CHAPTER XXXI. JED RETURNS GOOD FOR EVIL.

 In the short time before the Juno left for Bar Harbor, Schuyler Roper became quite intimate with Jed. There was never a trace of condescension¹ in his manner to his boy friend, but Jed was always treated as if in birth and position he was the equal of the young patrician². Together they walked about the city, and frequently dined together, always at some expensive hotel or restaurant.

 

"What time is it, Jed?" asked Mr. Roper one day as they were passing the Star Theatre.

 

"I am afraid I left my watch at home," answered Jed, smiling.

 

"Then we shall have to supply its place."

 

Schuyler Roper turned the corner of Fourteenth Street, and led the way to Tiffany's well-known establishment on the corner of Fifteenth Street and union Square.

 

"Let us see some gold watches," he said to a salesman.

 

[Pg 281]

 

A tray of handsome timepieces was produced.

 

"How expensive a watch would you like, sir? Is it for yourself?"

 

"No, for this young gentleman. Look over these watches, Jed, and see what one you like best."

 

Jed made choice of a very neat gold watch with a handsome dial.

 

"What is the price?" asked Mr. Roper.

 

"A hundred and twenty-five dollars."

 

Jed opened his eyes wide in astonishment³. A hundred and twenty-five dollars seemed to him a very large sum, and so unaccustomed was he to expensive jewelry⁴ that he had not known that there were any watches so costly⁵.

 

"Very well; we will take it. Show me some gold chains."

 

Choice was made of a fifty-dollar gold chain. It was attached to the watch, and Mr. Roper, handing it to Jed, said, "Put it in your pocket."

 

"Do you really mean the watch and chain for me?" asked Jed, almost incredulous.

 

"Certainly."

 

[Pg 282]

 

"How can I thank you, Mr. Roper?" said Jed gratefully.

 

"My dear boy," rejoined Roper kindly⁶, "I want your appearance to do me credit. That you will do me credit I feel confident."

 

It was about this time that Jed met an old acquaintance—one whom he had no reason to remember with kindly feelings. He had occasion to go across Cortlandt Street ferry, when on board the boat he saw in front of him a figure that seemed familiar. He walked forward till he could see the face of the young man to whom it belonged. Then it flashed upon him that it was Maurice Graham, the young man who had invited him to his room on Twenty-Seventh Street and robbed him of his small stock of money.

 

Now that the tide had turned, Jed did not feel so incensed⁷ against the fellow as at first. Still he determined⁸ to let him understand that he knew exactly how he had been swindled.

 

He touched Graham on the shoulder, and the young man wheeled round with an apprehensive⁹ look, which he did not lose when he saw and recognized Jed.

 

[Pg 283]

 

"Did you touch me?" he asked, with an evident intention of ignoring Jed's acquaintance.

 

"Yes, Mr. Graham. We parted rather suddenly, you remember," said Jed significantly.

 

"Oh, I see. You are——"

 

"Jed Gilman."

 

"I was wondering what became of you. I was called up town to the house of a sick friend that evening, and when I went back the next day Mrs. Gately told me you had gone away."

 

"Indeed! Did she tell you that I was robbed of thirty-five dollars during the night, and that I awoke penniless?"

 

"No," answered Graham faintly. "I am surprised."

 

"I thought you might be. Are you in the habit of borrowing money from people who are asleep?"

 

"What do you mean? You don't think I took the money?"

 

"Yes, I think you did."

 

"Why, didn't I tell you that I spent the[Pg 284] night with a sick friend in—in Eighty-Seventh Street. How could I rob you?"

 

"You came back during the evening and found me asleep."

 

"That's a mistake!" said Graham quickly.

 

"It is true. Mrs. Gately let you in, as she informed me the next morning."

 

Maurice Graham looked very much disconcerted, and looked eagerly to the Jersey¹⁰ shore, which they were fast approaching.

 

"Do you know that I would have had no breakfast if Mrs. Gately had not taken compassion¹¹ on me?"

 

"You don't look—very destitute—now."

 

"I am not. I have been lucky enough to find a good position. But that thirty-five dollars belonged to me. How much of it can you return to me?"

 

Maurice Graham colored and looked embarrassed.

 

"I—the fact is," he stammered¹², "I'm almost broke."

 

"Is this true?"

 

"On my honor I've only got a dollar and ten cents in my pocket, and I don't[Pg 285] know what will become of me when that is gone."

 

"You have got rid of it very quick."

 

"I've been a fool," said Graham gloomily. "I spent it mostly on pool and drinks. Then of course I've had to live."

 

"But your situation——"

 

"I haven't any."

 

"Perhaps you will meet another boy from the country."

 

"I treated you awful mean—I know I did," burst out Graham, "and I've been very sorry for it. I've often wished that I had left you five dollars."

 

"Well, that would have helped me. But don't you think it would have been better to have left me the whole?"

 

"Yes, it would; but I am very unlucky."

 

"I am afraid you don't deserve good luck. Isn't there anything you can do?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Can't you find another broker¹³ to take you in his office?"

 

"I never was in a broker's office," confessed Graham.

 

[Pg 286]

 

"What was your business, then? I suppose you had some way of making a living?"

