CHAPTER XIII. THE VEIL IS LIFTED.

 About a fortnight from the time of their departure the two travelers reached a town in Southern Indiana, which we will call Madison. They had traveled leisurely¹, stopping at several places on the way. Cromwell had not ventured upon a second attempt upon the life of Robert Raymond. The first failure had left on his mind an impression of fear, and he resolved that he would not again attempt open violence. If anything was to be done, it should be by more subtle and hidden ways.

 

As for Robert, his first feeling of suspicion was entirely² dissipated. He accepted Cromwell's explanation in good faith, and thought little more about the matter, but gave up his time and thoughts to the new scenes into which each successive day brought him. He had not got to like Cromwell, nor was there any chance that he would, but the two did not interfere³ much with[Pg 100] each other, but kept by themselves, so far as it could be done under the circumstances.

 

On arriving in Madison, a town of which Cromwell had formerly⁴ known something, they went to the Madison House, as the hotel was called, and entered their names.

 

The next morning Cromwell went round to the village drug store, kept by an old acquaintance, formerly a fellow clerk, named Leonard Grover.

 

"How do you do. Grover?" he said, as he entered the shop.

 

Grover surveyed him scrutinizingly.

 

"Don't you know me?" asked Cromwell.

 

"What! James Cromwell? How came you out here? And where have you been for some time? Sit down and tell me all about it."

 

The two took chairs, and Cromwell said as much as he chose to say.

 

"I have been employed in New York," he said, "but I got tired of that city, and came out here to see if I couldn't find an opening somewhere."

 

"You don't like New York, then?"

 

"Not particularly. At any rate, I have determined⁵ to make a change."

 

"Well, that is curious."

 

"Why curious?"

 

[Pg 101]

 

"I mean that while you are tired of New York, I am anxious to go there."

 

"You are? Why don't you then?"

 

"Because I am tied down to this store. If I could sell out to anybody for any decent price, I would start for New York, mighty⁶ quick."

 

"Then I suppose you are not doing well here?"

 

"Yes, I am doing well, but I don't think my health is as good here as at the East. Besides, I have some relations in New York, and that would make it pleasant for me to be there."

 

"What would you sell out for?" asked Cromwell.

 

"Do you mean business?"

 

"Yes, I have been thinking that if I could get a shop on favorable terms, I would buy one. Tell me what is the best you can do."

 

"If you will come in to-morrow, I will do so. I must take a little inventory⁷ of my stock, so as to see how I stand."

 

"Very well, I will do so."

 

The next day James Cromwell arranged to purchase the shop, with its present stock, at fifteen hundred dollars, cash.

 

"It's worth two thousand," said the proprietor⁸, "but I am willing to sacrifice twenty-five per cent.[Pg 102] for the sake of freeing myself. You get it dirt cheap."

 

"If I did not, I could not buy it at all," said Cromwell.

 

James Cromwell was authorized⁹ to draw upon Paul Morton for a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars, whenever he could make an arrangement to purchase a drug shop. Although he had agreed to pay fifteen hundred, he drew for the entire sum, and this draft was honored. In the course of a week all the arrangements were completed. The old sign was removed, and another put in its place bearing in large letters the name:

 

JAMES CROMWELL,

 

DRUGGIST AND APOTHECARY¹⁰.

 

While these arrangements were in progress, Robert Raymond was left in complete ignorance of them. He spent the day in roaming over the neighborhood, with which he had by this time become quite familiar. It had occurred to him several times, to wonder why Mr. Cromwell saw fit to remain so long in a town which seemed to possess no especial attractions. He once or twice put the question, but was put off with an evasive answer, and did not repeat it.

 

[Pg 103]

 

But one morning as he walked through the principal street, he saw the new sign referred to above, going up, and he was struck with surprise.

 

"What does that mean, I wonder?" he asked himself.

 

Just at this moment James Cromwell himself appeared at the door of the shop. His hat was off, and it was evident that he was at home here.

 

"What does that mean, Mr. Cromwell?" asked Robert, pointing to the sign.

 

"It means that this shop is mine; I have bought it."

 

"But I thought you were only going to stay in Madison a few days? I did not know you intended to go into business here."

 

"No, I suppose not," said Cromwell, coolly. "I did not know that there was any necessity of telling you all my plans."

