章节正文
that Lavinia is the cause of his dismissal, and I don't
know when he will be able to get another."
"You won't send him away, mother, if he can't
pay his board?"
"No," answered her mother warmly. "Philip is
welcome to stay with us as long as we have a roof
over our heads, whether he can pay his board or
not."
This answer seemed very satisfactory to Julia,
who rose impulsively and kissed her mother.
"That's a good mother," she said. "It would be
a pity to send poor Philip into the street."
"You seem to like Philip," said Mrs. Forbush,
smiling faintly.
"Yes, mother. You know I haven't any brother,
and Phil seems just like a brother to me."
Just then the door opened, and Philip himself
entered the room.
Generally he came home looking depressed, after
a long and ineffectual search for employment. Now
he was fairly radiant with joy.
"Phil, you've got a place; I know you have!"
exclaimed Julia, noticing his glad expression. "Where
is it? Is it a good one?"
"Have you really got a place, Philip?" asked Mrs.
Forbush.
"Yes, for the present."
"Do you think you shall like your employer?"
"He is certainly treating me very well," said
Phil, smiling. "He has paid me twenty dollars in
advance."
"Then the age of wonders has not passed," said
the widow. "Of course I believe you, Philip, but it
seems extraordinary."
"There is something more extraordinary to come,"
said Phil. "He has sent you some money, too."
"Me!" exclaimed Mrs. Forbush, in great surprise.
"What can he know about me?"
"I told him about you."
"But we are strangers."
"He used to know you, and still feels an interest
in you, Mrs. Forbush."
"Who can it be?" said the widow, looking bewildered.
"I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer,
so I may as well say that it is your Uncle Oliver."
"Uncle Oliver! Why, he is in Florida."
"No; he came home from Charleston. I happened
to be at the pier--I went down to see if I could get
a job at smashing baggage--when I saw him walking
down the gang-plank."
"Has he gone to his old quarters at Mr. Pitkin's?"
"No; what I told about the way they treated you
and me made him angry, and he drove to the Astor
House. I have a room there, too, and am to act as
his private secretary."
"So that is your new situation, Phil?" said Julia.
"Yes, and it is a good one."
"And he really feels kindly to me?" said Mrs.
Forbush hopefully.
"He sends you this and will call to-morrow," said
Phil. "Actions speak louder than words. There
are a hundred dollars in this roll of bills."
"He sent all this to me?" she said.
"Yes, and of his own accord. It was no suggestion
of mine.
"Julia," said Mrs. Forbush, turning to her daughter,
"I believe God has heard my prayer, and that
better days are in store for all of us."
"Philip included," added Phil, smiling.
"Yes. I want you to share in our good fortune."
"Mother, you had better consult Phil about keeping
the house."
"Oh, yes."
Mrs. Forbush thereupon told Philip of the landlord's
visit and his proposal to ask a higher rent.
"I hesitated about taking the house," she said;
"but with this handsome gift from Uncle Oliver, I
don't know but I may venture. What do you
think?"
"I think, Mrs. Forbush, you had better not decide
till you have seen your uncle. He may have some
plan of his own for you. At any rate, you had better
consult him. He will call to-morrow. And now,
let me pay you for my week's board."
"No, Philip. I shall not want it with all this
money, which I should not have received but for
you."
"A debt is a debt, Mrs. Forbush, and I prefer to
pay it. I shall not be here to supper, as Mr.
Carter is expecting me back to the Astor House. I
shall probably come with him when he calls upon
you to-morrow."
On his return to the hotel, as he was walking on
Broadway, Phil came face to face with Alonzo Pitkin.
"I think I'll ask him about that letter his uncle
gave him to post to me," thought Phil, and he waited
until Alonzo was close at hand.
CHAPTER XXV.
ALONZO IS PUZZLED.
Alonzo, who had his share of curiosity, as soon
as he saw Phil's approach, determined to speak
to him, and ascertain what were his plans and what
he was doing. With the petty malice which he
inherited from his mother, he hoped that Phil had
been unable to find a place and was in distress.
"It would serve him right," said Alonzo to
himself, "for trying to get into Uncle Oliver's good
graces. "I s'pose he would like to cut me out, but
he'll find that he can't fight against ma and me."
"Oh, it's you, is it?" was Alonzo's salutation when
they met.
"Yes," answered Phil.
"Pa bounced you, didn't he?" continued Alonzo
complacently.
