CHAPTER VIII. JULIAN LORIMER.

 On Monday Rupert saw his mother and sister established at Rutherford. Their new home was a large old-fashioned mansion¹, exceedingly comfortable. One of the best chambers² was assigned to Mrs. Rollins, with a small room opening out of it for Grace.

 

Benjamin Strathmore was a stout³ old gentleman of seventy, tall, and patriarchal-looking with his abundant white hair.

 

"How do you like my selection of housekeeper⁴, Uncle Ben?" asked Sylvester, when he had a chance to be alone with the old gentleman.

 

"She will just suit me," said Mr. Strathmore, emphatically. "She is evidently a lady, and she will be an agreeable companion if I am not mistaken. Mrs. Martin was a good housekeeper, but she had no idea [Pg 74]outside of her duties. I could not chat with her unless I talked about cooking. My evenings were solitary⁵. She spent the time in the kitchen or in her own room. Now the house will be really social."

 

"I am delighted to have suited you, Uncle Ben."

 

"Where in the world did you come across Mrs. Rollins? Have you known her long?"

 

"I became acquainted through her son Rupert, to whom I introduced you."

 

"He seems a fine, manly⁶ boy. He can stay here, too. I will find something for him to do."

 

"Thank you, Uncle Ben, but I shall find him a place in New York. He prefers the city, and it will afford him more opportunities of advancement⁷. Rupert is ambitious, and I predict that he will rise in time to an excellent position."

 

"Just as you think best, Frank; but remember that if ever there is need, or he becomes sick, there is room for him here."

 

To anticipate a little. Mr. Strathmore was not disappointed in Mrs. Rollins. It came to[Pg 75] be her custom to spend the evenings with her employer. Sometimes she read aloud to him. At others, while she was engaged in needlework, and Grace, now restored to health, was occupied with her books, the old gentleman sat back in his easy chair, and with calm content watched his companions. He no longer felt his former burden of solitude⁸.

 

"I have never been happier," he wrote later on to his nephew. "I regretted the loss of Mrs. Martin, but now I feel that it was for my happiness, since it has opened the way for such an acceptable substitute."

 

Rupert went at first to the house of Mr. Sylvester, where their acquaintance soon ripened⁹ into friendship.

 

They were walking down Broadway one day, when Frank Sylvester noticed a sudden start on the part of his young companion.

 

"What is the matter, Rupert?" he asked.

 

"Do you see that stout man on the opposite side of the street, Mr. Sylvester?" said Rupert.

 

"Yes. What of him?"

 

"He was the cause of my poor father's failure and death."

 

[Pg 76]

 

"How was that?"

 

"My father was a merchant in Buffalo¹⁰, and that man was his partner. During a three months' absence in California, where he went partly for his health, the business was managed by Mr. Lorimer in such a way that the firm became deeply involved and was brought to the brink¹¹ of failure.

 

"My father was greatly astonished at the sudden change, for when he left all was prosperous. He could not account for the disappearance¹² of assets and the accumulation of claims against the firm except on the theory that large sums had been appropriated by his partner. He could prove nothing, however, and the firm was dissolved. When the business was closed there was barely enough money left to pay the creditors¹³. My father found himself with nothing, and soon died of grief and mortification¹⁴."

 

"What became of Lorimer?"

 

"I have not seen him till to-day. I heard that he had come to New York and established himself on Third Avenue somewhere, in the same business. If so, he must have[Pg 77] had capital, and this must have been the sum of which he defrauded¹⁵ my father."

 

"The story is a sad one, Rupert. You and your mother must have suffered from the change in circumstances."

 

"We did. We did not care to stay in Buffalo, where we had been accustomed to live in good style, so we came to New York, where we could live according to our change in circumstances among those who had never known us. I thought I might get employment that would enable me to support my mother and sister in tolerable comfort. I did get a place with Tenney & Rhodes, but I only earned five dollars a week. Just before meeting you I lost that, and had you not come to our assistance I don't know what would have become of us."

 

"I feel repaid for whatever I have done for you," said Frank Sylvester, kindly¹⁶. "Has this Mr. Lorimer a family?"

 

"He has a wife and one son."

 

"Were your families intimate?"

 

"Yes. We occupied adjoining houses. Julian Lorimer was about my age, and [Pg 78]attended the same school. I never liked him, however. He had a very high opinion of himself, and put on airs which made him generally unpopular."

 

"Did he put on airs with you?"

 

"Not till after the failure. My father moved out of his house, but Mr. Lorimer remained in his, and appeared to live in about the same style as before, while we moved into a few rooms in an unfashionable part of the city. After this Julian took very little notice of me."

 

"You haven't met him since you came to New York?"

 

"No; I rather wonder I haven't, but I suppose I shall some day."

 

The time came sooner than he anticipated.

 

Rupert was crossing Eighth Avenue near Forty-second Street one day, when he came near being run into by a bicycle. The rider gave a note of warning, and then stopped short in surprise.