 

"Of course not," said Robert. "I do not wish you to tell me any more than you think proper of your affairs. But I was thinking how I should go back to New York, as now you will probably be unable to accompany me."

 

"Yes, I shall be unable to accompany you," said Cromwell, "but I don't think there will be any trouble about that."

 

[Pg 104]

 

"I am old enough to travel alone, I think," said Robert. "I have been over the route once with you, and I think I can get along well enough."

 

"You seem to have made up your mind that you are going back to New York?" said Cromwell, with a slight sneer¹¹.

 

"Of course. My guardian¹² told me that I was to go on a short journey, and would return to my old school again."

 

"He did not tell me that," said his companion, significantly.

 

"What did he tell you, Mr. Cromwell?" asked Robert, beginning to feel nervous and anxious, for he was very anxious of returning to his old school, where he had many valued friends.

 

"He can explain that best himself," said Cromwell, in reply. "Here is a letter which he told me to hand you when the time came that rendered it necessary."

 

He drew forth¹³, as he spoke¹⁴, a letter from the inner pocket of his coat, addressed to

 

Master Robert Raymond.

 

Robert opened it hastily, and read in the merchant's handwriting, the following:

 

[Pg 105]

 

"Robert:—Circumstances have led me to decide that it would be best for you to remain at the West for a time, instead of returning to your former school, as you doubtless desire. It is not necessary for me to detail the reasons which have led me to this resolution. As your guardian, I must use my best discretion¹⁵ and judgment¹⁶, and it is not for you to question either. Mr. Cromwell will look after your welfare, and make all necessary arrangements for you, such as finding a school for you to attend in the town where he decides to establish himself. Of course, you will board at the same place with him, and be under his charge. I expect you to be obedient to him in all things. Your guardian,

 

"Paul Morton."

 

Robert Raymond read this letter with mingled¹⁷ disappointment and indignation. He felt that he had been treated very unfairly and that he had been entrapped¹⁸ into this Western journey under false pretences¹⁹.

 

He looked up after he had finished reading the letter, saying:

 

"Mr. Morton has not treated me right."

 

"Why hasn't he?"

 

"He ought to have told me all this before we started."

 

[Pg 106]

 

"If he had, you would have made a fuss, and he wished to avoid this."

 

"I think it was mean and unfair," said Robert, hotly.

 

"Perhaps you had better write and tell him so," said James Cromwell, sneering²⁰.

 

"I shall write to him," said Robert, very firmly. "My father never would have sanctioned such an arrangement as this. Besides, I don't believe there is any good school out here."

 

"It is just possible that there may be somebody in Madison who may know enough to teach you," said Cromwell, with an unpleasant sneer.

 

Robert Raymond looked at him intently. He felt instinctively²¹ that he should obtain no sympathy in his complaints, and he became silent. He went back to the hotel and wrote a letter to Mr. Morton, in which he set forth respectfully his objections to remaining at the West. The letter reached its destination, but his guardian did not see fit to answer it.

1 leisurely   

adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的

参考例句：

• We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
• He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

2 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。

3 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

4 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

5 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。

6 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。

7 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

8 proprietor   

n.所有人；业主；经营者

参考例句：

• The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
• The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

9 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

10 apothecary   

n.药剂师

参考例句：

• I am an apothecary of that hospital.我是那家医院的一名药剂师。
• He was the usual cut and dry apothecary,of no particular age and color.他是那种再普通不过的行医者，说不出多大年纪，相貌也没什么值得一提的。

11 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。

12 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

13 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

14 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

15 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

16 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

17 mingled   

混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]

参考例句：

• The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
• The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

18 entrapped   

v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was entrapped into undertaking the work. 他受骗而担任那工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He felt he had been entrapped into marrying her. 他觉得和她结婚是上了当。 来自辞典例句

19 pretences   

n.假装( pretence的名词复数 )；作假；自命；自称

参考例句：

• You've brought your old friends out here under false pretences. 你用虚假的名义把你的那些狐朋狗党带到这里来。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• There are no pretences about him. 他一点不虚伪。 来自辞典例句

20 sneering   

嘲笑的，轻蔑的

参考例句：

• "What are you sneering at?" “你冷笑什么？” 来自子夜部分
• The old sorceress slunk in with a sneering smile. 老女巫鬼鬼崇崇地走进来，冷冷一笑。

21 instinctively   

adv.本能地

参考例句：

• As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》