章节正文
Katy read the letter twice over, and then gave it to her mother,
after explaining that she had told Tommy her story, and requested
him to inquire about her grandfather. Mrs. Redburn was too much
affected by the news from her early home to find fault with Katy
for what she had done.
Both of them felt very sad for while Mrs. Redburn thought of her
father, who had lain in his grave ten years without her
knowledge, Katy could not but mourn over the hopes which Tommy's
letter had blasted.
CHAPTER XVI.
ANN GRIPPEN PLAYS TRICKS UPON TRAVELERS.
The next day was Wednesday, and as school kept but half a day,
Katy resolved" target="_blank" title="a.决心的；坚定的">resolved to spend the afternoon in finding out which of her
employees was in the habit of practicing the deception which Mrs.
Gordon had described to her. She could think of no one upon whom
she could fasten the guilt, unless it was Ann Grippen, who, she
thought, would be more likely to play such a trick than any
other. After she had delivered their candy, she put on her things
and followed the girls down to State Street, where they
separated. Ann went up Court Street, and Katy decided that she
needed watching, and so she followed her.
It was a very tedious afternoon to the little wholesale merchant,
but the dignity of the trade depended upon her efforts in seeking
the offender. Ann entered various shops, and seemed to be having
very good luck with her stock. At last she appeared to grow tired
of her labors, and turned into an alley. Katy wondered what she
was going to do there, for it was certainly no place to sell
candy. She waited sometime for her to come out, and when she
heard her steps, she placed herself at the corner of the alley,
in such a position that Ann could not see her face.
Presently she heard Ann crying with all her might; and crying so
very naturally that she could hardly persuade herself that it was
not real. She glanced over her shoulder at her, and discovered
that she had broken the nice sticks of candy into a great many
little pieces; and it was for this purpose that she had gone into
the alley. Katy was indignant when she saw so much valuable
merchandise thus ruthlessly mutilated, and the sale of it
spoiled. She was disposed to present herself to the artful girl,
and soundly lecture her for the deceit and wickedness: but she
wanted to see how the game was played.
"Boo, hoo, hoo!" sobbed Ann Grippen, apparentlysuffering all the
pangs of a broken heart, which could not possibly be repaired.
"What is the matter, little girl?" asked a benevolent lady,
attracted by the distress of Ann.
"Boo, hoo, hoo!" cried Ann, unable to speak on account of the
torrents of wo that overwhelmed her.
"Don't cry, little girl, and tell me what the matter is,"
continued the kind lady.
"Boo, hoo, hoo! I fell down and broke all my candy," sobbed Ann.
"Poor child!" exclaimed the sympathizing lady.
"My father'll beat me because I didn't sell it," added Ann.
"He is a cruel man. Are you sure he will punish you?"
"Yes, ma'am," groaned Ann. "He'll whip me almost to death if I
don't bring home half a dollar."
"You can tell him you fell down and broke the candy," suggested
the lady.
"He won't believe me; he'll say I sold the candy and spent the
money. O, dear me."
"You can show him the pieces."
"Boo, hoo, hoo! Then he'll say I broke it on purpose, because I
was too lazy to sell it; and then he'll kill me--I know he will."
"I will go and see him, and tell him about the accident. Where do
you live?"
"Down North Square. He ain't to home now," replied Ann, who was
not quite prepared for this method of treating the subject.
"Poor child! I pity you," sighed the lady.
"O, dear me!" cried Ann, exerting herself to the utmost to deepen
the impression she had made.
"How much do you want to make up the value of your candy?"
"Half a dollar."
"There it is, poor child! If it will save you from abuse, you are
welcome to it."
"Thank you, ma'am. It may save my life," replied Ann, as she took
the half dollar and put it in her pocket.
"What an awful liar she is!" said Katy to herself, as the lady
hurried on, probably much pleased with herself as she thought of
the kind act she supposed she had done.
Katy was curious to know what her unworthyassistant would do
next, and she followed her down Hanover Street, and saw her stop
before the American House. She could not believe that Ann would
have the hardihood to play off the same trick again so soon; and
she was very much surprised and very indignant when she saw her
begin to cry with all her might, just as she had done before.
While the deceitful girl's eyes were covered with her apron, in
the extremity of her grief, Katy contrived to get on the hotel
steps behind her, so that she could see and hear all that passed.
"What is the matter with that girl?" asked a gentleman, who
presently appeared at the door, addressing another who was just
behind him.
"It is the broken candy dodge," replied the second gentleman.
"That trick has been played off a dozen times within a week."
"What does it mean?" asked the first. "I don't understand it."
