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CHAPTER XI BARCLAY & CO.
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 The loss of the shirt was very vexatious. It was not so much the value of it that Paul cared for, although this was a consideration by no means to be despised by one in his circumstances; but it had been lent as a pattern, and without it his mother would be unable to make Mr. Preston's shirts. As to recovering it, he felt that there was little chance of this. Besides, it would involve delay, and his mother could not afford to remain idle. Paul felt decidedly uncomfortable. Again Mike Donovan had done him an injury, and this time of a more serious nature than before.
What should he do?
There seemed but one answer to this question. He must go back to Mr. Preston, explain the manner in which he had lost his shirt, and ask him for another, promising2, of course, to supply the place of the one lost. He was not sure whether Mr. Preston would accept this explanation. He might think it was only an attempt to defraud3 him. But, at any rate, it seemed the only thing to do, and it must be done at once. He entered a passing car, for it was too late to walk.
“I wish I had taken the car down,” thought Paul. “Then I shouldn't have lost the shirt.”
But it was too late for regrets now. He must do the best that remained to him.
It was nearly ten o'clock when Paul once more stood before the door of Mr. Preston's boarding-place. He rang the bell and asked to see him.
“You have been here before this evening?” said the servant.
“Yes.”
“Then you know the room. You can walk right up.”
Paul went upstairs and knocked at Mr. Preston's room. He was bidden to come in, and did so.
Mr. Preston looked up with surprise.
“I suppose you are surprised to see me,” said Paul, rather awkwardly.
“Why, yes. I did not anticipate that pleasure quite so soon,” said Mr. Preston, smiling.
“I am afraid it won't be a pleasure, for I bring bad news.”
“Bad news?” repeated the gentleman, rather startled.
“Yes; I have lost the shirt you gave me.”
“Oh, is that all?” said Mr. Preston, looking relieved. “But how did you lose it?”
“I was walking home down the Bowery, when two fellows met me. One of them, Mike Donovan, forced me into a fight. I gave him a licking,” added Paul, with satisfaction; “but when it was all over, I found the other fellow had run off with the shirt.”
“I don't believe it will fit him,” said Mr. Preston, laughing.
As the speaker probably weighed two hundred and fifty pounds, it was, indeed, rather doubtful. Paul couldn't help laughing himself at the thought.
“You were certainly unlucky,” said Mr. Preston. “Did you know the boy you fought with?”
“Yes, sir; he once before stole my stock of candy, when I was in the prize-package business.”
“That was the day we got acquainted,” remarked Mr. Preston.
“Yes, sir.”
“He doesn't seem to be a very particular friend of yours.”
“No; he hates me, Mike does, though I don't know why. But I hope you won't be angry with me for losing the shirt?”
“No; it doesn't seem to be your fault, only your misfortune.”
“I was afraid you might think I had made up the story, and only wanted to get an extra shirt from you.”
“No, my young friend; I have some faith in physiognomy, and you have an honest face. I don't believe you would deceive me.”
“No, I wouldn't,” said Paul, promptly4. “If you will trust me with another shirt, mother will make you an extra one to make up for the one I have lost.”
“Certainly you shall have the extra shirt, but you needn't supply the place of the one lost.”
“It is only fair that I should.”
“That may be, and I am glad you made the offer, but the loss is of little importance to me. It was no fault of yours that you lost it, and you shall not suffer for it.”
“You are very kind, sir,” said Paul, gratefully.
“Only just, Paul.”
Mr. Preston went to the bureau, and drew out another shirt, which he handed to Paul.
“Let me suggest, my young friend,” he said, “that you ride home this time. It is late, and you might have another encounter with your friend. I should like to see him with the shirt on,” and Mr. Preston laughed heartily5 at the thought.
Paul decided1 to follow his patron's advice. He had no idea of running any more risk in the matter. He accordingly walked to Fourth avenue and got on board the car.
It was nearly eleven o'clock when he reached home. As it was never his habit to stay out late, his mother had become alarmed at his long absence.
“What kept you so late, Paul?” she asked.
“I'll tell you, pretty soon, mother. Here's the shirt that is to serve as a pattern. Can you cut out the new shirts by it?”
Mrs. Hoffman examined it attentively6.
“Yes,” she said; “there will be no difficulty about that. Mr. Preston must be a pretty large man.”
“Yes, he is big enough for an alderman; but he is very kind and considerate, and I like him. You shall judge for yourself when I tell you what happened this evening.”
It will not be necessary to tell Paul's adventure over again. His mother listened with pardonable indignation against Mike Donovan and his companion.
“I hope you won't have anything to do with that bad boy, Paul,” she said.
