"Am I really on the Atlantic, bound for Europe?" said Ben to himself, as he paced the deck of the Parthia, then several hours out.
He found it hard to realize, for only a week before he had been in his quiet country home, wholly unconscious of the great change that fate had in store for him.
He was not unfavorably affected1 by the new sea-life. Instead of making him sick, it only gave him a pleasant sense of exhilaration. With Major Grafton it was different. He was a very poor sailor. He was scarcely out of port before he began to feel dizzy, and was obliged to retire to his state-room. He felt almost irritated when he saw how much better Ben bore the voyage than he.
"One would think you were an old sailor, [135] instead of me," he said. "I have crossed the Atlantic a dozen times, and yet the first whiff of sea air lays me on my back, while you seem to enjoy it."
"So I do at present," answered Ben; "but perhaps my time will come to be sick. Can't I do something to make you comfortable?"
Ben promptly5 complied with the major's request. He felt glad to do something to earn the liberal salary which he was receiving. It was not exactly acting6 as a private secretary; but, at any rate, he was able to be of service, and this pleased him. He had no complaint to make of Major Grafton. The latter saw that he wanted for nothing, and had he been the major's son he would have fared no better. Yet he did not form any attachment7 for his employer, as might have been thought natural. He blamed himself for this, when he considered the advantages of his position; but it was not so strange or culpable8 as Ben supposed. The boy saw clearly that, whatever might have been Major Grafton's motives9 in [136] taking him into his service, it was not any special interest or attachment. The reader understands that Grafton had a purpose to serve, and that a selfish one. For Ben he cared nothing, but his own interest required that he should have a boy with him as a substitute for the one whose death he wished to conceal10, and our hero filled the bill as well as any he could secure.
One day, while Major Grafton was in his state-room, enduring as well as he could the pangs11 of sea-sickness, a gentleman on deck accosted12 Ben:
"You seem to enjoy the voyage, young man," he said.
"Yes, sir; very much."
"You are not alone?"
"No; I am travelling with Major Grafton."
"Indeed!" said the gentleman, in surprise. "I didn't know the major was on board. Where does he keep himself?"
"He seldom leaves his state-room. He has been sick ever since he started."
"I remember meeting the major last summer [137] in Switzerland. You were sick at the time, but from your present appearance I judge that you got bravely over it."
"I think you are mistaken, sir. I was not with Major Grafton at that time."
"You were not! That is strange. Surely there was a boy with him; I remember he called him Philip."
"He calls me so, but that is not my name."
"Do you mean to say that you were not with the major at that time?"
"I did not know there was such a man at that time."
"Humph! I don't understand it," said James Bolton (this was the traveller's name). "I do remember, however, hearing that the boy, then called Philip, died at Florence."
"I think that settles it," said Ben. "Whoever the poor fellow may have been that died, I am sure that it was not I."
"No, sir; I am his private secretary. That is, I was hired in that capacity, though as yet I have not had much writing to do."
[138]
"You are lucky. Take care you don't die, like the other boy."
"I will try to live, I assure you, sir."
"By the way, just mention my name to the major—James Bolton, of London. I dare say he will remember me. Just say that I occupied the room opposite his in the Hotel des Bergues, in Geneva, and that we went to Chamounix together. I should be glad to renew my acquaintance with him, whenever he feels well enough to come on deck."
"I will mention you to him, Mr. Bolton," said Ben, politely.
Our young hero took an early opportunity of keeping his promise.
On his next visit to the state-room he said:
"Major Grafton, I met a gentleman on deck this morning who wishes to be remembered to you."
"He says his name is Bolton—James Bolton, of London."
"Don't know him!" said the major, shortly.
"He says that he was with you at the Hotel [139] des Bergues, in Geneva, Switzerland, last summer; also that he went with you to Chamounix."
"What else did he say?" asked the major, who seemed unpleasantly affected by the mention of Bolton's name.
"He thought I was with you at the time."
"Ha! What did you say?"
"I told him he was mistaken."
"Don't tell these fellows too much; they are simply impertinent," said the major, with a frown. "What more did he say?"
"He said you had a boy with you whom you called Philip, and that this boy, as he afterward14 heard, died at Florence."
Ben looked inquiringly at the major, as if to obtain confirmation15 or denial of this story.
"It is true," he said, after a pause. "Poor Philip died; but it is a painful subject. I don't like to speak of it. You resemble him very closely, and that was my chief object in taking you as a companion. I don't really [140] need a private secretary, as you have probably found out."
"I wish you did, sir. I would like to do something to earn my wages."
"Don't trouble yourself on that score. It suits me to have a companion; I hate being alone. As long as you conform to my wishes, I will provide for you."
"Thank you, sir."
"But hark you, Philip! I don't care to have you talk too much to strangers about me or my affairs. Now, as to this man Bolton, I prefer that you should keep him at a distance. He is not a fit companion for you."
"Is he a bad man?" asked Ben, in some surprise, for Bolton had seemed to him a very respectable sort of man.
"He is a thoroughly17 unprincipled man," answered the major, emphatically. "He is a confirmed gambler, and is cultivating your society because he thinks you may have money. He is trying to lead you into a snare18."
"Then I was deceived in him," said Ben, indignantly, for it didn't occur to him to [141] doubt the positive statement of Major Grafton.
"Quite natural, Philip," said Grafton, pleased with having aroused the boy's suspicions of a man who might impart dangerous information. "Of course, I needn't suggest to you to keep the man at a distance. I do not care to have you come under his influence."
"I shall bear in mind what you say, sir," said Ben.
"I think I have checkmated this meddling19 Bolton," said the major to himself, in a tone of satisfaction.
When, a few hours later, Bolton approached Ben and asked: "Have you spoken to Major Grafton about me?" Ben coldly answered, "Yes, sir."
"Did he remember me?" questioned Bolton.
"Yes, sir."
"I thought he would. Are we likely to see him on deck soon?"
"No, sir, I think not."
Ben spoke20 so coldly that Bolton regarded [142] him with a puzzled look. He could not help seeing that the boy did not care to continue the conversation, and, with a bow of farewell, joined another passenger in a promenade21.
"I should like to have asked him a little more about the boy I am succeeding," thought Ben; but he respected the major's wishes, and kept aloof22 from Bolton for the remainder of the voyage.
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1
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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13
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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14
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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18
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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