The second explained the trick, precisely as Katy had just
witnessed it in Court Street.
"Now, don't say a word," he continued. "I have a counterfeit half
dollar in my pocket, and you shall see how it is done."
With this announcement of his purpose, he accosted Ann, who told
him about the same story she had told the lady, and he finally
gave her the counterfeit half dollar, which Ann did not suspect
was a bad one.
"How abominably wicked she is," exclaimed Katy, as she followed
her up the street. "But I will soon spoil all her fun, and cut
off her profits. I will teach her that honesty is the best
policy."
It was easier for Katy to resolve what to do than it was to do
it; for the wicked girl could easily get her stock through
another person. As she walked up the street, Ann lightened her
load by eating the pieces of broken candy, upon which she seemed
to feed with heartyrelish. At a window in Court Street, Ann
stopped to look at some pictures, when she was joined by another
of the candy sellers, and they walked together till they came to
an unfrequented court, which they entered. Katy could hear enough
of their conversation, as she followed them, to ascertain that
they were talking about the tricks Ann had practiced. In the
court they seated themselves on a door-stone, and as they talked
and laughed about the deceit, they ate the pieces of candy.
"There," said Ann, "I have made a dollar and ten cents this
afternoon. You don't catch me walking all over the city for
twenty-four cents, when I don't get but eight of that."
"I ain't so smart as you," modestly replied Julia Morgan, the
other girl.
"You'll learn," said Ann, as she took out her money and exhibited
the two half dollars.
"I don't think people would believe me, if I should try that
game."
"Try some other. I think I shall, for I've about used up the
broken candy game."
"What other?"
"I have one," replied Ann, prudently declining to divulge her
secret; "and when I've tried it, I'll tell you all about it."
"Why don't you try it now?"
"I would if my candy wasn't broken."
"I will let you have mine."
"Then I will."
"Give me fourteen cents."
"I will when I've done with it."
"No, you don't," laughed Julia, who justly inferred that if Ann
would cheat one person, she would another.
But Ann was so much interested in the experiment that she decided
to give the fourteen cents, and took the candy. Katy wondered
what the new game could be, and wanted to see her carry it out,
though her conscience smote her for permitting the lady to be
deceived, when she could have unmasked the deceit. She resolved" target="_blank" title="a.决心的；坚定的">resolved
not to let another person be deceived, and followed the two girls
into State Street, as much for the purpose of exposing Ann's
wickedness, as to learn the trick she intended to play.
"Now you go away," said Ann to her companion, as she placed
herself on the steps of the Merchants-Bank.
It was nearly dark by this time, and as there were but few
persons in the street, Ann did not commence her part of the
performance till she saw a well-dressed gentleman approach;
whereupon she began to cry as she had done twice before that day.
"Boo, hoo, hoo! O, dear me! I shall be killed!" cried she, so
lustily, that the well-dressed gentleman could not decently avoid
inquiring the cause of her bitter sorrow.
"I haven't sold out," sobbed Ann.
"What if you haven't? Why need you cry about it?" asked the
stranger.
"My mother will kill me if I go home without half a dollar."
"She is a cruel woman, then."
"Boo, hoo, hoo! She'll beat me to death! O, dear me! I only got
ten cents."
"Why don't you fly round and sell your candy?" said the
gentleman.
"I can't now, the folks have all gone, and it's almost dark. O, I
wish I was dead!"
"Well, well, don't cry any more; I'll give you half a dollar, and
that will make it all right;" and he put his hand in his pocket
for the money.
"Don't give it to her," said Katy, stepping out of the lane by
the side of the bank. "She has deceived you, sir."
"Deceived me, has she?" added the stranger as he glanced at Katy.
"Yes, sir. She has got more than a dollar in her pocket now."
"Don't you believe her," sobbed Ann, still prudently keeping up
the appearance of grief .
"How do you know she has deceived me?" asked the stranger, not a
little piqued, as he thought how readily he had credited the
girl's story.
"Because I saw her play a trick just like this twice before this
afternoon. She has two half dollars in her pocket now, though one
of them is counterfeit."
"What do you mean by that, Katy Redburn?" demanded Ann, angrily,
and now forgetting her woe and her tears.
"You speak very positively," said the gentleman to Katy; "and if
what you say is true, something should be done about it."
"She is telling lies!" exclaimed Ann, much excited.
"We can soon determine, for here comes a policeman, and I will
refer the matter to him.
At these words, Ann edged off the steps of the bank, and suddenly
started off as fast as she could run, having, it seemed, a very
wholesome aversion to policemen. But she made a bad mistake, for,
not seeing in what direction the officer was approaching, she ran
into the very jaws of the lion.
