CHAPTER XV. MR. SYLVESTER'S BIRTHDAY.

 The next day Rupert received a letter at the Somerset Hotel. It was signed by Frank Sylvester, and ran thus:

 

"Dear Rupert: To-morrow is my birthday. Come and spend the evening with me. I will wait dinner till you come.

 

"Your Friend, 

"Frank Sylvester."

 

Rupert decided¹ at once to accept the invitation. He had learned to like Sylvester, as indeed he had reason to do.

 

He was in doubt as to whether there would be much company, but he was not provided with a nice suit, so that he need not be ashamed of his appearance. Arrived at his friend's residence, he found to his surprise that there was but one other guest besides himself, a Mr. Maxwell, a stout², pleasant-looking man of forty-five.

 

[Pg 145]

 

"Rupert," said Sylvester, "this is my cousin, John Maxwell. He is not an idler like myself, but is a partner in a large dry-goods house down on Grand Street. John, this is a special friend of mine. When we first met he was able to do me a service which I shall long remember. I am rather young to adopt him, having only reached the age of twenty-five."

 

"Quarter of a century," laughed Maxwell.

 

"That sounds older, to be sure. At any rate I look upon him as a younger brother, and so have invited him here to my birthday dinner, as a relative."

 

"You don't seem to have many relatives, Mr. Sylvester," said Rupert. "I thought there might be quite a party."

 

"Most of my relatives live in the West. However, I am satisfied to have you here and my Cousin John."

 

"If you are Frank's brother, I suppose I am your cousin also, Rupert," said Mr. Maxwell.

 

"I shall feel proud to have you regard me so, Mr. Maxwell."

 

[Pg 146]

 

"May I ask if you are in the same business as Frank?"

 

"Doing nothing at all," laughed Sylvester.

 

"I am a bell-boy at the Somerset Hotel," answered Rupert.

 

He watched Maxwell to see if the revelation of his position would affect that gentleman's opinion of him.

 

"I hope you are well paid."

 

"Yes; I receive five dollars a week and my board."

 

"That is better than you would do with us."

 

"Mr. Maxwell," said Rupert, with a sudden thought, "I wish I knew you better."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because then I might ask you a favor."

 

"To enter our employment? I will take you if you wish, but I advise you to stay where you are."

 

"It is not for myself that I ask, but for an experienced salesman who is in very hard luck. He is working for Stephen Lorimer, of Third Avenue, at five dollars a week."

 

"Five dollars!" exclaimed Maxwell, in[Pg 147] surprise. "And you say he is an experienced salesman?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"But why should he work for such low wages then?"

 

"Mr. Lorimer knew that he was poor, had a family, and was therefore in his power. He told him to choose between five dollars a week and dismissal."

 

"That is like Lorimer. He has the reputation of being the meanest man in the business. How did you become acquainted with the man you recommend?"

 

Rupert told the story, and both Sylvester and Maxwell were interested.

 

"I suppose you don't know Mr. Lorimer?" said Maxwell.

 

"I know him only too well," answered Rupert. "He was my father's partner in Buffalo³, and was the cause of his ruin and death."

 

"Was the firm name 'Rollins & Lorimer?'" asked Maxwell.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Then I have met your father. I was for[Pg 148] several years a traveling salesman, and sold goods to the firm in Buffalo. I always preferred dealing⁴ with your father. I didn't like Lorimer."

 

"I am very glad to meet any one who knew my father," said Rupert, brightening up.

 

"I can hardly refuse your request now, Rupert. Tell your friend—what's his name?"

 

"Henry Benton."

 

"Tell Mr. Benton to call at our store early next Monday morning and inquire for me. Give him a letter, so that I may know he is the right party. We are not taking on any salesmen, but one in the dress department is about to leave us and enter the employment of a firm in Chicago. I will put your friend in his place at a salary of twelve dollars a week."

 

"I can't tell you how much I thank you," said Rupert, gratefully. "You will bring happiness to a deserving family, and I don't think you will have occasion to regret it."

 

The dinner was an excellent one, and was[Pg 149] enjoyed by the small company who partook of it.

 

"I must tell you, Rupert," said Sylvester, "that I have peculiar⁵ reasons for enjoying my twenty-fifth birthday, even if I have, as Cousin John expresses it, lived a quarter of a century. An old uncle left me fifty thousand dollars some years ago, directing that it should pass into my possession at the age of twenty-five."

 

"I congratulate you, Mr. Sylvester. I am sure you will make good use of it."