 

"I am a barber by trade, but I got tired of the confinement¹⁴, and so I thought I'd become a sport. I started out with a hundred dollars which it took me a year to save up, and I got rid of it in two weeks. Then I fell in with you."

 

"And with my thirty-five dollars."

 

"Yes."

 

"The best thing you can do is to go back to your business."

 

"I would if I could."

 

"Why can't you?"

 

"Because my razors are in hock."

 

It is the custom of journeymen barbers to supply their own razors and a pair of shears¹⁵ for hair-cutting.

 

"I suppose that means in pawn¹⁶?"

 

"Yes."

 

"When can you get a place if you get your razors back?"

 

"I can go to work to-morrow."

 

"What sum will get them out?"

 

"Four dollars and a half."

 

[Pg 287]

 

"Where are they?"

 

"In a pawnshop on the Bowery."

 

"Come with me and I will get them out for you if you will promise to go to work."

 

"I will," answered Graham earnestly. "I'll give you my word I will."

 

"Come back on the next boat, then, and I will go with you to the pawnshop."

 

"It will take up your time. You don't mean to give me in charge when we reach New York?" said Graham apprehensively¹⁷.

 

"No; I am willing to give you a fresh chance. I hope you will improve it."

 

Jed took out his watch to note the time.

 

"Is that watch yours? It's a beauty," said Graham.

 

"Yes; it came from Tiffany's."

 

"Did you have it when I met you?"

 

"No; if I had, that would have gone the same way as the money."

 

"You must be awfully¹⁸ lucky!"

 

"I suppose I have been. At any rate I have been honest."

 

"Honesty seems to pay. I must try it."

 

"I advise you to," said Jed, smiling.

 

[Pg 288]

 

When Jed parted from Graham it occurred to him that he would call on Mrs. Gately. She had provided him with a breakfast when he needed one, and seemed kindly disposed towards him.

 

When he rang the bell of the small house on Twenty-Seventh Street, Mrs. Gately herself came to the door.

 

"Did you wish to see me, sir?"

 

"You don't remember me, Mrs. Gately?"

 

The old lady peered through her glasses.

 

"Why bless me!" she said, "if it isn't the young man from the country. But you're dressed so fine I hardly knew you. I hope you're prosperin'."

 

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Gately. I have been quite lucky, but I was pretty low in spirits as well as in pockets when I left you."

 

"Why, you're lookin' fine. Won't you stay for supper? Luella Dickinson will be home soon—she that tends at Macy's. I've often spoken to her about you. Luella's very romantic."

 

"I am not, Mrs. Gately, and I'm afraid I can't stop. I must be on board my yacht in an hour."

 

[Pg 289]

 

"Your yacht! Bless me, you don't mean to say you've got a yacht?"

 

"Well, it belongs to a friend, but we enjoy it together."

 

"Have you seen the bad young man who robbed you?"

 

"Yes; I saw him this afternoon."

 

"You don't say! Did you have him arrested?"

 

"No; I helped him get some things out of pawn."

 

"That's a real Christian²⁰ act, but I don't think I'd have done it. You deserve to prosper¹⁹. I wish you could stay and meet Luella."

 

"Some other time, Mrs. Gately."

 

At supper the landlady²¹ told Miss Dickinson of Jed's call. Luella expressed great regret that she had not seen him.

 

"I should fall in love with Mr. Gilman, I know I would," she said. "Why didn't you ask him to call at Macy's?"

 

"I will when I see him again."

1 condescension   

n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人)

参考例句：

• His politeness smacks of condescension. 他的客气带有屈尊俯就的意味。
• Despite its condescension toward the Bennet family, the letter begins to allay Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy. 尽管这封信对班纳特家的态度很高傲，但它开始消除伊丽莎白对达西的偏见。

2 patrician   

adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官

参考例句：

• The old patrician was buried in the family vault.这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里。
• Its patrician dignity was a picturesque sham.它的贵族的尊严只是一套华丽的伪装。

3 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

4 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

5 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

6 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。

7 incensed   

盛怒的

参考例句：

• The decision incensed the workforce. 这个决定激怒了劳工大众。
• They were incensed at the decision. 他们被这个决定激怒了。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 apprehensive   

adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的

参考例句：

• She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
• He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。

10 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

11 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。

12 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

13 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

14 confinement   

n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限

参考例句：

• He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
• The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。

15 shears   

n.大剪刀

参考例句：

• These garden shears are lightweight and easy to use.这些园丁剪刀又轻又好用。
• With a few quick snips of the shears he pruned the bush.他用大剪刀几下子就把灌木给修剪好了。

16 pawn   

n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押

参考例句：

• He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
• It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。

17 apprehensively   

adv.担心地

参考例句：

• He glanced a trifle apprehensively towards the crowded ballroom. 他敏捷地朝挤满了人的舞厅瞟了一眼。 来自辞典例句
• Then it passed, leaving everything in a state of suspense, even the willow branches waiting apprehensively. 一阵这样的风过去，一切都不知怎好似的，连柳树都惊疑不定的等着点什么。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

18 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

19 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。

20 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

21 landlady   

n.女房东，女地主

参考例句：

• I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
• The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。