Phil devoted2 part of the next day to studying well-dressed business-men in the streets. Thanks to well-trained perceptive3 faculties4, and also to some large mirrors which he accidentally encountered, he soon learned why his attire5 had attracted attention. Then he compared clothing-stores for an hour, finally entered one and asked how long it would take to make a well-fitting every-day suit. The salesman looked him over, and replied,—
“Fit you at once, from our ready-made stock. Never any trouble to fit a good figure.”
Phil could have hugged that salesman. Here, at least, was some one who did not intimate that he was from the country; and yet, perhaps, a good figure was a country product. He would think about this, as soon as business was off his mind. The salesman certainly fitted him to perfection. Phil scarcely recognized himself when asked to look in the glass.
“Don’t think you could do better,” said the veteran salesman, surveying Phil from rapidly-changing points of view, “if you were to have yourself melted and poured into a suit. The tone of that goods is rather cold, but you’ve plenty of color. I think, though, to set it off to the best advantage you need to{53} change your black tie for a scarf with a touch of red or yellow in it: if you don’t happen to have one, you’ll find a fine assortment6 in our gents’ furnishing department. Needs a somewhat different style of shirt-collar, too: let some furnishing-goods man cast his eye over your neck. You always wear your hair pretty long, I suppose?—well, it’s a pity it don’t set off a man’s clothes as well as it sometimes does his face.”
Phil resolved at once to have his hair cut. Under the guidance of the salesman he had his neck-wear changed; then the old man said,—
“Those low-crowned straight-brimmed hats used to look exactly right with the clothes of that season, but somehow they don’t harmonize with the cut of this year. Hats are cheap, though, and there are two or three good dealers7 on the other side of the street, a little farther down. Keep this suit on, I suppose? All right, sir: I’ll do up the others. H’m!”—here the old man scrutinized8 the material of the coat made by Sarah Tweege,—“that’s splendid stuff. Great shame ’twas cut sack-fashion. There isn’t much stuff as good as that in swallow-tails nowadays.”
“Couldn’t it—I suppose it couldn’t be made over into a party coat?”
“H’m!—scarcely,—scarcely,” said the salesman, controlling his features as well as if the question were the most natural in the world. “Not enough stuff, you see; too short; sleeves not full enough; button-holes in wrong places; lapels too narrow. Besides, velvet9 collars have gone out. Any time you need a dress-suit, though, we’ve got a boss artist who{54} can cut it so as to do you justice. ’Tisn’t often he gets a good figure to spread himself on.”
Again Phil was profoundly grateful: he wanted to do something for that salesman, and after some thought he astonished the old fellow by thanking him for his attention and promising10 to send him a barrel of selected Newtown pippins. Then he placed himself in the hands of the boss artist, who studied him as if he were a model, measured him, and asked him if he needed his dress-suit at once.
“Yes; right away,” said Phil. “I can’t get it too soon. I want——” He had begun to tell that he meant to dress himself in that suit and practise before a mirror until fully11 satisfied that he did not look unlike other men. The boss artist told him to return in three days; then the old salesman, who had remained in attendance, remarked,—
“You have a thin fall overcoat, I suppose?”
“Oh, I won’t need an overcoat for a month yet. Why, there hasn’t been a bit of frost up our way.” Phil was already appalled12 by the extent of his order.
“True enough,” said the salesman, “but it doesn’t do to go out in a dress-suit without an overcoat, you know, unless you’re merely stepping from your door to a carriage; and it’s hardly the thing even then.”
“Why, Judge Dickman——”
“Oh, yes, those old judges, who wear swallow-tails day in and day out, can do it; nothing wrong about it, of course,—only a matter of taste; but a young fellow don’t like to make himself conspicuous13, you know.”
Phil meekly14 purchased an overcoat, and hurried{55} away with a heavy load on his conscience. More than three-quarters of the hundred dollars his father had given him was already gone or mortgaged; he had meant to spend none of it, except for some things which he knew his mother craved15. Fortunately, he had brought some savings16 of his own; and, as he informed himself, hair-cutting was not an expensive operation, and the clothing-salesman had told him that new hats did not cost much. He had nothing else to spend money for, except a watch-chain; his father had told him to buy one. Indeed, had not his father told him to buy clothes?—“lots of them,” were the old gentleman’s exact words. But could his father have known about evening suits and fall overcoats?
Phil continued in this vein17 of thought after he had dropped into a barber’s chair, but was startled out of it by finding a lather-brush passing over his face. He struggled, and exclaimed,—
“I wanted my hair cut.”
