CHAPTER XX. MR. PACKARD'S GIFT.

 It was not until the next day that Giles Packard knew of the tragedy in No. 61. He had gone to bed at once on reaching the hotel, and had not heard of Rupert's adopting a child.

 

"What is this I hear, Rupert?" he asked, on meeting the bell-boy. "I hear you have an adopted son."

 

"Yes," answered Rupert, with a smile.

 

"Won't you get tired of the care and responsibility?"

 

"I think not."

 

"Besides, there will be considerable expense."

 

"The money left by his father will pay that till I am older and am earning more."

 

"Not many boys of your age would dare to assume such a charge."

 

[Pg 192]

 

"Perhaps not, but Fred is such a sweet boy I cannot help loving him."

 

"Look here, Rupert, won't you let me share the expense? I am rich and have no family ties?"

 

"Thank you, Mr. Packard. I am very much obliged to you, but I should like to feel that I am Fred's sole guardian¹. I want him to learn to love me."

 

"I don't know but you are right. I won't interfere² if you don't wish me to."

 

That evening Rupert took Fred to Mr. Benton's.

 

"I have brought you another boarder," he said.

 

Mrs. Benton looked surprised.

 

"Is it a relation of yours?" she asked.

 

"He is my son."

 

The good lady looked amazed.

 

"My adopted son," amended³ Rupert, with a smile; and then he told her of the sudden death at the hotel, and little Fred's bereavement⁴. Mrs. Benton's heart went out to the little orphan⁵, and she stooped and kissed him.

 

[Pg 193]

 

"Will you live with me?" she asked.

 

"I am going to live with him," said little Fred, taking Rupert's hand.

 

"He will live here, too."

 

"Then I will stay," answered the child, gravely. "I am to stay with him till papa comes back."

 

They had told the little boy that his father had gone on a long journey, and wished him to stay with Rupert during his absence. He had acquiesced⁶ quietly, for he was a docile⁷ child, and transferred his affection to Rupert, of whose love he felt assured.

 

"Now, Mrs. Benton, I must make a bargain with you for Fred's board."

 

Mrs. Benton at first refused to accept anything, protesting that a child would be little expense, but Rupert told her that the father had left money, and finally induced her to accept three dollars a week.

 

"I am afraid that is too little," said the bell-boy.

 

"No; it will help pay the rent, and I shall like to have Freddie here as a companion for Harry⁸."

 

[Pg 194]

 

So it was arranged, and the little boy was provided with a happy and comfortable home at small expense.

 

Two days later Giles Packard sought out Rupert during an interval⁹ of the bell-boy's labors¹⁰.

 

"How is the little boy?" asked the cattleman.

 

"He is well, and he seems to be happy. He thinks his father is away on a journey."

 

"The journey we must all take some time," said Packard, gravely. "Then you won't accept my help towards paying for the child's maintenance?"

 

"It won't be necessary, Mr. Packard. I am to pay only three dollars a week for his board."

 

"His clothing will cost something."

 

"Mrs. Benton will manage that. She says it won't cost over fifty dollars a year."

 

"I foresaw that you wouldn't let me help support the boy, so I have got even with you in another way."

 

"How is that?" asked Rupert, puzzled.

 

Mr. Packard, smiled.

 

[Pg 195]

 

"I decided¹¹ to make you a present," he said. "You won't refuse that?"

 

"No; I am sure you are a good friend, and I won't reject your kindness."

 

Rupert fancied Mr. Packard might be intending to give him fifty dollars, or something like that, and he felt that it would be ungracious to refuse.

 

The man from Colorado drew from his pocket a large-sized envelope, and from it took a legal document.

 

"This," he said, "is a deed of two lots in Harlem, not far from One-hundred-and-twenty-fifth Street. The deed is made out to you, and establishes your ownership."

 

"I didn't know you had any lots in Harlem," said Rupert, in surprise.

 

"Neither had I till yesterday. I bought them through a real estate agent on Third Avenue, after carefully considering several others."

 

"But, Mr. Packard, they must have cost you a good deal of money."

 

"Two thousand dollars."

 

"And you give me such a valuable present?"

 

[Pg 196]

 

"Yes, Rupert, and I am glad to do so. Don't think I have pinched myself to do it. I am a rich man, and I haven't a chick or child, except—well, except you," he continued, with a smile.

 

"I don't know that I ought to accept such a handsome present, though I fully¹² appreciate your great kindness."

 

"I don't quite see that you have any choice. The deed is made out in your name, and in due time you will find that you will have to pay taxes on them."

 

"Then I suppose I must submit. I don't know how to thank you."

 

"Then don't do it. It would make me feel awkward. I will give you some good advice before I leave you. Those lots I believe will advance in price very rapidly. Building is going on very near them, and they are in the path of improvement. My advice is that you hold on to them at least five years. They may realize you a small fortune."

 

"I will certainly be guided by your advice. Do you know, Mr. Packard, I imagine[Pg 197] there are very few bell-boys in New York who are as rich as I am?"

 

"I don't think I have ever heard of a bell-boy millionaire," said the cattleman, smiling, "though I hope the one before me may make the first exception to a general rule. Did I tell you that I expect to start on my return to Colorado to-morrow?"

 

"So soon as that?"

 

"Yes; I have received news from my agent there—good news, mind—that makes it advisable for me to abridge¹³ my visit. May I hope that you will write me sometimes?"

 

"I shall be glad to do so, Mr. Packard."

 

"Mind, it is a compact. Some time I expect you to visit me out there."

 

"When my child gets a little older," said Rupert, with a smile.

 

"And if at any time you find the expense too great for your means, let me help you."

 

"I will."

 

So the two friends parted, and Rupert resumed his regular routine as a bell-boy.

1 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。

2 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。

3 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

4 bereavement   

n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛

参考例句：

• the pain of an emotional crisis such as divorce or bereavement 诸如离婚或痛失亲人等情感危机的痛苦
• I sympathize with you in your bereavement. 我对你痛失亲人表示同情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 orphan   

n.孤儿；adj.无父母的

参考例句：

• He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大，并且把自己的医术传给了他。
• The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。

6 acquiesced   

v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
• After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说，他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 docile   

adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的

参考例句：

• Circus monkeys are trained to be very docile and obedient.马戏团的猴子训练得服服贴贴的。
• He is a docile and well-behaved child.他是个温顺且彬彬有礼的孩子。

8 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。

9 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

10 labors   

v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors. 他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜，令人生厌。 来自辞典例句
• Farm labors used to hire themselves out for the summer. 农业劳动者夏季常去当雇工。 来自辞典例句

11 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。

12 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

13 abridge   

v.删减，删节，节略，缩短

参考例句：

• They are going to abridge that dictionary.他们将要精简那本字典。
• He decided to abridge his stay here after he received a letter from home.他接到家信后决定缩短在这里的逗留时间。