Chapter 35 The Return Of An Old Friend

 One afternoon Andy was busy writing in the office when he heard himself called by name, and, looking up, saw Walter Gale¹, who had just entered.

 

"Mr. Gale!" he exclaimed, joyfully², rising and grasping the hands of his friend.

 

"So you know me? Upon my word, you have grown so that I find it difficult to recognize you."

 

"Yes, I believe I have grown taller."

 

"And more manly³. I need not ask if you are well. Your appearance answers that question."

 

"I was never better."

 

"And you enjoy your work?"

 

"Immensely. But when did you reach the city?"

 

"This morning. As you see, I have lost no time in looking you up."

 

"Shall you stay here now?"

 

"Yes," answered Gale, gravely; "my poor uncle is dead. His sickness was a painful one, and he is better off."

 

"I am glad you are to be in the city. I hope to see you often."

 

"You will, if I can have my way. I have hired a handsome and roomy flat on Madison Avenue, and I expect you to come and live with me."

 

"I shall be delighted to do so if you will let me pay my share of the expenses."

 

"You will pay me with your company. I will receive no other pay. My uncle has left me all his property--at least a hundred thousand dollars--and I was rich before."

 

"I will certainly accept your offer, since I am sure you will like to have me."

 

"You were teaching a boy, I believe?"

 

"Yes; but he is so well advanced now that he does not need my assistance. I am free to accept your kind offer."

 

"Call upon me this evening, and arrange to move to-morrow. I am very lonely, and want young and cheerful company."

 

When Andy called upon his friend in the evening he found him sumptuously⁴ lodged⁵. The next evening he moved in.

 

"What news from Arden, Andy?" asked Mr. Gale.

 

"Nothing much, except that Squire⁶ Carter is expecting to foreclose the mortgage on father's farm next week."

 

"Is that so? We must not permit that."

 

"No; I have a thousand dollars in bank, and I shall ask Mr. Crawford to-morrow if he will advance me two thousand on some lots I own in Tacoma."

 

"That will not be necessary. I will myself advance the full amount, and you can pay me whenever you sell your lots."

 

"That is very kind, Mr. Gale, and relieves me very much."

 

"Don't overestimate⁷ the kindness. I have more money than I know what to do with."

 

"There are others in the same position who would not help me."

 

"I am your friend. That makes the difference. When you go to Arden I will go, too. It will be pleasant for me to see the place where I passed so enjoyable a summer and made so good a friend."

 

"I shall be delighted to have your company, Mr. Gale."

 

Two evenings later, as Andy was walking up Broadway toward his new home, he saw a familiar figure in front of him--the figure of a boy about his own age. Evidently the boy had been drinking, and could not walk straight.

 

Once, as he turned half around, Andy, with a start, recognized John Crandall, who had treated him so meanly at Mr. Flint's. He had no reason to like him, but his compassion⁸ was aroused.

 

"John," said Andy, linking his arm in his, "how do you happen to be in this condition?"

 

"Who are you?" hiccoughed John.

 

"I am Andy Grant. Don't you know me?"

 

"Yes, you used to be at Mr. Flint's. Where are you taking me?" he asked, suspiciously.

 

"To my room. I will take care of you to-night. What are you doing now?"

 

"I was in a place on Wall Street, but I got bounced yesterday. I took the money they paid me and got drunk."

 

"That was foolish. Where is your uncle?"

 

"He has gone to Chicago. I'm awful unlucky, Andy."

 

"If you will turn over a new leaf and stop drinking I'll see if I can't get you another place."

 

"Will you?" asked John, hopefully. "Don't you hate me?"

 

"No."

 

"I should think you would. I got you out of Flint's."

 

"You did me a service without intending it."

 

"You're a good fellow," hiccoughed John. "I'm sorry I treated you so mean."

 

"I'm not, since it led to my securing my present place. But we must turn down here."

 

"Where do you live?"

 

"On Madison Avenue."

 

"Madison Avenue? You must be a swell⁹."

 

Andy smiled.

 

"If you work hard you may become a swell, too."

 

When they entered the flat, John stared about him in amazement¹⁰.

 

"How can you afford to live in such a fine place?" he said.

 

"Because a friend bears the greater part of the expense. Now, let me help you undress. We have a spare room, and I will let you occupy it. In the morning I will wake you up for breakfast."

 

John Crandall was soon fast asleep. A few minutes later Mr. Gale came in.

 

"We have a visitor to-night," said Andy.

 

"A friend of yours?"

 

"He may become so, but thus far he has been anything but that."

 

Andy told the story of John's attempt to injure him.

 

"And yet you befriend him?"

 

"Yes. Wouldn't you?"

 

Walter Gale smiled.

 

"Tell me your reasons," he said.

 

"I have no grudge¹¹ against him. Besides, if we only benefit those whom we like, there isn't much credit in that."

 

"Exactly. There isn't much credit in my doing you favors."

 

"Don't think I am ungrateful, Mr. Gale; I appreciate all you have done for me."

 

"I understand you, Andy, and I like you better for what you have done. What further plans have you?"

 

"I should like to get John a place, and give him a chance to redeem¹² himself. He needs a friend badly."

 

"He shall have one. We will both help him."

 

When John Crandall awoke the next morning he was himself again. The effects of his intoxication¹³ had passed off, and he seemed ashamed of the predicament in which Andy had found him.

 

"Have you any home, John?" asked Andy.

 

"No; that is, I have a room, but I spent all the money that was coming to me, and they won't let me stay. I don't know what I shall do," he said, despondently¹⁴.

 

"If Mr. Gale and I will find you a new place, will you try to keep it?"

 

"Yes, I will."

 

"Then we will stand by you. You can stay here till I come from the office this afternoon, and I will find you a boarding place."

 

"You are a good fellow, Andy. You are my very best friend."

 

"I will try to be."

 

"And I will try to deserve your kindness."

 

Before the week was out John had a new place on Pearl Street, and was an inmate¹⁵ of the boarding house in Clinton Place, where Andy stayed when he first came to the city.

 

He really turned over a new leaf, and became a favorite and trusted employee in the Pearl Street store. Andy had saved him. 

1 gale   

n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等）

参考例句：

• We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
• According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报，明天有大风。

2 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

3 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

4 sumptuously   

奢侈地，豪华地

参考例句：

• The hall was sumptuously decorated. 大厅装饰得富丽堂皇。
• This government building is sumptuously appointed. 这座政府办公大楼布置得极为豪华。

5 lodged   

v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属

参考例句：

• The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

7 overestimate   

v.估计过高，过高评价

参考例句：

• Don't overestimate seriousness of the problem.别把问题看重了。
• We overestimate our influence and our nuisance value.我们过高地估计了自己的影响力和破坏作用。

8 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

9 swell   

vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强

参考例句：

• The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
• His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。

10 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

11 grudge   

n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做

参考例句：

• I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
• I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

12 redeem   

v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等）

参考例句：

• He had no way to redeem his furniture out of pawn.他无法赎回典当的家具。
• The eyes redeem the face from ugliness.这双眼睛弥补了他其貌不扬之缺陷。

13 intoxication   

n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning

参考例句：

• He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
• Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。

14 despondently   

adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地

参考例句：

• It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
• He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句

15 inmate   

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

• I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
• The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。