“Yes, sir, so I heard you say; but when shaving has to be done too we like to have that out of the way first. But I beg your pardon, perhaps you were raising a beard?”
“No,” said Phil, settling himself again in the chair. At Haynton young men shaved only on Saturday nights; Phil himself had shaved only three days before, yet here was another unexpected expense imposed upon him by New York custom. Half an hour afterward18 he emerged from that shop with the not entirely19 satisfactory assurance that his oldest friend would not know him at sight: and when he had bought a new hat and surveyed himself in a{56} long mirror he was not certain that he would know himself if he were to encounter another mirror by accident. The replacement20 of his hard-rubber watch-guard by a thin chain plated with gold completed the metamorphosis, and a bootblack whose services he declined set his mind at rest by calling him a dude.
What next to do he scarcely knew. An inclination21 to go back to the sloop22 and see how Sol Mantring was getting along at discharging the cargo23 was suppressed by the thought of what Sol and the crew would say if they saw him in his new suit. The countryman has some grand qualities that denizens24 of cities would do well to imitate, but not all his moral courage can keep him from feeling uncomfortable when first he displays himself in new clothes to old associates. Country youths have sometimes run away from home,—gone to sea, the city, the devil—anywhere—rather than undergo this dreadful ordeal25.
Suddenly it occurred to him that he was not far from Tramlay’s office: he might make a call, if only to show that he could, with proper facilities, look unlike a countryman. Besides, he wanted to know all about the iron business, about which he had seen so many contradictory26 assertions in the newspapers.
He entered the store and walked back toward the railed counting-room in which he saw the head of Haynton’s recent summer boarder. A clerk asked him his business; he replied that he had merely dropped in to see Mr. Tramlay. The head of the establishment looked at Phil without recognition when this information was imparted, and advanced{57} with a somewhat impatient air, which suddenly changed to cordiality as he exclaimed,—
“Why, my dear fellow! excuse me. I didn’t recognize you at first: we can’t all of us have young eyes, you know. Come in; sit down; make yourself at home. I’m glad you dropped in: I’m going out to lunch pretty soon, and I do hate to lunch alone.”
Phil soon found himself coaxed27 and assisted to a high office-stool at a desk by the window, and all the morning papers placed before him, while Tramlay said,—
“Look at the paper two or three minutes while I straighten out a muddle28 in a customer’s letter; then we’ll go out.”
Phil took up a paper; the advertising29 page—which happened to be the first—was very interesting, nevertheless Phil’s eyes wandered, for his mind was just then curious about the iron trade. He looked around him for indications of the business; but the only bit of iron in sight was a paper-weight on the desk before him. Closer scrutiny30 was rewarded by the discovery of a bit of angle-iron, a few inches long, lying on a window-sill. In the mean time the proprietor31 had scribbled32 a few lines, assorted33 some papers, and closed his desk by drawing down the top. Then he said,—
“Now let’s go in search of peace and comfort.”
“I shouldn’t think you’d have to leave your office for that,” said Phil, who had found the counting-room greatly unlike what he had expected.
“There’s no peace where business is going on,” Tramlay replied; “although I don’t know, after{58} careful thought, of any noisier place than a New York restaurant. Here we are. Come in.”
Phil found himself in one of the very large and noisy places where New York business-men herd34 about noonday. Phil protested, in the usual rural manner, that he was not at all hungry, but Tramlay ordered so skilfully35 that both were duly occupied for an hour. Phil found his host attentive36, yet occasionally absent-minded. He might have spared himself the trouble of making a mental memorandum37 to study out the why and wherefore of this apparently38 incongruous pair of qualities had he known that Tramlay was cudgelling his brain to know how to dispose of his rural visitor after dinner, without offending. While they were sipping39 the coffee,—a beverage40 which Phil had never before tasted in the middle of the day,—Mr. Marge lounged up to them, looking exactly as intelligent, listless, and unchangeable as the night before.
“How are you, Marge?” said Tramlay. Phil afterward wondered that his host could smile so genially41 on so cold a person.
“As usual,” replied Marge, with a slight inclination of the head. “Good-morning, Mr. Hayn. Don’t let me interrupt conversation. I merely meant to say I’ve nothing to do this afternoon, and would be glad to show Mr. Hayn about town a little, if he likes.”
“That’s ever so good of you,” said Tramlay; “for the truth is, I was wondering how I could find time to do it myself, and fearing I couldn’t.”
“Entirely at his service,” said Marge, as lifelessly as an automaton42.{59}
“And both come and dine with me this evening,” suggested Tramlay: “entirely informal, you know.”
