CHAPTER XLI. CONCLUSION.

 Let us go back to Wyncombe. Mrs. Greene, living near Mrs. Rand, was a lady who made it her business to know all about her neighbors' affairs. She stepped into Silas Tripp's store to buy a pound of butter.

 

Mr. Tripp himself waited upon her; Mrs. Greene generally had some item of news, and for this he possessed¹ a keen relish².

 

"Any news, Mrs. Greene?" he asked, as he handed her the package of butter.

 

"I suppose you've heard that the widder Rand has lost her boarder?"

 

"You don't say so!" returned Silas, with genuine interest.

 

"Yes, it's so. I saw her go off myself yesterday afternoon, bag and baggage."

 

"Was she dissatisfied, do you think?"

 

"Like as not. The widder says she's comin' back, but I don't believe it. Between you and me, Mr. Tripp, I wonder that she stayed so long. Now, if she had been boardin' with you it would have been different."

 

"So it would, Mrs. Greene; so it would. I would have been willing to take her just to oblige."

 

"So would I, Mr. Tripp. The widder charged her a ridiculous price—eight dollars a week."

 

"It was extortionate. I never charged such a price."

 

"Nor I. Miss Dolby's board ran the house, so that Chester didn't need to send any home, and now Chester's lost his place."

 

"You don't say so!" ejaculated Silas, eagerly.

 

"Yes. Mrs. Rand told me herself that he had left his work and gone out West in search of a place. I don't see, for my part, what the widder's goin' to do."

 

"I'm sorry Chester's been so unlucky. But he needn't have gone out West; I'm ready to take him back into my store."

 

"That's very kind of you, Mr. Tripp."

 

"I want to help along his mother, seein' she's a widder and in hard luck."

 

"Shall I tell her you will take Chester back?"

 

"No; I'll call round and see her about it. There may be some dickerin' about the salary. Chester's got rather high notions, but I can't afford to pay extravagant³ prices."

 

"Just so. I'm sorry for the widder Rand, but she's sot too much on that boy, and thought there wasn't no other boy in Wyncombe that was equal to him. I'm sure my Fred is just as smart as he."

 

It was not till the next evening that Mr. Tripp found it convenient to call on Mrs. Rand. She was rather surprised by the visit, and a little curious to learn what it meant.

 

"Good-evenin', widder," said Silas, coughing.

 

"Good-evening, Mr. Tripp. Won't you step in for a few minutes?"

 

"Thank you. I don't care if I do. I heard yesterday from Mrs. Greene that you'd lost your boarder."

 

"Yes; Miss Dolby has gone to Chicago for a year. She has a sister there."

 

"Do you expect her back?"

 

"Yes, after a year."

 

"I wouldn't calc'late too much upon it if I were you. Women folks is mighty⁵ onsartin when they make promises."

 

Mrs. Rand smiled.

 

"You may be right, Mr. Tripp," she said.

 

"I hear, too, that Chester's lost his place."

 

"No; he has left it for a time, but he expects to go back."

 

"That's onsartin, too. I'm sorry for you, widder."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Tripp, but there's no occasion."

 

"You'll be rather put to it to get along, I reckon."

 

"Still, I have good friends in Wyncombe," said Mrs. Rand, smiling mischievously⁶. "Now, if I were really 'put to it,' I am sure I could rely upon your assistance."

 

"I'm very short of money," returned Silas, alarmed at this suggestion. "Still, I've got the will to help you. If Chester's out of work, I'm ready to take him back into the store."

 

"I will tell him that when I write."

 

"Where is he now?"

 

"He's gone out West."

 

"He's made a mistake. I knew a boy that went out West some years since, and nearly starved. He came home ragged⁷ and hungry."

 

"I am not afraid Chester will have that experience. He had saved up some money when at work in New York."

 

"It won't last long, widder. It don't take long for fifty dollars to melt away. Did he have that much?"

 

"I think he did, Mr. Tripp."

 

"He'd better have put it in a savings⁸ bank and come back to Wyncombe to work for me. How soon do you expect him back?"

 

"Next week."

 

"When he comes, send him round to see me."

 

A few days later, Mrs. Greene went into Silas Tripp's store again.

 

"Well, Mr. Tripp," she said, "Chester Rand's got home."

 

"You don't say! If you see him, tell him to come round and see me."

 

"And I can tell you some more news. You know that half-acre lot that j'ins onto the widder's land?"

 

"The apple orchard⁹? Yes."

 

"Well, Chester's bought it."

 

"You don't mean it! Where on earth did he get the money? Do you know what he paid?"

 

"Two hundred dollars."

 

"He'll never be able to pay for it."

 

"He has paid cash down. Besides, he's got a new suit of clothes and a gold watch. I don't believe he will be willing to take a place in your store."

 

Silas Tripp was amazed. Nay¹⁰, more, he was incredulous. But it so happened that Chester himself came into the store in five minutes, and confirmed the news.

 

"Where did you get the money, Chester?" asked Mr. Tripp, curiously¹¹, eying the boy with unwonted respect.

 

"I saved it. I received high pay in New York."

