thousand dollars; and what is that to provide for
my old age? If the old man would die, and remember
me handsomely in his will, it would be worth
while; but this new favorite may stand in my way.
If he does I'll be revenged on him as sure as my name
is Ulrica Bradley.''
Here the area bell rang, and in a moment one of
the housemaids entered Mrs. Bradley's room.
``There's your nephew outside, ma'am, and wanting
to see you.''
``Tell him to come in,'' and the housekeeper's cold
face became softer and pleasanter in aspect as a
young man of twenty entered and greeted her carelessly.
``How are you, aunt?''
``Pretty well, Thomas,'' she answered. ``You
haven't been here for some time.''
``No. I've had a lot of work to do. Nothing but
work, work, all the time,'' he grumbled. ``I wish I
was rich.''
``You get through at six o'clock, don't you?''
``Yes.''
``I hope you spend your evenings profitably,
Thomas?''
``I ain't likely to go on any sprees, aunt, if that's
what you mean. I only get twelve dollars a week.''
``I should think you might live on it.''
``Starve, you mean. What's twelve dollars to a
young fellow like me when he's got his board to pay,
and has to dress like a gentleman?''
``You are not in debt, I hope, Thomas?'' said Mrs.
Bradley, uneasily.
``I owe for the suit I have on, and I don't know
where I'm going to get the money to pay for it.''
He was dressed in a flashy style, not unlike what is
popularly denominated a swell. His coarse features
were disfigured with unhealthy blotches, and his outward
appearance was hardly such as to recommend
him. But to him alone the cold heart of the
housekeeper was warm. He was her sister's son and her
nearest relative. Her savings were destined for him,
and in her attachment she was not conscious of his
disagreeable characteristics. She had occasionally
given him a five-dollar bill to eke out what he termed
his miserable pay, and now whenever he called he
didn't spare hints that he was out of pocket, and
that a further gift would be acceptable. Indeed, the
only tie that bound him to his aunt was a mercenary
one.
But the housekeeper, sharp-sighted as she
ordinarily was, did not detect the secret motive of such
attention she received from her nephew. She flattered
herself that he really loved her, not suspecting
that he was too selfish to love anybody but himself.
``Thomas,'' she said, with a sudden thought, ``I
may be able to help you to an increase of your income.
Mr. Wharton needs somebody to read to him
evenings. On my recommendation he might take
you.''
``Thank you, aunt, but I don't see it. I don't
want to be worked to death.''
``But, think, Thomas,'' said his aunt, earnestly.
``He is very rich. He might take a fancy to you
and remember you in his will.''
``I wish somebody would remember me in his will.
Do you really think there's any chance of the old
boy's doing something handsome for me?''
``That depends on yourself. You must try to
please him.''
``Well, I must do something. What'll he give?''
``I don't know yet. In fact, there's another
reading to him just now.''
``Then there's no chance for me.''
``Listen to me. It's a boy he's picked up in the
streets, quite unsuited for the place. He's a cash-
boy at Gilbert & Mack's. Why, that's where you
are,'' she added, with sudden recollection.
``A cash-boy from my own place? What's his
name?''
``Fowler, I believe.''
``I know him--he's lately come. How did he get
in with the old man?''
``Mr. Wharton fell in the street, and he happened
to be near, and helped him home.''
``You'll have to manage it, aunt.''
``I'll see what I can do to-morrow. He ought to
prefer my nephew to a strange boy, seeing I have
been twenty years in his service. I'll let you know
as soon as I have accomplished anything.''
``I don't half like the idea of giving up my
evenings. I don't believe I can stand it.''
``It is only for a little while, to get him interested
in you.''
``Maybe I might try it a week, and then tell him
my health was failing, and get him to do something
else for me.''
``At any rate, the first thing must be to become
acquainted.''
Thomas now withdrew, for he did not enjoy spending
an evening with his aunt, the richer by five dollars,
half of which was spent before the evening
closed at a neighboring billiard saloon.
CHAPTER X
THE HOUSEKEEPER SCHEMING
If Mrs. Bradley had been wiser, she would have
felt less confident of her nephew's producing a favorable
impression upon Mr. Wharton. She resolved to
open the subject at the breakfast table
``I didn't know, Mr. Wharton,'' she commenced,
``that you intended to engage a reader.''
``Nor did I propose to do so until last evening.''
``I think--you'll excuse me for saying so--that
you will find that boy too young to suit you.''
``I don't think so. He reads very clearly and
distinctly.''
``If I had known you thought of engaging a
reader, I would have asked you to engage my
nephew.''
``Indeed, I was not aware that you had a nephew
in the city. Is he a boy?''
``No; he is a young man. He was twenty years
old last June.''
``Is he unfavorably situated?''
``He has a place as salesman.''
``With what firm?''
``Gilbert & Mack.''
