He was not sorry that his engagement was at an end. He had obtained some knowledge of the dry-goods business, and he knew that his services were worth more than his board. Then again, though he was not particular about living luxuriously2, the fare at Mr. Drummond's was so uncommonly3 poor that he did sometimes long for one of the abundant and well-cooked meals which he used to have spread[Pg 186] before him at home, or even at his boarding-house while a pupil of the Essex Classical Institute.
He was packing his trunk when a step was heard on the stairs, and his door was opened by Mr. Drummond, considerably4 to Walter's surprise.
The fact is, that Mr. Drummond, on realizing what a mistake he had made, and that Joshua was the real culprit, felt that he had gone altogether too far, and he realized that he would be severely5 censured6 by Walter's friends in Willoughby. Besides, it was just possible that Walter might, after all, recover a few thousand dollars from his father's estate, and therefore it was better to be on good terms with him. Mr. Drummond determined7, therefore, to conciliate Walter, and induce him, if possible, to remain in his house and employ.
"Packing my trunk, sir," said Walter.
"Surely you are not going to leave us."
"I think it best," said Walter, quietly.
"You won't—ahem!—bear malice9 on account[Pg 187] of the little mistake I made. We are all liable to mistakes."
"It was something more than a mistake, Mr. Drummond. What had you seen in me to justify10 you in such a sudden charge of dishonesty?"
"Almost anybody would have been deceived under the circumstances," said Mr. Drummond, awkwardly.
"You did not give me an opportunity to defend myself, or rather you disbelieved all I said."
"Well, Conrad, I was mistaken. I shall be glad to have you come back to the store as before."
"Thank you, Mr. Drummond, but I have decided11 to go back to Willoughby for a short time. I want to consult Mr. Shaw about the future. It is time I formed some plans, as I shall probably have to earn my living."
"Don't you think you had better wait a few months?"
"No, sir, I think not."
"If you have made up your mind, all I have to say is that my humble12 dwelling13 will be ever open to receive you in the future. Perhaps, after a short[Pg 188] visit at your old home, you may feel inclined to return to my employment. I will give you a dollar a week besides board."
Mr. Drummond looked as if he felt that this was a magnificent offer, for which Walter ought to feel grateful. But our hero knew very well that he could command better pay elsewhere, and was not particularly impressed. Still he wished to be polite.
"Thank you for your offer, Mr. Drummond," he said; "but I am not prepared to say, as yet, what I will do."
"I hope," said Mr. Drummond, rather embarrassed, "you won't speak of our little difference to your friends at Willoughby."
"No, sir, not if you wish me not to do so."
By this time the trunk was packed, and Walter, locking it, rose from his knees.
"If it won't be too much trouble, Mr. Drummond," he said, "I will send for my trunk to-morrow."
"Certainly. Why won't you wait till to-morrow yourself?"
[Pg 189]
"As I am ready, I may as well take the afternoon train."
"Very well; just as you think best."
"I will go down and bid good-by to Mrs. Drummond."
Mrs. Drummond had just come from the kitchen. She looked with surprise at Walter and her husband, whose presence in the house at that hour was unusual.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
"Conrad is going home a short time on business," explained Mr. Drummond.
"When shall we see you back again, Walter?" asked Mrs. Drummond.
"That is uncertain," said Walter. "It depends upon my plans for the future."
"I have offered him increased pay," said Mr. Drummond, "if he will return to the store. I hope he may decide to do so. Our humble roof will ever be ready to shelter him."
Considering that Mr. Drummond had not lately made any such hospitable14 references to the humble roof, his wife looked somewhat puzzled.
[Pg 190]
Just at that moment Joshua, unconscious of the damaging discovery that had been made relative to himself, entered the room.
"Hallo! what's up?" he asked.
It was the first time his father had seen him since the discovery of his dishonesty, and his anger was kindled15.
Joshua stared in amazement17, and Mrs. Drummond exclaimed, "What makes you talk so, Mr. Drummond? What has he done?"
"What has he done?" ejaculated Mr. Drummond, adding, rather ungrammatically, "He's a thief, that's what he's done."
"How can you say such things of your own son?"
"Shut up, Mrs. Drummond; you don't know what you're talking about, or you wouldn't defend him. It would serve him right if I should flog him within an inch of his life."
[Pg 191]
"What do all these dreadful words mean?" asked Mrs. Drummond, distressed20. "Tell me, Walter, if you know."
"I would rather Mr. Drummond informed you," said Walter.
"I'll tell you, Mrs. Drummond," said her husband. "That boy sold a shawl a fortnight ago, when alone in the store, and pocketed the money."
"Who said I did?" asked Joshua, boldly, though he looked a little pale.
"The woman who bought it of you was in the store to-day."
"Did she say I sold it to her?"
"Yes."
"Did she know my name?"
"No, but she described you."
"So I did," said Joshua, finding it advisable to remember. "I remember now I sold it for five dollars."
"What made you keep the money?"
"I didn't. I waited till Conrad came into the[Pg 192] store, and gave the money to him. What he did with it, I don't know. Perhaps he forgot to put it in the drawer," he added, with a spiteful look at Walter.
"That's a lie, Joshua Drummond!" said Walter, quietly, "and you know it is. I think your father knows it is also."
"I wouldn't if I wasn't obliged to; but in my own defence I am compelled to do so."
"I might as well ask the same question of myself; but that would be a poor defence. If you really want me to answer that question, I will do it."
"Go ahead, then," said Joshua. "I hope my word is better than that of a beggar living on charity."
"Joshua!" said his mother, in a tone of remonstrance23.
Joshua turned pale, and looked thunderstruck.
[Pg 193]
"Your son can tell you," said Walter.
"What does this mean, Joshua?" demanded his father, sternly.
"It's a lie," said Joshua, unblushingly.
"Have you bought no lottery tickets?"
"No."
"Can you prove this charge which you have made against my son?" asked Mr. Drummond, turning to Walter.
"I can, but I am sorry to do so. I picked up this letter a day or two since, and intended to give it back to Joshua, but it escaped my mind. I would not have exposed him if he had not tried to charge me with theft."
He placed in Mr. Drummond's hands the letter already given, announcing to Joshua that he had drawn27 a blank.
[Pg 194]
"Unhappy boy!" he said, addressing Joshua. "I understand now what became of the five dollars. This decides me to do what I had intended to do sooner. I have supported you in laziness long enough. It is time you went to work. Next week you must go to work. I will take you into my store; but as I am not sure of your honesty, if I find you appropriating money to your own use, I will put you into a shoe-shop and make a shoemaker of you."
This was an alarming threat to Joshua, who had a foolish pride, which led him to look upon a trade as less respectable than the mercantile profession. He slunk out of the house, and Mr. Drummond went back to the store, while Walter set out on foot for the railway station, three-quarters of a mile distant.
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1
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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6
censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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9
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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15
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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16
reprobate
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| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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blustered
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| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lotteries
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| n.抽彩给奖法( lottery的名词复数 )；碰运气的事；彩票；彩券 | |
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