"Stop her!" shouted the gentleman.
The policeman laid a rude hand upon her shoulder, and marched her
back to the bank. In a few words the gentleman stated what had
happened, and requested the officer to search her, and thus
decide whether Katy told the truth or not. He readily consented,
and on turning out Ann's pocket, produced the two half dollars,
one of which the gentleman decided was a counterfeit coin.
"How could you know this was a counterfeit?" he asked of Katy.
after explaining that she had told Tommy her story, and requested
him to inquire about her grandfather. Mrs. Redburn was too much
affected by the news from her early home to find fault with Katy
for what she had done.
Both of them felt very sad for while Mrs. Redburn thought of her
father, who had lain in his grave ten years without her
knowledge, Katy could not but mourn over the hopes which Tommy's
letter had blasted.
CHAPTER XVI.
ANN GRIPPEN PLAYS TRICKS UPON TRAVELERS.
The next day was Wednesday, and as school kept but half a day,
Katy resolved" target="_blank" title="a.决心的；坚定的">resolved to spend the afternoon in finding out which of her
employees was in the habit of practicing the deception which Mrs.
Gordon had described to her. She could think of no one upon whom
she could fasten the guilt, unless it was Ann Grippen, who, she
thought, would be more likely to play such a trick than any
other. After she had delivered their candy, she put on her things
and followed the girls down to State Street, where they
separated. Ann went up Court Street, and Katy decided that she
needed watching, and so she followed her.
It was a very tedious afternoon to the little wholesale merchant,
but the dignity of the trade depended upon her efforts in seeking
the offender. Ann entered various shops, and seemed to be having
very good luck with her stock. At last she appeared to grow tired
of her labors, and turned into an alley. Katy wondered what she
was going to do there, for it was certainly no place to sell
candy. She waited sometime for her to come out, and when she
heard her steps, she placed herself at the corner of the alley,
in such a position that Ann could not see her face.
Presently she heard Ann crying with all her might; and crying so
very naturally that she could hardly persuade herself that it was
not real. She glanced over her shoulder at her, and discovered
that she had broken the nice sticks of candy into a great many
little pieces; and it was for this purpose that she had gone into
the alley. Katy was indignant when she saw so much valuable
merchandise thus ruthlessly mutilated, and the sale of it
spoiled. She was disposed to present herself to the artful girl,
and soundly lecture her for the deceit and wickedness: but she
wanted to see how the game was played.
"Boo, hoo, hoo!" sobbed Ann Grippen, apparentlysuffering all the
pangs of a broken heart, which could not possibly be repaired.
"What is the matter, little girl?" asked a benevolent lady,
attracted by the distress of Ann.
"Boo, hoo, hoo!" cried Ann, unable to speak on account of the
torrents of wo that overwhelmed her.
"Don't cry, little girl, and tell me what the matter is,"
continued the kind lady.
"Boo, hoo, hoo! I fell down and broke all my candy," sobbed Ann.
"Poor child!" exclaimed the sympathizing lady.
"My father'll beat me because I didn't sell it," added Ann.
"He is a cruel man. Are you sure he will punish you?"
"Yes, ma'am," groaned Ann. "He'll whip me almost to death if I
don't bring home half a dollar."
"You can tell him you fell down and broke the candy," suggested
the lady.
"He won't believe me; he'll say I sold the candy and spent the
money. O, dear me."
"You can show him the pieces."
"Boo, hoo, hoo! Then he'll say I broke it on purpose, because I
was too lazy to sell it; and then he'll kill me--I know he will."
"I will go and see him, and tell him about the accident. Where do
you live?"
"Down North Square. He ain't to home now," replied Ann, who was
not quite prepared for this method of treating the subject.
"Poor child! I pity you," sighed the lady.
"O, dear me!" cried Ann, exerting herself to the utmost to deepen
the impression she had made.
"How much do you want to make up the value of your candy?"
"Half a dollar."
"There it is, poor child! If it will save you from abuse, you are
welcome to it."
"Thank you, ma'am. It may save my life," replied Ann, as she took
the half dollar and put it in her pocket.
"What an awful liar she is!" said Katy to herself, as the lady
hurried on, probably much pleased with herself as she thought of
the kind act she supposed she had done.
Katy was curious to know what her unworthyassistant would do
next, and she followed her down Hanover Street, and saw her stop
before the American House. She could not believe that Ann would
have the hardihood to play off the same trick again so soon; and
she was very much surprised and very indignant when she saw her
begin to cry with all her might, just as she had done before.