``Why, that is the same firm that employs my
young friend. It is a good firm.''
``Perhaps it is, but my poor nephew receives a
very small salary. He finds it very hard to get
along.''
``Your nephew is young. He will be promoted if
he serves his employers well.''
``Thomas would have been glad to read to you in
the evening, sir,'' said Mrs. Bradley, commencing
the attack.
``But for my present engagement, I might have
taken him,'' said Mr. Wharton, politely.
``Have you engaged that boy for any length of
time?''
``No; but it is understood that he will stay while
I need him, and he continues to suit me. I have a
favorable opinion of him. Besides, he needs the pay.
He receives but three dollars a week as a cash-boy,
and has a sister to support as well as himself.''
``I am sorry,'' she said in an injured tone. ``I
hope you'll excuse my mentioning it, but I took the
liberty, having been for twenty years in your employ.''
``To be sure! You were quite right,'' said her
employer, kindly. ``Perhaps I may be able to do
something for your nephew, though not that. Tell
him to come and see me some time.''
``Thank you, sir,'' said the housekeeper.
There was one question she wanted to determine,
and that was the amount of compensation received
by Frank. She did not like to inquire directly from
Mr. Wharton, but resolved to gain the information
from our hero. Some evenings later she had the
opportunity. Mr. Wharton had an engagement, and
asked her to tell Frank, when he arrived that he
was released from duty. Instead of this she received
him in the library herself.
``Probably Mr. Wharton will not be at home this
evening,'' she said. ``If he does not return in half
an hour, you need not wait.''
She took up her work, seated in Mr. Wharton's
usual place, and Frank remained ready for duty.
``Mr. Wharton tells me you have a sister,'' she
said.
``Yes, ma'am.''
``You must find it hard work to provide for her
as well as yourself.''
``I do, or rather I did till I came here.''
``How much does Mr. Wharton pay you?'' she
asked, in an indifferent tone.
``Five dollars a week,'' answered Frank.
``You are lucky that you have such a chance,'' she
said.
``Yes, ma'am; it is more than I earn, I know, but
it is a great help to me.''
``And how much do you get as cash-boy?''
``Three dollars a week.''
``So you actually receive nearly twice as much for
a couple of hours in the evening as for the whole
day.''
``Yes, ma'am.''
``What a pity Thomas can't have this chance,'' she
thought.
When it was nine o'clock, she said:
``You need not wait any longer. Mr. Wharton
will not be home in time to hear you read.''
``Good-evening, Mrs. Bradley,'' said Frank.
``Good-evening!'' she responded, coldly.
- nephew [´nevju:, ´nɛfju]
n.侄子；外甥 (初中英语单词) - aspect [´æspekt] n.面貌；神色；方向 (初中英语单词)
- unlike [,ʌn´laik] a.不同的 prep.不象... (初中英语单词)
- coarse [kɔ:s] a.粗(糙)的；粗鲁的 (初中英语单词)
- relative [´relətiv] a.有关系的 n.亲属 (初中英语单词)
- conscious [´kɔnʃəs] a.意识的；自觉的 (初中英语单词)
- miserable [´mizərəbəl] a.悲惨的；可怜的 (初中英语单词)
- whenever [wen´evə] conj.&ad.无论何时 (初中英语单词)
- motive [´məutiv] n.动机；主题 a.运动的 (初中英语单词)
- selfish [´selfiʃ] a.自私的，利己的 (初中英语单词)
- lately [´leitli] ad.近来，不久前 (初中英语单词)
- neighboring [´neibəriŋ] a.邻近的；接壤的 (初中英语单词)
- engagement [in´geidʒmənt] n.婚约；雇用；受聘 (初中英语单词)
- amount [ə´maunt] n.总数；数量 v.合计 (初中英语单词)
- actually [´æktʃuəli] ad.事实上；实际上 (初中英语单词)
- coldly [´kəuldli] ad.冷淡地 (初中英语单词)
- housekeeper [´haus,ki:pə] n.主妇，女管家 (高中英语单词)
- detect [di´tekt] vt.发觉；侦察 (高中英语单词)
- recommendation [,rekəmen´deiʃən] n.推荐；劝告 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- withdrew [wið´dru:] withdraw的过去式 (高中英语单词)
- confident [´kɔnfidənt] a.有信心的，自信的 (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- compensation [,kɔmpen´seiʃən] n.补偿，赔偿 (高中英语单词)
- indifferent [in´difrənt] a.不关心的；中立的 (高中英语单词)
- attachment [ə´tætʃmənt] n.附着；附件；爱慕 (英语四级单词)
- acceptable [ək´septəbəl] a.可接受的；合意的 (英语四级单词)
- accomplished [ə´kʌmpliʃt] a.完成了的；熟练的 (英语四级单词)
- resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)
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章节正文
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