CHAPTER XXXVI — A LETTER FROM LUKE

 "There's a letter for you, Linton," said Henry Wagner, as he met Linton Tomkins near the hotel. "I just saw your name on the list."

 

In the Groveton post-office, as in many country offices, it was the custom to post a list of those for whom letters had been received.

 

"It must be from Luke," thought Linton, joyfully¹, and he bent² his steps immediately toward the office. No one in the village, outside of Luke's family, missed him more than Linton. Though Luke was two years and a half older, they had always been intimate friends. Linton's family occupied a higher social position, but there was nothing snobbish⁴ about Linton, as there was about Randolph, and it made no difference to him that Luke lived in a small and humble⁵ cottage, and, till recently, had been obliged to wear old and shabby clothes. In this democratic spirit, Linton was encouraged by his parents, who, while appreciating the refinement⁶ which is apt to be connected with liberal means, were too sensible to undervalue sterling⁷ merit and good character.

 

Linton was right. His letter was from Luke. It read thus:

 

"DEAR LINNY: I was very glad to receive your letter. It made me homesick for a short time. At any rate, it made me wish that I could be back for an hour in dear old Groveton. I cannot tell you where I am, for that is a secret of my employer. I am a long way from home; I can tell you that much. When I get home, I shall be able to tell you all. You will be glad to know that I have succeeded in the mission on which I was sent, and have revived a telegram of thanks from my employer.

 

"It will not be long now before I am back in Groveton. I wonder if my dear friend Randolph will be glad to see me? You can remember me to him when you see him. It will gratify him to know that I am well and doing well, and that my prospects⁹ for the future are excellent.

 

"Give my regards to your father and mother, who have always been kind to me. I shall come and see you the first thing after I return. If you only knew how hard I find it to refrain from telling you all, where I am and what adventures I have met with, how I came near being robbed twice, and many other things, you would appreciate my self-denial. But you shall know all very soon. I have had a good time—the best time in my life. Let mother read this letter, and believe me, dear Lin,

 

"Your affectionate friend,

 

"LUKE LARKIN."

 

Linton's curiosity was naturally excited by the references in Luke's letter.

 

"Where can Luke be?" he asked. "I wish he were at liberty to tell."

 

Linton never dreamed, however, that his friend was two thousand miles away, in the wild West. It would have seemed to him utterly¹⁰ improbable.

 

He was folding up the letter as he was walking homeward, when he met Randolph Duncan.

 

"What's that, Linton?" he asked. "A love-letter?"

 

"Not much; I haven't got so far along. It is a letter from Luke Larkin."

 

"Oh!" sneered¹¹ Randolph. "I congratulate you on your correspondent. Is he in New York?"

 

"The letter is postmarked in New York, but he is traveling."

 

"Traveling? Where is he traveling?"

 

"He doesn't say. This letter is forwarded by Mr. Reed."

 

"The man who robbed the bank?"

 

"What makes you say that? What proof have you that he robbed the bank?"

 

"I can't prove it, but my father thinks he is the robber. There was something very suspicious about that tin box which he handed to Luke."

 

"It was opened in court, and proved to contain private papers."

 

"Oh, that's easily seen through. He took out the bonds, and put in the papers. I suppose he has experience in that sort of thing."

 

"Does your father think that?"

 

"Yes, he does. What does Luke say?"

 

"Wait a minute, and I will read you a paragraph," said Linton, with a mischievous¹² smile. Thereupon he read the paragraph in which Randolph was mentioned.

 

"What does he mean by calling me his dear friend?" exclaimed Randolph indignantly. "I never was his dear friend, and never want to be."

 

"I believe you, Randolph. Shall I tell you what he means?"

 

"Yes."

 

"He means it for a joke. He knows you don't like him, and he isn't breaking his heart over it."

 

"It's pretty cheeky in him! Just tell him when you write that he needn't call me his dear friend again."

 

"You might hurt his feelings," said Linton, gravely.

 

"That for his feelings!" said Randolph, with a snap of his fingers. "You say he's traveling. Shall I tell you what I think he is doing?"

 

"If you like."

 

"I think he is traveling with a blacking-box in his hand. It's just the business for him."

 

"I don't think you are right. He wouldn't make enough in that way to pay traveling expenses. He says he has twice come near being robbed."

 

Randolph laughed derisively¹³.

 

"A thief wouldn't make much robbing him," he said. "If he got twenty-five cents he'd be lucky."

 

"You forget that he has a nice silver watch?"

 

Randolph frowned. This with him was a sore reflection. Much as he was disposed to look down upon Luke, he was aware that Luke's watch was better than his, and, though he had importuned¹⁴ his father more than once to buy him a gold watch, he saw no immediate³ prospect⁸ of his wish being granted.