 

"Rupert Rollins!" he said, in a half tone of inquiry¹⁷.

 

"Is it you, Julian?" asked Rupert, recognizing his former schoolmate.

 

[Pg 79]

 

"Yes. Are you living in New York?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Whereabouts?"

 

"At present I am staying in Harlem."

 

"I heard you and your mother were living in a tenement¹⁸ house down town."

 

"My mother is not living in the city," returned Rupert, coldly.

 

He did not care to give Julian any more information than was absolutely necessary.

 

"Where is she, then?"

 

"In Rutherford, New Jersey¹⁹."

 

"Why don't you live there, too?"

 

"Because I expect to be employed in New York."

 

"Then you are out of work now?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Why don't you live in the Newsboys' Lodge²⁰? That is cheap."

 

"Have you ever lived there?"

 

"Do you mean to insult me? I live in a nice house on One Hundred and Sixteenth Street."

 

"So do I."

 

"You are bluffing²¹."

 

[Pg 80]

 

"Why should I? What good would it do me?"

 

Further inquiry developed the fact that they lived in neighboring blocks.

 

"I don't see how you can afford to live on such a street."

 

"I am at present visiting a friend—Mr. Sylvester."

 

"Is he rich?"

 

"Yes. I believe so."

 

"I suppose you know that my father has a nice new store on Third Avenue, near Forty-second Street?"

 

"I heard something of the kind," said Rupert, briefly²².

 

"He's doing a staving business—a good deal larger than he did in Buffalo."

 

Rupert made no comment.

 

"You said you were out of employment, didn't you?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You might call round at the store. Perhaps pa can find a place for you as a cash boy, though you would be rather large for that."

 

"How much does he pay his cash boys?"

 

[Pg 81]

 

"Two and a half a week."

 

"I hardly think I could live on that," said Rupert, smiling.

 

"It is better than being out of work."

 

"That is true, but I shouldn't like to be getting more and more behindhand every week. Are you attending school?"

 

"Yes, but I think of going into business soon."

 

"Perhaps," suggested Rupert, "you will take one of the cash boys' places."

 

"You must be crazy. When I go into business it won't be into a retail²³ store. I will get a place in some wholesale²⁴ establishment. There's a better chance to rise there."

 

"I didn't know but you would go to college."

 

"I am not very fond of study. Pa would send me to Columbia College or to Harvard, if I wanted to go, but I prefer a life of business. I want to become a merchant prince."

 

"It would certainly be agreeable. I shall be satisfied if I can be successful enough to support my mother and sister in comfort. That is my ambition."

 

[Pg 82]

 

"Oh, I dare say. You are a poor boy, you know."

 

"Look here, Julian, there's one thing I don't understand. Your father and mine were partners, and I supposed in the same circumstances. Both failed together. Yet your father now has a large store of his own, and we are poor. Can you tell me why?"

 

"I'm not good at conundrums²⁵. I'll have to be going. If you want a place as cash boy I'll ask pa to fit you out. Ta ta!" And Julian dashed off on his wheel.

 

"I hope some time to be a successful and honorable man of business," thought Rupert, as he followed his former schoolfellow with his glance. "My ambition would not be satisfied with anything short of this."

1 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

2 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

4 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

5 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

6 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

7 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

8 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

9 ripened   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They're collecting the ripened reddish berries. 他们正采集熟了的淡红草莓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The branches bent low with ripened fruits. 成熟的果实压弯了树枝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

11 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

12 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

13 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 mortification   

n.耻辱，屈辱

参考例句：

• To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。
• The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。

15 defrauded   

v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He defrauded his employers of thousands of dollars. 他诈取了他的雇主一大笔钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He defrauded them of their money. 他骗走了他们的钱。 来自辞典例句

16 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。

17 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

18 tenement   

n.公寓；房屋

参考例句：

• They live in a tenement.他们住在廉价公寓里。
• She felt very smug in a tenement yard like this.就是在个这样的杂院里，她觉得很得意。

19 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。

20 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

21 bluffing   

n. 威吓，唬人 动词bluff的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• I don't think he'll shoot—I think he's just bluffing. 我认为他不会开枪—我想他不过是在吓唬人。
• He says he'll win the race, but he's only bluffing. 他说他会赢得这场比赛，事实上只是在吹牛。

22 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

23 retail   

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。

24 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

25 conundrums   

n.谜，猜不透的难题，难答的问题( conundrum的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• After all the conundrums of Hungary, the second Turkish Grand Prix promises much. 继匈牙利站所有猜不透的事之后，第二届土耳其大奖赛许诺了太多。 来自互联网
• I see conundrums, dilemmas, quandaries, impasses, gnarly thickets of fateful possibility with no obvious way out. 眼看问题经纬万端，进退两难、入困境，死路一条，盘根错节的命定可能性，但找不到明显的出路。 来自互联网