"Yes," answered Phil. "That is, he discharged
me. I suppose that is what you meant."
"You've got it right the first time," said Alonzo.
"Have you got another place?"
"Do you ask because you feel interested in me?"
asked Phil.
"Well, not particularly," answered Alonzo
appearing quite amused by the suggestion.
"Then you ask out of curiosity?"
"S'pose I do?"
"I don't mind telling you that I have found a
place, then."
"What sort of a place?" asked Alonzo, disappointed.
"There is no need of going into particulars."
"No. I s'pose not," sneered Alonzo. "You're
probably selling papers or blacking boots."
"You are mistaken. I have a much better situation
than I had with your father."
Alonzo's lower jaw fell. He was very sorry to
hear it.
"Didn't your employer ask for a recommendation?"
"He didn't seem to think one necessary!" replied Phil.
"If he'd known pa had sacked you, he wouldn't
have wanted you, I guess."
"He knows it. Have you got through asking
questions, Alonzo?"
"You are too familiar. You can call me Mr. Pitkin."
Phil laughed at Alonzo's assumption of dignity,
but made no comment upon it.
"I want to ask you what you did with that letter
Mr. Carter gave you to post for me?" asked Phil.
Alonzo was indeed surprised, not to say dismayed.
The truth was that, judging from the "feel" of the
letter, it contained money, and he had opened it
and appropriated the money to his own use. Moreover
he had the bank-note in his pocket at that very
moment, not having any wish to spend, but rather
to hoard it.
"That's a queer question," he stammered. "What
letter do you refer to?"
"A letter Mr. Carter gave you to mail to me."
"If he gave me any such letter I mailed it,"
answered Alonzo, scarcely knowing what to say.
"I didn't receive it."
"How do you know he gave me any letter?"
demanded Alonzo, puzzled.
"I don't care to tell. I only know that there was
such a letter handed to you. Do you know what
was in it?"
"Writing, I s'pose," said Alonzo flippantly.
"Yes, there was, but there was also a ten-dollar
bill. I didn't receive the letter," and Phil fixed his
eyes searchingly upon the face of Alonzo.
"That's a pretty story!" said Alonzo. "I don't
believe Uncle Oliver would be such a fool as to send
you ten dollars. If he did, you got it, and now
want to get as much more, pretending you haven't
received it."
"You are mistaken," said Phil quietly.
"If you didn't get the letter, how do you know
any was written, and that there was anything in it?"
asked Alonzo triumphantly, feeling that the question
was a crusher.
"I don't care to tell you how I know it. Do you
deny it?"
"I don't remember whether Uncle Oliver gave me
any letter or not."
"Will you be kind enough to give me his address
in Florida, so that I may write to him and find out?"
"No, I won't," said Alonzo angrily, "and I think
you are very cheeky to ask such a thing. Ma was
right when she said that you were the most impudent
boy she ever came across."
"That's enough, Alonzo," said Phil quietly. "I've
found out all I wanted to."
"What have you found out?" asked Alonzo, his
tone betraying some apprehension.
"Never mind. I think I know what became of
that letter."
"Do you mean to say I opened it and took out
the money?" demanded Alonzo, reddening.
"I wouldn't charge anybody with such a mean
act, unless I felt satisfied of it."
"You'd better not!" said Alonzo, in a bullying
tone. "If I find out who you're working for, I'll let
him know that pa bounced you."
"Just as you please! I don't think that any
know when he will be able to get another."
"You won't send him away, mother, if he can't
pay his board?"
"No," answered her mother warmly. "Philip is
welcome to stay with us as long as we have a roof
over our heads, whether he can pay his board or
not."
This answer seemed very satisfactory to Julia,
who rose impulsively and kissed her mother.
"That's a good mother," she said. "It would be
a pity to send poor Philip into the street."
"You seem to like Philip," said Mrs. Forbush,
smiling faintly.
"Yes, mother. You know I haven't any brother,
and Phil seems just like a brother to me."
Just then the door opened, and Philip himself
entered the room.
Generally he came home looking depressed, after
a long and ineffectual search for employment. Now
he was fairly radiant with joy.
"Phil, you've got a place; I know you have!"
exclaimed Julia, noticing his glad expression. "Where
is it? Is it a good one?"
"Have you really got a place, Philip?" asked Mrs.
Forbush.
"Yes, for the present."
"Do you think you shall like your employer?"
"He is certainly treating me very well," said
Phil, smiling. "He has paid me twenty dollars in
advance."