 

"But you've lost the place?"

 

"Oh, no! I go back to work next week."

 

"How much pay do you get?"

 

"Thirty dollars a week."

 

"Don't try to fool me!" said Silas, with asperity¹². "It ain't creditable to deceive a man old enough to be your grandfather."

 

Chester smiled.

 

"Do you want me to bring an affidavit¹³ from my employers?" he asked.

 

"But it's ridiculous, payin' a boy such wages!" objected Silas.

 

"It would be foolish for you to pay it, Mr. Tripp; but they think me worth it."

 

"What sort of work do you do?"

 

"I make pictures. I will show you a couple," and Chester produced a copy of The Ph?nix.

 

"Why, I didn't think they paid more'n a quarter apiece for such pictures."

 

"It's lucky for me that they pay higher than that."

 

"What was you doin' out West?"

 

"I went partly to see the country."

 

"I s'pose it cost you considerable money?"

 

"Yes, traveling is expensive."

 

"You'd better have put the money in the bank."

 

"I don't think so."

 

"Boys have foolish notions. I s'pose you was sorry to hear that Miss Dolby had gone away?"

 

"No, I want mother to have a few months' rest."

 

"Your mother'll miss her board."

 

"No, for I shall make it up to her."

 

"You talk as if you was rich, Chester."

 

"I am not so rich as you, Mr. Tripp."

 

"You seem to be spending more money; some day you'll be put to it to get along."

 

But that has not yet come. Two years have passed, and Chester is still in the employ of The Ph?nix, but he now receives forty dollars per week. He has sold his other two lots in Tacoma for five thousand dollars each, and still has the cheaper lots he bought as an investment. He could sell these at a handsome profit, but will hold them a while longer.

 

About a year ago he received intelligence from Edward Granger that his stepfather had died suddenly of heart trouble, brought on by an undue¹⁴ use of alcoholic¹⁵ mixtures. Edward concluded: "Now there is nothing to mar⁴ my mother's happiness. I live at home and manage her business, besides filling a responsible place in a broker's office. We hope you will pay us a visit before long. We have never forgotten your kindness to me in my time of need."

 

A month since Mr. Fairchild was surprised by receiving a remittance¹⁶ from Tacoma. His old bookkeeper, David Mullins, remitted¹⁷ to him the amount he had stolen at the time of his hurried departure from New York, with interest up to date.

 

"I hope, Mr. Fairchild," he concluded, "you will now forgive me for my treachery. I feel great satisfaction in paying my debt. I have been assisted by a fortunate investment in outside lots. I am glad to hear that Felix is doing well. You were kind to retain him."

 

Felix is really doing well, and bids fair to make a good business man. He was weak and influenced to evil by his cousin; but with good surroundings he is likely to turn out creditably.

 

Chester retains the friendship and good opinion of his first friend, Carl Conrad, and is a favorite visitor at the house of Prof. Hazlitt, whose great work has just appeared from the press of a subscription¹⁸ publisher. His nephew, Arthur Burks, is now in college, and he and Chester remain intimate friends.

 

Silas Tripp has ceased to expect to secure the services of Chester in his store. He had never been able to understand the secret of Chester's success, but has been heard to remark: "It does beat all how that boy gets along!"

 

Fortunately, prosperity has not spoiled Chester. He is still the same modest and warm-hearted boy, or perhaps I should say young man, and his friends all agree that he deserves his success.

 

 

THE END.

1 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

2 relish   

n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味

参考例句：

• I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
• I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。

3 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

4 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

5 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

6 mischievously   

adv.有害地；淘气地

参考例句：

• He mischievously looked for a chance to embarrass his sister. 他淘气地寻找机会让他的姐姐难堪。 来自互联网
• Also has many a dream kindheartedness, is loves mischievously small lovable. 又有着多啦a梦的好心肠，是爱调皮的小可爱。 来自互联网

7 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

8 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

9 orchard   

n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场

参考例句：

• My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
• Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。

10 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

11 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

12 asperity   

n.粗鲁，艰苦

参考例句：

• He spoke to the boy with asperity.他严厉地对那男孩讲话。
• The asperity of the winter had everybody yearning for spring.严冬之苦让每个人都渴望春天。

13 affidavit   

n.宣誓书

参考例句：

• I gave an affidavit to the judge about the accident I witnessed.我向法官提交了一份关于我目击的事故的证词。
• The affidavit was formally read to the court.书面证词正式向出席法庭的人宣读了。

14 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。

15 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

16 remittance   

n.汇款，寄款，汇兑

参考例句：

• Your last month's salary will be paid by remittance.最后一个月的薪水将通过汇寄的方式付给你。
• A prompt remittance would be appreciated.速寄汇款不胜感激。

17 remitted   

v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的过去式和过去分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送

参考例句：

• She has had part of her sentence remitted. 她被免去部分刑期。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The fever has remitted. 退烧了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

18 subscription   

n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方）

参考例句：

• We paid a subscription of 5 pounds yearly.我们按年度缴纳5英镑的订阅费。
• Subscription selling bloomed splendidly.订阅销售量激增。