CHAPTER XII A GROCER'S CLERK

 Early Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty. The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter. There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon. He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply¹ face, and small eyes with a shifting expression. Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him. Twice he had seen him under the influence of liquor and knew that he frequented a billiard-room in the village patronized by a low class of young men.

 

"So we are going to be fellow-clerks, eh?" said Brandon, with a disagreeable smile.

 

"I suppose so."

 

"I always looked upon you as one of the tip-tops! I never thought you would be willing to become a boy in a grocery!"

 

"I am not willing."

 

"Then why did you come?"

 

"I am not my own master. Mrs. Lane, my stepmother, made the arrangement with Mr. Tubbs."

 

"I expect you feel above it?"

 

"I don't say that, but it's not to my taste."

 

"How much will you get?"

 

Gerald had no objection to tell, and answered, quietly: "Three dollars a week."

 

"That ain't much. I get six and my board. You know, I board with Mr. Tubbs. I'm a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs."

 

"Do you like it?"

 

"No; I have too much looking after. When a man is my age, he doesn't want to be interfered² with."

 

"No one likes to be interfered with."

 

"Just so. I see you and I will get along first-rate."

 

As the morning advanced Gerald found himself quite busy. It was awkward at first to weigh butter and sugar and other articles that were called for, but he was quick, and soon "got the hang" of his new duties.

 

Early in the afternoon he was introduced to the books of the concern, and found them in a mixed-up state, as neither Mr. Tubbs nor his chief salesman knew anything about book-keeping. He suggested to the grocer to buy a new set of books, which he agreed to do.

 

About supper time his friend John Holman came into the store, and Gerald weighed out for him two pounds of sugar.

 

"It seems odd to see you behind the counter, Gerald," he said.

 

"It seems so to me."

 

"How do you like it?"

 

"I don't like it very well, but I have hardly been here long enough to judge."

 

"It's a shame that you should fill such a position with all your book learning."

 

Gerald smiled.

 

"I shan't have much use for my French and Latin here," he said. "Suppose I make them over to you!"

 

"They wouldn't help me in pegging³ shoes, Gerald. But never mind; the time will come when you will find them useful. You won't stay here all your life."

 

"I certainly hope not."

 

Just then Abel entered the store.

 

He looked about him till he saw Gerald and a smile lighted up his face.

 

"Ma wants you to bring home four pounds of butter when you come to supper," he said. "Here's a tin pail to put it in."

 

"Why don't you take it yourself?" asked John.

 

"Because I don't choose to," answered Abel, superciliously⁴.

 

"I will take it," said Gerald, quietly.

 

At this moment the grocer came round to where he was standing⁵.

 

"You can go to supper, Gerald," he said.

 

Gerald put up the butter, and went out with John Holman.

 

"How can you stand Abel's insolence⁶?" asked John, hotly.

 

"Because I despise him. He is only acting⁷ according to his nature. He is what the English call a cad."

 

"He thinks himself superior to you."

 

"He is probably alone in that opinion, and I don't mind what he thinks."

 

In the evening, when the store closed, Brandon said to him:

 

"Come round to the billiard-room and play a game with me, Gerald."

 

"Thank you, but I don't play billiards⁸."

 

"I will teach you. You will learn easily."

 

"How much does it cost?"

 

"Twenty-five cents a game."

 

"My salary is so small that I can't afford it."

 

"Well, come in at any rate and see the playing."

 

To this Gerald assented⁹. He had never entered the room and had some curiosity to see it. Accordingly he went in and found a collection of village roughs. Brandon entered a game then being played, and Gerald sat down and looked on.

 

At one end of the room was a bar, to which the players adjourned¹⁰ at intervals¹¹.

 

"Won't you have something, Gerald?" asked Brandon, whose turn came to treat at the end of the first game.

 

"No, thank you."

 

"I won't tell your ma," said his fellow-clerk, with a smile.

 

"I am not sure that she would care, but I would rather not drink."

 

"I see you haven't graduated from Sunday school," said Brandon, with a little sneer¹².

 

Gerald did not answer, nor did he heed¹³ the sneer.

 

He observed that when Brandon paid for the drinks and the game in which he was a loser, he handed the bartender a five-dollar bill and thrust the change carelessly into his vest-pocket with the air of a millionaire. Considering the moderate pay he received, Gerald was surprised at the freedom with which he spent his money.

 

At the end of half an hour he left the billiard-room and went home.

