CHAPTER XXXIX. NEW PLANS.

 When Rupert entered the Somerset Hotel on his return from the West he received a cordial welcome from Mr. Malcolm, the clerk.

 

"I hope you have had a pleasant journey," he said.

 

"Very pleasant, on the whole."

 

"And do you want your old place again?"

 

"No," answered Rupert. "I hope to go into some other line of business."

 

"I'm glad for one reason. I have taken a very good boy in your place—David Williams—and I would not like to discharge him."

 

"I hear Leslie has left you also."

 

"Yes. He has gone on the stage, I believe," said the clerk, smiling. "Have you any plans in that direction?"

 

[Pg 348]

 

"No; I couldn't make as much as the wages you were paying me."

 

"I doubt if Leslie will find the change to his advantage."

 

"Whom have you in his place?"

 

"A boy named Bernard Benton. He is also a good boy. By the way, a letter came for you yesterday. Here it is."

 

Rupert supposed the letter might be from his mother, but on reading the address he found that it was in a business hand. He opened the envelope and read as follows.

 

"Mr. Rupert Rollins—

 

"Dear Sir: I learn that you are the owner of two lots on One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, in Harlem. I should like to buy them, and am willing to pay you seven thousand dollars for the two.

 

"Yours truly, 

"Albert Crossman."

 

Rupert read the letter with mingled¹ pleasure and surprise. The lots had cost but one thousand dollars each. That they should have increased in value to such an extent was hardly credible².

 

He did not feel like deciding the matter[Pg 349] until he had a chance to consult with Mr. Packard, and he so wrote Mr. Crossman. Now that his mother had lost her position he felt that this stroke of good luck was particularly timely.

 

He went out in the afternoon to see his mother and Grace. He found that Mr. Strathmore was dead, and that his funeral had taken place.

 

"I don't know what we shall do, Rupert," said Mrs. Rollins anxiously. "It may be some time before I can obtain another position where I can support myself and Grace. However, I have saved seventy-five dollars, so that for a time I shall not be a burden upon you."

 

"Don't talk of being a burden, mother. You never can be that."

 

"But how can your small earnings³ support three persons?"

 

"You forget, mother, that I have property."

 

"To what do you refer, Rupert?"

 

"To the two lots Mr. Packard gave me."

 

"I had not supposed them of much value."

 

"I have an offer of seven thousand dollars for them."

 

[Pg 350]

 

"Is it possible?" asked Mrs. Rollins in amazement⁴.

 

"It is quite possible. I don't think we are in any immediate⁵ danger of the poorhouse. When shall you be ready to come to New York?"

 

"Whenever I have a home provided; but you remember that I sold my furniture when I accepted the position with Mr. Strathmore."

 

"I have already looked at a furnished flat on West Nineteenth Street. It is but twenty dollars a month, and will make you a pleasant home."

 

"But isn't that a high rent to pay?"

 

"Not in our present circumstances. However, I will wait till Mr. Packard reaches the city, and consult with him. I expect him in a day or two."

 

"Will the proprietor⁶ of the Somerset Hotel receive you back as a bell-boy?"

 

"He would, but I have declined the place."

 

"But you will have to do something, Rupert."

 

Rupert smiled.

 

"Don't feel anxious, mother," he said, "Mr.[Pg 351] Packard is a rich man, and he is a faithful friend. I think he will arrange something for me."

 

The next day Mr. Packard and his uncle, John Plympton, reached New York and established themselves at the Somerset Hotel. Rupert learned with satisfaction of Mr. Plympton's recovery of his money from his knavish⁷ nephew.

 

"And now, Rupert," said the cattleman, "tell me about your own affairs."

 

"First, I have received an offer of seven thousand dollars for the two lots you gave me."

 

"That is fine. They have gone up surprisingly."

 

"Would you advise me to sell them?"

 

"Yes. Sell them and invest half the money in other lots less desirably situated⁸. It is only a question of time when they, too, can be sold to advantage."

 

"And the other half of the money?"