While the deceitful girl's eyes were covered with her apron, in
the extremity of her grief, Katy contrived to get on the hotel
steps behind her, so that she could see and hear all that passed.
"What is the matter with that girl?" asked a gentleman, who
presently appeared at the door, addressing another who was just
behind him.
"It is the broken candy dodge," replied the second gentleman.
"That trick has been played off a dozen times within a week."
"What does it mean?" asked the first. "I don't understand it."
The second explained the trick, precisely as Katy had just
witnessed it in Court Street.
"Now, don't say a word," he continued. "I have a counterfeit half
dollar in my pocket, and you shall see how it is done."
With this announcement of his purpose, he accosted Ann, who told
him about the same story she had told the lady, and he finally
gave her the counterfeit half dollar, which Ann did not suspect
was a bad one.
"How abominably wicked she is," exclaimed Katy, as she followed
her up the street. "But I will soon spoil all her fun, and cut
off her profits. I will teach her that honesty is the best
policy."
It was easier for Katy to resolve what to do than it was to do
it; for the wicked girl could easily get her stock through
another person. As she walked up the street, Ann lightened her
load by eating the pieces of broken candy, upon which she seemed
to feed with heartyrelish. At a window in Court Street, Ann
stopped to look at some pictures, when she was joined by another
of the candy sellers, and they walked together till they came to
an unfrequented court, which they entered. Katy could hear enough
of their conversation, as she followed them, to ascertain that
they were talking about the tricks Ann had practiced. In the
court they seated themselves on a door-stone, and as they talked
and laughed about the deceit, they ate the pieces of candy.
"There," said Ann, "I have made a dollar and ten cents this
afternoon. You don't catch me walking all over the city for
twenty-four cents, when I don't get but eight of that."
"I ain't so smart as you," modestly replied Julia Morgan, the
other girl.
"You'll learn," said Ann, as she took out her money and exhibited
the two half dollars.
"I don't think people would believe me, if I should try that
game."
"Try some other. I think I shall, for I've about used up the
broken candy game."
"What other?"
"I have one," replied Ann, prudently declining to divulge her
secret; "and when I've tried it, I'll tell you all about it."
"Why don't you try it now?"
"I would if my candy wasn't broken."
"I will let you have mine."
"Then I will."
"Give me fourteen cents."
"I will when I've done with it."
"No, you don't," laughed Julia, who justly inferred that if Ann
would cheat one person, she would another.
But Ann was so much interested in the experiment that she decided
to give the fourteen cents, and took the candy. Katy wondered
what the new game could be, and wanted to see her carry it out,
though her conscience smote her for permitting the lady to be
deceived, when she could have unmasked the deceit. She resolved" target="_blank" title="a.决心的；坚定的">resolved
not to let another person be deceived, and followed the two girls
into State Street, as much for the purpose of exposing Ann's
wickedness, as to learn the trick she intended to play.
"Now you go away," said Ann to her companion, as she placed
herself on the steps of the Merchants-Bank.
It was nearly dark by this time, and as there were but few
persons in the street, Ann did not commence her part of the
performance till she saw a well-dressed gentleman approach;
whereupon she began to cry as she had done twice before that day.
"Boo, hoo, hoo! O, dear me! I shall be killed!" cried she, so
lustily, that the well-dressed gentleman could not decently avoid
inquiring the cause of her bitter sorrow.
"I haven't sold out," sobbed Ann.
"What if you haven't? Why need you cry about it?" asked the
stranger.
"My mother will kill me if I go home without half a dollar."
"She is a cruel woman, then."
"Boo, hoo, hoo! She'll beat me to death! O, dear me! I only got
ten cents."
"Why don't you fly round and sell your candy?" said the
gentleman.
"I can't now, the folks have all gone, and it's almost dark. O, I
wish I was dead!"
"Well, well, don't cry any more; I'll give you half a dollar, and
that will make it all right;" and he put his hand in his pocket
for the money.
"Don't give it to her," said Katy, stepping out of the lane by
the side of the bank. "She has deceived you, sir."
"Deceived me, has she?" added the stranger as he glanced at Katy.
"Yes, sir. She has got more than a dollar in her pocket now."
"Don't you believe her," sobbed Ann, still prudently keeping up
the appearance of grief .
"How do you know she has deceived me?" asked the stranger, not a
little piqued, as he thought how readily he had credited the
girl's story.
"Because I saw her play a trick just like this twice before this
afternoon. She has two half dollars in her pocket now, though one
of them is counterfeit."