“I should be delighted,” said Marge, in his unvarying manner.
Tramlay hurried to his office, after the briefest of leave-takings, and Marge began to conduct Phil about New York. Soon, however, there developed a marked difference of taste between visitor and guide. Marge wanted to show the young man the Stock Exchange, which to the many minds composing a very large class has no rival attraction except the various institutions on Blackwell’s Island; Phil exhibited abject43 ignorance and indifference44 regarding the Stock Exchange, but wanted to go through the Sub-Treasury and Assay45 Office,—two buildings in which Marge had never been. Marge made a special trip to show the young man the outside of Jay Gould’s office, but Phil identified Trinity Church from pictures he had seen, and wanted to make a patriotic46 tour of the tombs of distinguished47 men of the Revolutionary period. Marge offered to introduce Phil to Russell Sage48, but was amazed to learn that the young man had never heard of that distinguished individual. When, however, General Hancock, passing by, was casually49 pointed50 out by Marge, Phil stopped short and stared respectfully. Marge showed the Field Building, but through the trees in front Phil correctly surmised51 he saw Castle Garden, and desired at once to go there and be made acquainted with the method of receiving and distributing immigrants. On the Produce Exchange they fairly agreed, Marge admitting that in importance it ranked next to the{60} Stock Exchange, while Phil was able to regard it as a great business necessity. Pretending to search, by Phil’s request, for the building in which Washington bade farewell to his generals, Marge succeeded in getting back through Broad Street to the vicinity of the Stock Exchange, where he tried to atone52 for his failure by pointing out through a window the head of Mr. Henry Clews; but Phil had no eyes except for the statue of Washington, standing53, as he knew, on the site of the first President’s first inaugural54. The two men exhibited equal interest, on half a dozen successive occasions, in “stock-tickers,” which Marge seemed to know how to find in all sorts of places; but, while Marge looked over the quotations55 on the tape, Phil studied the machinery56 of the indicator57 itself.
The strain upon Marge became almost too great for his self-control, and he breathed a sigh of relief when Trinity’s clock struck three. To have left the vicinity of the Stock Exchange earlier would never have occurred to him, but promptly58 on the stroke he hurried Phil to an elevated-railway station and uptown to a stable, where he had his horse and wagon59 brought out and took Phil for a drive in Central Park. Probably there he thought he could be entertained after his own manner, for he had the reins60. Driving out Fifth Avenue, the two men really became congenial for a little while, for Phil understood horses, and Marge’s horse was a good one, and Phil admired him and knew of a good horse that would match him nicely, and Marge saw a prospect61 of making a team that he could sell at a large profit,{61} and Phil promised to arrange that Marge should come out and see the horse. But even this conversation was broken when Marge pointed out the late residence of A. T. Stewart, for Phil insisted upon moralizing on riches. In the Park he asked questions about statues, and about trees and shrubs62 that were new to him and equally unknown to Marge, as well as utterly63 uninteresting; Phil also wanted a number of facts and figures about the Reservoir in the Park, and was with difficulty restrained from spoiling the drive by visiting the menagerie. Finally, when he demanded the exact sites of the various engagements on Manhattan Island between the British and Washington, after the latter had been forced to evacuate64 what then was New York, Marge abruptly65 turned and drove homeward, confessing without the faintest show of shame, but rather with defiance66, that he knew absolutely nothing about those times. And when the drive ended and the couple separated, the elder man’s face broke from its customary calm as he muttered to himself,—
“What can Tramlay want of that fellow?”
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1
reconstruction
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| n.重建，再现，复原 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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perceptive
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| adj.知觉的，有洞察力的，感知的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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6
assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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7
dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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8
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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10
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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11
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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12
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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13
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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14
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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15
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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16
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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17
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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18
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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19
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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20
replacement
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| n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品 | |
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21
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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22
sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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24
denizens
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| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
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25
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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27
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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28
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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29
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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30
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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31
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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32
scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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33
assorted
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| adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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35
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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36
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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39
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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40
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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41
genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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42
automaton
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| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
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43
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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45
assay
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| n.试验，测定 | |
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46
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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47
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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48
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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49
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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50
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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51
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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52
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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53
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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54
inaugural
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| adj.就职的；n.就职典礼 | |
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55
quotations
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| n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价 | |
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56
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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57
indicator
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| n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器 | |
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58
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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59
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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60
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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61
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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62
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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63
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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64
evacuate
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| v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便 | |
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65
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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66
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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