“I shan't, if I can help it,” said Paul. “I didn't want to speak to him to-night, but I couldn't help myself. Oh, I forgot to say, when half the shirts are ready, I am to take them to Mr. Preston.”
“I think I can make one a day.”
“There is no need of working so steadily7, mother. You will be well paid, you know.”
“That is true; and for that reason I shall work more cheerfully. I wish I could get paid as well for all my work.”
“Perhaps Mr. Preston will recommend you to his friends, and you can get more work that way.”
“I wish I could.”
“I will mention it to him, when I carry back the last half dozen.”
“Is he going to send the cloth?”
“I nearly forgot that, too. I have an order on Barclay & Co. for the necessary amount of cloth. I can go up there to-morrow morning and get it.”
“That will take you from your work, Paul.”
“Well, I can close up for a couple of hours.”
“I don't think that will be necessary. I will go up myself and present the order, and get them to send it home for me.”
“Will they do that?”
“It is their custom. Or, if the bundle isn't too large. I can bring it home myself in the car.”
“That's all right, then. And now, mother, as it's past eleven o'clock, I think we may as well both go to bed.”
The next day Paul went as usual to his business, and Mrs. Hoffman, after clearing away the breakfast, put on her bonnet8 and shawl, and prepared to go for the materials for the shirts.
The retail9 store of Barclay & Co. is of great size, and ranks among the most important in New York. It was not so well filled when Mrs. Hoffman entered as it would be later. She was directed to the proper counter, where she presented the order, signed by Mr. Preston. As he was a customer of long standing10, there was no difficulty about filling the order. A bundle was made up, which, as it contained the materials for twelve shirts, necessarily was of considerable size.
“Here is your bundle, ma'am,” said the clerk.
Mrs. Hoffman's strength was slender, and she did not feel able to carry the heavy bundle offered her. Even if she took the car, she would be obliged to carry it a portion of the way, and she felt that it would overtask her strength.
“Don't you send bundles?” she asked.
“Sometimes,” said the clerk, looking superciliously11 at the modest attire12 of the poor widow, and mentally deciding that she was not entitled to much consideration. Had she been richly dressed, he would have been very obsequious13, and insisted on sending home the smallest parcel. But there are many who have two rules of conduct, one for the rich, and quite a different one for the poor, and among these was the clerk who was attending upon Mrs. Hoffman.
“Then,” said Mrs. Hoffman, “I should like to have you send this.”
“It's a great deal of trouble to send everything,” said the clerk, impertinently.
“This bundle is too heavy for me to carry,” said the widow, deprecatingly.
“I suppose we can send it,” said the clerk, ill-naturedly, “if you insist upon it.”
Meanwhile, though he had not observed it, his employer had approached, and heard the last part of the colloquy14. He was considered by some as a hard man, but there was one thing he always required of those in his employ; that was to treat all purchasers with uniform courtesy, whatever their circumstances.
“Are you objecting to sending this lady's bundle?” said Mr. Barclay, sternly.
The clerk looked up in confusion.
“I told her we would send it,” he stammered15.
“I have heard what passed. You have been deficient16 in politeness. If this happens again, you leave my employ.”
“I will take your address,” said the clerk, in a subdued17 tone.
Mrs. Hoffman gave it, and left the store, thankful for the interference of the great merchant who had given his clerk a lesson which the latter, as he valued his situation, found it advisable to bear in mind.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
2 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
3 defraud Em9zu     
vt.欺骗,欺诈
参考例句:
  • He passed himself off as the managing director to defraud the bank.他假冒总经理的名义诈骗银行。
  • He is implicated in the scheme to defraud the government.他卷入了这起欺骗政府的阴谋。
4 promptly LRMxm     
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。
5 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
6 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神
参考例句:
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
8 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽;童帽
参考例句:
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光,使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽,帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
9 retail VWoxC     
v./n.零售;adv.以零售价格
参考例句:
  • In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
  • These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。
10 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
11 superciliously dc5221cf42a9d5c69ebf16b9c64ae01f     
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
12 attire AN0zA     
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装
参考例句:
  • He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
  • Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。
13 obsequious tR5zM     
adj.谄媚的,奉承的,顺从的
参考例句:
  • He looked at the two ladies with an obsequious air.他看着两位太太,满脸谄媚的神情。
  • He was obsequious to his superiors,but he didn't get any favor.他巴结上司,但没得到任何好处。
14 colloquy 8bRyH     
n.谈话,自由讨论
参考例句:
  • The colloquy between them was brief.他们之间的对话很简洁。
  • They entered into eager colloquy with each other.他们展开热切的相互交谈。
15 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
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
16 deficient Cmszv     
adj.不足的,不充份的,有缺陷的
参考例句:
  • The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
  • I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。
17 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。


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