"What do you mean by that, Katy Redburn?" demanded Ann, angrily,
and now forgetting her woe and her tears.
"You speak very positively," said the gentleman to Katy; "and if
what you say is true, something should be done about it."
"She is telling lies!" exclaimed Ann, much excited.
"We can soon determine, for here comes a policeman, and I will
refer the matter to him.
At these words, Ann edged off the steps of the bank, and suddenly
started off as fast as she could run, having, it seemed, a very
wholesome aversion to policemen. But she made a bad mistake, for,
not seeing in what direction the officer was approaching, she ran
into the very jaws of the lion.
"Stop her!" shouted the gentleman.
The policeman laid a rude hand upon her shoulder, and marched her
back to the bank. In a few words the gentleman stated what had
happened, and requested the officer to search her, and thus
decide whether Katy told the truth or not. He readily consented,
and on turning out Ann's pocket, produced the two half dollars,
one of which the gentleman decided was a counterfeit coin.
"How could you know this was a counterfeit?" he asked of Katy.
- grandfather [´grænd,fɑ:ðə]
n.(外)祖父；祖先 (初中英语单词) - wednesday [´wenzdi] n.星期三 (初中英语单词)
- fasten [´fɑ:sən] v.扎牢；闩住；钉牢 (初中英语单词)
- dignity [´digniti] n.尊严，尊贵；高官显贵 (初中英语单词)
- sometime [´sʌmtaim] ad.曾经 a.从前的 (初中英语单词)
- persuade [pə´sweid] v.(被)说服；使相信 (初中英语单词)
- suffering [´sʌfəriŋ] n.痛苦；灾害 (初中英语单词)
- distress [di´stres] n.痛苦 vt.使苦恼 (初中英语单词)
- unable [ʌn´eibəl] a.不能的；无能为力的 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- punish [´pʌniʃ] vt.(惩)罚；痛击；折磨 (初中英语单词)
- utmost [´ʌtməust] a.最大的 n.极端 (初中英语单词)
- impression [im´preʃən] n.印刷；印象；效果 (初中英语单词)
- supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)
- assistant [ə´sistənt] n.助手；助理；助教 (初中英语单词)
- wicked [´wikid] a.邪恶的；不道德的 (初中英语单词)
- resolve [ri´zɔlv] v.决心 n.决心；刚毅 (初中英语单词)
- conscience [´kɔnʃəns] n.良心；道德心 (初中英语单词)
- companion [kəm´pæniən] n.同伴；同事；伴侣 (初中英语单词)
- commence [kə´mens] vt.&vi.开始 (初中英语单词)
- readily [´redili] ad.乐意地；容易地 (初中英语单词)
- policeman [pə´li:smən] n.警察 (初中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- apparently [ə´pærəntli] ad.显然，表面上地 (高中英语单词)
- extremity [ik´stremiti] n.末端；危机 (高中英语单词)
- precisely [pri´saisli] ad.精确地；刻板地 (高中英语单词)
- announcement [ə´naunsmənt] n.通告；宣布；言谈 (高中英语单词)
- honesty [´ɔnisti] n.诚实，老实 (高中英语单词)
- hearty [´hɑ:ti] a.热忱的；强健的 (高中英语单词)
- relish [´reliʃ] n.滋味；风味 v.品尝 (高中英语单词)
- ascertain [,æsə´tein] vt.探查；查明 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)
- tedious [´ti:diəs] a.冗长的；乏味的 (英语四级单词)
- wholesale [´həulseil] n.&vt.批发 a.批发的 (英语四级单词)
- offender [ə´fendə] n.冒犯者；罪犯 (英语四级单词)
- indignant [in´dignənt] a.义愤的，愤慨的 (英语四级单词)
- deceit [di´si:t] n.欺骗 (英语四级单词)
- unworthy [ʌn´wə:ði] a.不值得的；不足道的 (英语四级单词)
- counterfeit [´kauntəfit] a.伪造的 v.&n.伪造 (英语四级单词)
- justly [´dʒʌstli] ad.公正地，正当地 (英语四级单词)
- deception [di´sepʃən] n.欺骗，诈骗；骗术 (英语六级单词)
- benevolent [bi´nevələnt] a.仁慈的；乐善好施的 (英语六级单词)
- hanover [´hænəvə] n.汉诺威 (英语六级单词)
- deceitful [di´si:tful] a.欺骗的，骗人的 (英语六级单词)
- practiced [´præktist] a.经验丰富的；熟练的 (英语六级单词)
- modestly [´mɔdistli] ad.谦虚地；有节制地 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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