CHAPTER 27. A FRIEND IN NEED.

 The conductor waited while Grit¹ was searching for his ticket. He was not the same one who started with the train, so that he could not know whether our hero had shown a ticket earlier in the journey.

 

"I can't find my ticket or my money," said Grit, perplexed².

 

"Then you will have to leave the train at[Pg 198] the next station," said the conductor suspiciously.

 

"It is very important that I should proceed on my journey," pleaded Grit. "I will give you my name, and send you the money."

 

"That won't do, youngster," said the conductor roughly. "I have heard of that game before. It won't go down."

 

"There is no game about it," said Grit. "My ticket and pocketbook have been stolen."

 

"Of course," sneered³ the conductor. "Perhaps you can point out the thief."

 

"No, I can't, for he has left the train. He got out at Exeter."

 

"Very likely. You can take the next train back and find him."

 

"Do you doubt that I had a ticket?" asked Grit, nettled⁴ by the conductor's evident incredulity.

 

"Yes, I do, if you want the truth. You want to steal a ride; that's what's the matter."

 

"That is not true," said Grit. "I am sure some of these passengers have seen me show my ticket. Didn't you, sir?"

 

He addressed this question to a stout⁵ old gentleman who sat in the seat behind him.

 

"Really, I couldn't say," answered the old gentleman addressed. "I was reading my paper, and didn't take notice."

 

[Pg 199]

 

The conductor looked more incredulous than ever.

 

"I can't waste any more time with you, young man," he said. "At the next station you must get out."

 

Grit was very much disturbed. It was not pleasant to be left penniless at a small station, but if he had been left alone he would not have cared so much. But to have the custody⁶ of thirty thousand dollars' worth of government bonds, under such circumstances, was certainly embarrassing. He could not get along without money, and for a tramp without money to be in charge of such a treasure was ample cause of suspicion.

 

What could he do?

 

The train was already going slower, and it was evident that the next station was near at hand.

 

Grit was trying in vain to think of some way of securing a continuation of his journey, when a stout, good-looking lady of middle age, who sat just opposite, rose from her seat and seated herself beside him.

 

"You seem to be in trouble," she said kindly⁷.

 

"Yes, ma'am," answered Grit. "My ticket and money have been stolen, and the conductor threatens to put me off the train."

 

[Pg 200]

 

"So I heard. Who do you think robbed you?"

 

"The man who sat beside me and got out at Exeter."

 

"I noticed him. I wonder you didn't detect him in the act of robbing you."

 

"So do I," answered Grit. "He must be a professional. All the same, I am ashamed of being so taken in."

 

"I heard you say it was important for you to reach Boston."

 

"It is," said Grit.

 

He was about to explain why, when it occurred to him that it would not be prudent⁸ in a crowded car, which might contain suspicious and unprincipled persons, to draw attention to the nature of his packet.

 

"I can't explain why just at present," he said; "but if any one would lend me money to keep on my journey I would willingly repay the loan two for one."

 

At this point the train came to a stop, and the conductor, passing through the car, addressed Grit:

 

"Young man, you must get out at this station."

 

"No, he needn't," said the stout lady decidedly. "Here, my young friend, pay your[Pg 201] fare out of this," and she drew from a pearl portemonnaie a ten-dollar bill.

 

Grit's heart leaped for joy. It was such an intense relief.

 

"How can I ever thank you?" he said gratefully, as he offered the change to his new friend.

 

"No," she said; "keep the whole. You will need it, and you can repay me whenever you find it convenient."

 

"That will be as soon as I get home," said Grit promptly⁹. "I have the money there."

 

"That will be entirely¹⁰ satisfactory."

 

"Let me know your name and address, madam," said Grit, taking out a small memorandum-book, "so that I may know where to send."

 

"Mrs. Jane Bancroft, No. 37 Mount Vernon Street," said the lady.

 

Grit noted¹¹ it down.

 

"Let me tell you mine," he said. "My name is Harry¹² Morris, and I live in the town of Chester, in Maine."

 

"Chester? I know that place. I have a cousin living there, or, rather, I should say, a cousin of my late husband."

 

"Who is it, Mrs. Bancroft?" asked Grit. "I know almost everybody in the village."

 

[Pg 202]

 

"Mr. Courtney. I believe he has something to do with the bank."

 

"Yes, he is a director. He was once president."

 

"Exactly. Do you know him?"

 

"Yes, ma'am. I saw him only a day or two before I left."

 

"I presume you know his son Philip, also."

 

"Oh, yes, I know Phil," said Grit.

 

"Is he a friend of yours?" asked the lady curiously¹³.

 

"No, I can't say that. We don't care much for each other."

 

"And whose fault is that?" asked the lady, smiling.

 

"I don't think it is mine. I have always treated Phil well enough, but he doesn't think me a suitable associate for him."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because I am poor, while he is the son of a rich man."

 

"That is as it may be," said the lady, shrugging her shoulders. "Money sometimes has wings. So you are not rich?"

 

"I have to work for a living."

 

"What do you do?"

 

"I ferry passengers across the Kennebec, and in that way earn a living for my mother and myself."

 

[Pg 203]

 

"Do you make it pay?"

 

"I earn from seven to ten dollars a week."

 

"That is doing very well for a boy of your age. What sort of a boy is Phil? Is he popular?"

 

"I don't think he is."

 

"Why?"

 

"He is your nephew, Mrs. Bancroft, and I don't like to criticize him."

 

"Never mind that. Speak freely."

 

"He puts on too many airs to be popular. If he would just forget that his father is a rich man, and meet the rest of the boys on an equality, I think we should like him well enough."

 

"That is just the opinion I have formed of him. Last winter he came to make me a visit, but I found him hard to please. He wanted a great deal of attention, and seemed disposed to order my servants about, till I was obliged to check him."

 

"I remember hearing him say he was going to visit a rich relative in Boston," said Grit.

 

Mrs. Bancroft smiled.

 

"It was all for his own gratification, no doubt," she said. "So your name is Harry Morris?"

 

"Yes, but I am usually called Grit."

 

"A good omen¹⁴. It is a good thing for any[Pg 204] boy—especially a poor boy—to possess grit. Most of our successful men were poor boys, and most of them possessed¹⁵ this quality."

 

"You encourage me, Mrs. Bancroft," said our hero. "I want to succeed in life, for my mother's sake especially."

 

"I think you will; I have little knowledge of you, but you seem like one born to prosper¹⁶. How long are you going to stay in Boston?"

 

"Till to-morrow, at any rate."

 

"You will be in the city overnight, then. Where did you think of staying?"

 

"At the Parker House."

 

"It is an expensive hotel. You had better stay at my house."

 

"At your house?" exclaimed Grit, surprised.

 

"Yes; I may want to ask more questions about Chester. We have tea at half-past six. That will give you plenty of time to attend to your business. I shall be at home any time after half-past five. Will you come?"

 

"With pleasure," said Grit politely.

 

"Then I will expect you."

 

Mrs. Bancroft returned to her seat. Our hero mentally congratulated himself on making so agreeable and serviceable a friend.

 

"What will Phil say when he learns that I[Pg 205] have been the guest of his fashionable relatives in Boston?" thought he.

 

In due time the train reached Boston, and Grit lost no time in repairing to the bank.

1 grit   

n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
• I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。

2 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

3 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

4 nettled   

v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• My remarks clearly nettled her. 我的话显然惹恼了她。
• He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled himself together. 他刚才有些来火，但现在又恢复了常态。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

6 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

7 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

8 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

9 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

10 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

13 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。

14 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

15 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。

16 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。