 

"Invest in good bank stock or Government bonds, where they will yield an income."

 

"I am sure that is good advice."

 

"How about your mother?"

 

[Pg 352]

 

"The gentleman for whom she acted as housekeeper⁹ is dead, and she must seek a new home. I have looked at a furnished flat in West Nineteenth Street, renting at twenty dollars a month."

 

"I have another plan to propose. I have got tired of living in Colorado, though I shall retain my business interests there. I want to have a home for my uncle and myself here. I shall hire a moderate-sized house, and run it myself, and engage your mother to take charge of it, if she should be willing."

 

"Nothing would please her better, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, earnestly.

 

"As it may take me a little time to make the necessary arrangements, send for your mother and let her make a temporary home at this hotel. I will defray the expenses."

 

"You are very kind, Mr. Packard."

 

"Well, who has a better right? I have a great mind to adopt you, young man."

 

"I shan't make any violent opposition¹⁰, Mr. Packard. But what will your nephew in Rochester say?"

 

"Of course Eben won't like it, but I claim[Pg 353] a right to do what I like with my own. I shall not disinherit his family wholly, but what I leave to them will be so tied up that Eben can't get at it. It is amusing, the change that came over him when he learned that I was not a destitute¹¹ cowboy, but a man of property."

 

The next day Mrs. Rollins was installed at the hotel, and Mr. Packard began to look around for a house such as he desired.

 

"There shall be a nice room for you, Uncle John," he said. "I will promise to treat you as well as Eben did."

 

"I can pay for my board, Giles. I don't want to cost you too much."

 

"You will pay for your board when I send in a bill. Don't trouble yourself till then."

 

"But I am able to work, Giles."

 

"I may find some light work for you, Uncle John, just to keep you from being uneasy."

 

Mr. Packard was a man of promptness and energy. He visited a real estate agent, and soon made choice of a medium-sized house in a good neighborhood. This he furnished[Pg 354] plainly and quickly, for there is no need of delay where means are abundant. Inside of a month the little family were comfortably established in their new home.

 

"Will there be room for Fred, my little ward¹²?" asked Rupert.

 

"Certainly. It will be pleasant to have a young child in the house."

 

Rupert had one apprehension¹³. He feared that his friends, the Bentons, would miss the sum he paid for the little boy's board. But Mrs. Benton set him at ease.

 

"An old schoolmate of my husband, who is in a business position on Pearl Street, would like to board with us," she said, "and is able and willing to pay a liberal sum. I feared at first that he would not be satisfied with our modest quarters, but he says he wants a home, not a stylish¹⁴ boarding-house, so he will be content."

 

"Then you won't be inconvenienced by losing Fred's board?"

 

"No, but we shall miss the dear child's company. You must let him come to see us sometimes."

 

 

"Certainly I will, and we shall always be glad to see you as a visitor. Does Mr. Benton still find his place on Grand Street agreeable and satisfactory?"

 

"Yes. He seems to stand high in the estimation of his employer."

 

Little Fred at first was sorry to leave Mrs. Benton, but soon formed an attachment¹⁵ for Mrs. Rollins and Grace.

 

"Since he is your adopted son, Rupert," said his mother, "I suppose I may look upon him as my grandson."

 

"By adoption¹⁶, mother," said Rupert, with a smile.

 

"Now, Mr. Packard, what do you advise me to do?" asked Rupert.

 

"Spend at least six months in study. Go to some commercial college, and when you have completed your course of instruction I shall be ready with some plan for you."

1 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。

2 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

3 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

4 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 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。

7 knavish   

adj.无赖（似）的，不正的；刁诈

参考例句：

• There was something quite knavish in the man's attitude. 这个人的态度真有点无赖的味道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• That shrewd and knavish sprite call'd Robin Goodfellow (Shakespeare) 那个叫作罗宾好伙计的精明而又顽皮的小妖精。 来自互联网

8 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

9 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。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

11 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

12 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

13 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

14 stylish   

adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的

参考例句：

• He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
• What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。

15 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

16 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。