 

"I am not so sure of that, but I hope so. I have begun to make use of it already. You shake your head, Cousin John, but I don't think you will disapprove⁶ my expenditure⁷. I have invested seventy-five dollars in a gold watch for Rupert, and thirty-five more in a gold chain."

 

He drew from his pocket a watch and chain which he handed to the astonished bell-boy.

 

"I don't know what to say, Mr. Sylvester," said Rupert, gratefully.

 

"Your face speaks for you. I want no other thanks."

 

[Pg 150]

 

"I don't know what they will say at the hotel. They will think I am putting on style for a bell-boy."

 

"I want some one to share my good fortune. I believe it is the best way to show my gratitude⁸ to Providence⁹. As Cousin John has done something for your new friend, Mr. Benton, I will follow his example. Here are twenty-five dollars, which you may give him with my best wishes."

 

"This gives me even more pleasure than the watch," said Rupert, with radiant face. "I wish you could see how much happiness your gift will carry to a worthy¹⁰ family."

 

"I will call with you and make their acquaintance some day."

 

The evening passed pleasantly, and it was with a happy heart that Rupert returned to his humble¹¹ home. That is, it seemed humble compared with the fine house in which he had spent the evening.

 

It was not until the next night that he was able to call on his friends in Bleecker Street.

 

He toiled¹² up to the fifth floor, and knocked at the door.

 

[Pg 151]

 

There was a low "Come in," and he lifted the latch¹³ and entered.

 

He was startled to see that Mrs. Benton had been shedding tears, and her husband was leaning back in his chair, with a look of sadness and despondency.

 

"What is the matter?" he asked quickly.

 

"I thought we could not be any worse off," said Mrs. Benton, tearfully, "but I was mistaken. To-day Mr. Lorimer discharged my husband."

 

"What! in the middle of the week?"

 

"No; he is to leave on Saturday."

 

"But why is this?"

 

"I will tell you," said Mr. Benton. "Do you know Mr. Benton's son, Julian?"

 

"Yes; he is a very disagreeable boy."

 

"I got into trouble with him to-day. He interfered¹⁴ with me in my work, and I reproved him. The consequence is that he spoke¹⁵ to his father against me, and got me discharged."

 

"You can imagine what this means to us," said Mrs. Benton. "It was hard enough to live on five dollars a week, even with the[Pg 152] help of the few pennies that Harry¹⁶ brings in, but now we must live on nothing. I don't know what will become of us."

 

"But Mr. Benton may secure another position."

 

"There is very little chance of it. No one is taking on new salesmen."

 

"Nevertheless Mr. Benton can go to work next Monday in a store on Grand Street at a salary more than double what he is now getting."

 

"Surely you are not in earnest?"

 

"Quite so. I will give him a letter to Gilbert & Maxwell, and he will be set to work at once."

 

"But this seems incredible."

 

"I will explain it to you."

 

"You are our good angel," said Mrs. Benton, when Rupert had concluded his account. "You come to us in our sorrow with the best news we have had for many a day."

 

"Now, Mr. Benton, I have a proposal to make. I want you to hire a nice flat in a better neighborhood and take me as a lodger¹⁷. I am willing to pay you eight dollars a month.[Pg 153] For twenty I think you can hire a desirable tenement¹⁸, which will only leave you twelve dollars to pay."

 

"We shall be very much pleased to do so. If only we had a little ready money——"

 

"I came near forgetting something important. I am the bearer of a gift to you from a good friend of mine, Mr. Sylvester, of Harlem. Yesterday was his birthday. He has given me a gold watch and chain, and to you he sends twenty-five dollars."

 

Mrs. Benton's joy can be imagined.

 

"You have indeed proved a friend," she said.

 

"It is a satisfaction to me to feel that the malice¹⁹ of Julian Lorimer will be disappointed. If I see him to-morrow I shall not hesitate to give him a piece of my mind."

1 decided   

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。

3 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。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

6 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

7 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

8 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

9 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

10 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

11 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

12 toiled   

长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉

参考例句：

• They toiled up the hill in the blazing sun. 他们冒着炎炎烈日艰难地一步一步爬上山冈。
• He toiled all day long but earned very little. 他整天劳碌但挣得很少。

13 latch   

n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁

参考例句：

• She laid her hand on the latch of the door.她把手放在门闩上。
• The repairman installed an iron latch on the door.修理工在门上安了铁门闩。

14 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》

15 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。

16 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

17 lodger   

n.寄宿人，房客

参考例句：

• My friend is a lodger in my uncle's house.我朋友是我叔叔家的房客。
• Jill and Sue are at variance over their lodger.吉尔和休在对待房客的问题上意见不和。

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 malice   

n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋

参考例句：

• I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
• There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。