"Then the age of wonders has not passed," said
the widow. "Of course I believe you, Philip, but it
seems extraordinary."
"There is something more extraordinary to come,"
said Phil. "He has sent you some money, too."
"Me!" exclaimed Mrs. Forbush, in great surprise.
"What can he know about me?"
"I told him about you."
"But we are strangers."
"He used to know you, and still feels an interest
in you, Mrs. Forbush."
"Who can it be?" said the widow, looking bewildered.
"I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer,
so I may as well say that it is your Uncle Oliver."
"Uncle Oliver! Why, he is in Florida."
"No; he came home from Charleston. I happened
to be at the pier--I went down to see if I could get
a job at smashing baggage--when I saw him walking
down the gang-plank."
"Has he gone to his old quarters at Mr. Pitkin's?"
"No; what I told about the way they treated you
and me made him angry, and he drove to the Astor
House. I have a room there, too, and am to act as
his private secretary."
"So that is your new situation, Phil?" said Julia.
"Yes, and it is a good one."
"And he really feels kindly to me?" said Mrs.
Forbush hopefully.
"He sends you this and will call to-morrow," said
Phil. "Actions speak louder than words. There
are a hundred dollars in this roll of bills."
"He sent all this to me?" she said.
"Yes, and of his own accord. It was no suggestion
of mine.
"Julia," said Mrs. Forbush, turning to her daughter,
"I believe God has heard my prayer, and that
better days are in store for all of us."
"Philip included," added Phil, smiling.
"Yes. I want you to share in our good fortune."
"Mother, you had better consult Phil about keeping
the house."
"Oh, yes."
Mrs. Forbush thereupon told Philip of the landlord's
visit and his proposal to ask a higher rent.
"I hesitated about taking the house," she said;
"but with this handsome gift from Uncle Oliver, I
don't know but I may venture. What do you
think?"
"I think, Mrs. Forbush, you had better not decide
till you have seen your uncle. He may have some
plan of his own for you. At any rate, you had better
consult him. He will call to-morrow. And now,
let me pay you for my week's board."
"No, Philip. I shall not want it with all this
money, which I should not have received but for
you."
"A debt is a debt, Mrs. Forbush, and I prefer to
pay it. I shall not be here to supper, as Mr.
Carter is expecting me back to the Astor House. I
shall probably come with him when he calls upon
you to-morrow."
On his return to the hotel, as he was walking on
Broadway, Phil came face to face with Alonzo Pitkin.
"I think I'll ask him about that letter his uncle
gave him to post to me," thought Phil, and he waited
until Alonzo was close at hand.
CHAPTER XXV.
ALONZO IS PUZZLED.
Alonzo, who had his share of curiosity, as soon
as he saw Phil's approach, determined to speak
to him, and ascertain what were his plans and what
he was doing. With the petty malice which he
inherited from his mother, he hoped that Phil had
been unable to find a place and was in distress.
"It would serve him right," said Alonzo to
himself, "for trying to get into Uncle Oliver's good
graces. "I s'pose he would like to cut me out, but
he'll find that he can't fight against ma and me."
"Oh, it's you, is it?" was Alonzo's salutation when
they met.
"Yes," answered Phil.
"Pa bounced you, didn't he?" continued Alonzo
complacently.
"Yes," answered Phil. "That is, he discharged
me. I suppose that is what you meant."
"You've got it right the first time," said Alonzo.
"Have you got another place?"
"Do you ask because you feel interested in me?"
asked Phil.
"Well, not particularly," answered Alonzo
appearing quite amused by the suggestion.
"Then you ask out of curiosity?"
"S'pose I do?"
"I don't mind telling you that I have found a
place, then."
"What sort of a place?" asked Alonzo, disappointed.
"There is no need of going into particulars."
"No. I s'pose not," sneered Alonzo. "You're
probably selling papers or blacking boots."
"You are mistaken. I have a much better situation
than I had with your father."
Alonzo's lower jaw fell. He was very sorry to
hear it.
"Didn't your employer ask for a recommendation?"
"He didn't seem to think one necessary!" replied Phil.
"If he'd known pa had sacked you, he wouldn't
have wanted you, I guess."
"He knows it. Have you got through asking
questions, Alonzo?"
"You are too familiar. You can call me Mr. Pitkin."
Phil laughed at Alonzo's assumption of dignity,
but made no comment upon it.
"I want to ask you what you did with that letter
Mr. Carter gave you to post for me?" asked Phil.