 

Mrs. Lane and Abel were still up.

 

"Here comes the young grocer!" said Abel, with a malicious¹⁴ smile.

 

"Are you just out of the store?" asked Mrs. Lane.

 

"No. I walked awhile with Mr. Brandon, the head clerk."

 

"How do you like it as far as you've got?" asked Abel.

 

"I don't like it."

 

"I suppose you would rather be at school."

 

"I certainly should."

 

"Yes; it would be easier."

 

"That is not my reason."

 

"What is your reason?"

 

"I think I am wasting my time in a grocery store."

 

"You get paid for it, don't you?"

 

"Yes; I shall be paid a small sum."

 

"Abel," said his mother, "I don't care to have you talk with Gerald on this subject. As he goes on he will get contented¹⁵ and will see that I have planned for the best. Now, as it is near ten o'clock, we may as well go to bed."

 

The next morning Gerald rose earlier than the rest of the family and breakfasted by himself. It was a comfort to him to occupy his own bedchamber. Abel had been so thoroughly¹⁶ frightened by the visit of the burglar that he absolutely refused to occupy the large room, though urged to do so by his mother, who did not like to think that he was less luxuriously¹⁷ provided for than Gerald.

 

"Well, how did you make out, Mr. Brandon?" asked Gerald, of his fellow-clerk.

 

"I had bad luck. I spent over two dollars last evening."

 

"It wouldn't do for me to spend so much. I only receive three dollars a week."

 

"I couldn't get along without the billiard-room. After standing all day in this dull store I need a little recreation."

 

Gerald could not understand how Brandon could afford to spend so much money in the evening, or how he could have anything left for clothing and necessary expenses.

 

During the day he overheard a conversation between Mr. Tubbs and a neighbor.

 

"How is business, Tubbs?" asked the latter.

 

"I seem to do a good business," answered the grocer, "yet, I don't know how it is, I find it very hard to meet my bills as they come due."

 

"You are looked upon as a driving man."

 

"I ought to be, but it is as I told you. I can't understand it. There have been times when I did less business and made more money."

 

"Perhaps you don't make as large profits?"

 

"Yes, I do. I sell at the same prices, and I don't pay any more for goods."

 

Gerald thought over this problem, and it puzzled him too. It set him to examining the books which were under his charge. The result was very favorable to the business. From the books, it should have paid well.

 

But the next day a startling light was thrown upon the mystery.

 

Gerald saw Brandon go to the money-drawer to deposit fifty cents, which he had received in payment for some groceries. He did deposit it, but at the same time he slyly drew out a bill which he carried away with him.

 

"That explains it!" thought Gerald, drawing a deep breath. "What ought I to do?"

1 pimply   

adj.肿泡的；有疙瘩的；多粉刺的；有丘疹的

参考例句：

• Now, we won't submit to impertinence from these pimply, tipsy virgins. 现在我们决不能忍受这群长着脓包、喝醉了的小兔崽子们的无礼举动。 来自辞典例句
• A head stuck out cautiously-a square, pimply, purplish face with thick eyebrows and round eyes. 车厢里先探出一个头来，紫酱色的一张方脸，浓眉毛，圆眼睛，脸上有许多小疱。 来自互联网

2 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 pegging   

n.外汇钉住，固定证券价格v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的现在分词 )；使固定在某水平

参考例句：

• To write a novel,one must keep pegging away at it consistently. 要写小说，必须不断辛勤劳动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She was pegging the clothes out on the line to dry. 她正在把衣服夹在晒衣绳上晾干。 来自辞典例句

4 superciliously   

adv.高傲地；傲慢地

参考例句：

• Madame Defarge looked superciliously at the client, and nodded in confirmation. 德伐日太太轻蔑地望了望客人，点头同意。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 insolence   

n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度

参考例句：

• I've had enough of your insolence, and I'm having no more. 我受够了你的侮辱，不能再容忍了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• How can you suffer such insolence? 你怎么能容忍这种蛮横的态度？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 billiards   

n.台球

参考例句：

• John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
• Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。

9 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

10 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。

11 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

12 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

13 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

14 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

15 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

16 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

17 luxuriously   

adv.奢侈地，豪华地

参考例句：

• She put her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea roses. 她把自己的鼻子惬意地埋在天芥菜和庚申蔷薇花簇中。 来自辞典例句
• To be well dressed doesn't mean to be luxuriously dressed. 穿得好不一定衣着豪华。 来自辞典例句