Alonzo was indeed surprised, not to say dismayed.
The truth was that, judging from the "feel" of the
letter, it contained money, and he had opened it
and appropriated the money to his own use. Moreover
he had the bank-note in his pocket at that very
moment, not having any wish to spend, but rather
to hoard it.
"That's a queer question," he stammered. "What
letter do you refer to?"
"A letter Mr. Carter gave you to mail to me."
"If he gave me any such letter I mailed it,"
answered Alonzo, scarcely knowing what to say.
"I didn't receive it."
"How do you know he gave me any letter?"
demanded Alonzo, puzzled.
"I don't care to tell. I only know that there was
such a letter handed to you. Do you know what
was in it?"
"Writing, I s'pose," said Alonzo flippantly.
"Yes, there was, but there was also a ten-dollar
bill. I didn't receive the letter," and Phil fixed his
eyes searchingly upon the face of Alonzo.
"That's a pretty story!" said Alonzo. "I don't
believe Uncle Oliver would be such a fool as to send
you ten dollars. If he did, you got it, and now
want to get as much more, pretending you haven't
received it."
"You are mistaken," said Phil quietly.
"If you didn't get the letter, how do you know
any was written, and that there was anything in it?"
asked Alonzo triumphantly, feeling that the question
was a crusher.
"I don't care to tell you how I know it. Do you
deny it?"
"I don't remember whether Uncle Oliver gave me
any letter or not."
"Will you be kind enough to give me his address
in Florida, so that I may write to him and find out?"
"No, I won't," said Alonzo angrily, "and I think
you are very cheeky to ask such a thing. Ma was
right when she said that you were the most impudent
boy she ever came across."
"That's enough, Alonzo," said Phil quietly. "I've
found out all I wanted to."
"What have you found out?" asked Alonzo, his
tone betraying some apprehension.
"Never mind. I think I know what became of
that letter."
"Do you mean to say I opened it and took out
the money?" demanded Alonzo, reddening.
"I wouldn't charge anybody with such a mean
act, unless I felt satisfied of it."
"You'd better not!" said Alonzo, in a bullying
tone. "If I find out who you're working for, I'll let
him know that pa bounced you."
"Just as you please! I don't think that any
- satisfactory [,sætis´fæktəri]
a.令人满意的 (初中英语单词) - employment [im´plɔimənt] n.工作；职业；雇用 (初中英语单词)
- extraordinary [ik´strɔ:dinəri] a.非常的；额外的 (初中英语单词)
- accord [ə´kɔ:d] n.&vi.符合 vt.给与 (初中英语单词)
- consult [kən´sʌlt] v.商量；磋商；请教 (初中英语单词)
- thereupon [,ðeərə´pɔn] ad.因此；于是 (初中英语单词)
- venture [´ventʃə] n.投机 v.冒险；敢于 (初中英语单词)
- curiosity [,kjuəri´ɔsiti] n.好奇；奇事；珍品 (初中英语单词)
- unable [ʌn´eibəl] a.不能的；无能为力的 (初中英语单词)
- employer [im´plɔiə] n.雇佣者，雇主 (初中英语单词)
- comment [´kɔment] n.&v.评论；评注；注意 (初中英语单词)
- knowing [´nəuiŋ] a.会意的，心照不宣的 (初中英语单词)
- florida [´flɔridə] n.佛罗里达 (初中英语单词)
- charge [tʃɑ:dʒ] v.收费；冲锋 n.费用 (初中英语单词)
- working [´wə:kiŋ] a.工人的；劳动的 (初中英语单词)
- radiant [´reidiənt] a.发光的 n.光源(体) (高中英语单词)
- ascertain [,æsə´tein] vt.探查；查明 (高中英语单词)
- malice [´mælis] n.恶意；怨恨；预谋 (高中英语单词)
- mistaken [mis´teikən] mistake的过去分词 (高中英语单词)
- assumption [ə´sʌmpʃən] n.掌握；担任；假定 (高中英语单词)
- angrily [´æŋgrili] ad.生气地；愤怒地 (高中英语单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- triumphantly [trai´ʌmfəntli] ad.胜利地；洋洋得意地 (英语四级单词)
- depressed [di´prest] a.消沉的；萧条的 (英语六级单词)
- suspense [sə´spens] n.悬挂；悬虑不安 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- salutation [,sælju´teiʃ(ə)n] n.招呼，致意；行礼 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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