 

"Oh, well, I've talked enough of Luke Larkin," he said, snappishly. "He isn't worth so many words. I am very much surprised that a gentleman's son like you, Linton, should demean himself by keeping company with such a boy."

 

"There is no boy in the village whom I would rather associate with," said Linton, with sturdy friendship.

 

"I don't admire your taste, then," said Randolph. "I don't believe your father and mother like you to keep such company."

 

"There you are mistaken," said Linton, with spirit. "They have an excellent opinion of Luke, and if he should ever need a friend, I am sure my father would be willing to help him."

 

"Well, I must be going," said Randolph, by no means pleased with this advocacy of Luke. "Come round and see me soon. You never come to our house."

 

Linton answered politely, but did not mean to become intimate with Randolph, who was by no means to his taste. He knew that it was only his social position that won him the invitation, and that if his father should suddenly lose his property, Randolph's cordiality would be sensibly diminished. Such friendship, he felt, was not to be valued.

 

"What are you thinking about? You seem in a brown study," said a pleasant voice.

 

Looking up, Linton recognized his teacher, Mr. Hooper.

 

"I was thinking of Luke Larkin," answered Linton.

 

"By the by, where is Luke? I have not seen him for some time."

 

"He is traveling for Mr. Reed, I believe."

 

"The man who committed the tin box to his care?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Do you know where he is?"

 

"No, sir. I have just received a letter from him, but he says he is not at liberty to mention where he is."

 

"Will he be home soon?"

 

"Yes, I think so."

 

"I shall be glad to see him. He is one of the most promising¹⁵ of my pupils."

 

Linton's expressive¹⁶ face showed the pleasure he felt at this commendation of his friend. He felt more gratified than if Mr. Hooper had directly praised him.

 

"Luke can stand Randolph's depreciation," he reflected, "with such a friend as Mr. Hooper."

 

Linton was destined¹⁷ to meet plenty of acquaintances. Scarcely had he parted from Mr. Hooper, when Tony Denton met him. The keeper of the billiard-room was always on the alert to ingratiate himself with the young people of the village, looking upon them as possible patrons of his rooms. He would have been glad to draw in Linton, on account of his father's prominent position in the village.

 

"Good day, my young friend," he said, with suavity¹⁸.

 

"Good day, Mr. Denton," responded Linton, who thought it due to himself to be polite, though he did not fancy Mr. Denton.

 

"I should be very glad to have you look in at my billiard-room, Mr. Linton," continued Tony.

 

"Thank you sir, but I don't think my father would like to have me visit a billiard-saloon—at any rate, till I am older."

 

"Oh, I'll see that you come to no harm. If you don't want to play, you can look on."

 

"At any rate, I am obliged to you for your polite invitation."

 

"Oh, I like to have the nice boys of the village around me. Your friend Randolph Duncan often visits me."

 

"So I have heard," replied Linton.

 

"Well, I won't keep you, but remember my invitation."

 

"I am not very likely to accept," thought Linton. "I have heard that Randolph visits the billiard-room too often for his good."

1 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

2 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

3 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。

4 snobbish   

adj.势利的，谄上欺下的

参考例句：

• She's much too snobbish to stay at that plain hotel.她很势利，不愿住在那个普通旅馆。
• I'd expected her to be snobbish but she was warm and friendly.我原以为她会非常势利，但她却非常热情和友好。

5 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。

6 refinement   

n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼

参考例句：

• Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
• Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。

7 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

8 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

9 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

10 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

11 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

12 mischievous   

adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的

参考例句：

• He is a mischievous but lovable boy.他是一个淘气但可爱的小孩。
• A mischievous cur must be tied short.恶狗必须拴得短。

13 derisively   

adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地

参考例句：

• This answer came derisively from several places at the same instant. 好几个人都不约而同地以讥讽的口吻作出回答。
• The others laughed derisively. 其余的人不以为然地笑了起来。

14 importuned   

v.纠缠，向（某人）不断要求( importune的过去式和过去分词 )；（妓女）拉（客）

参考例句：

• The boy importuned the teacher to raise his mark. 那个男孩纠缠着老师给他提分（数）。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He importuned me for a position in my office. 他不断地要求我在我的办事处给他一个位置。 来自辞典例句

15 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

16 expressive   

adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的

参考例句：

• Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
• He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。

17 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

18 suavity   

n.温和；殷勤

参考例句：

• He's got a surface flow of suavity,but he's rough as a rasp underneath.他表面看来和和气气的，其实是个粗野狂暴的恶棍。
• But the well-bred,artificial smile,when he bent upon the guests,had its wonted steely suavity.但是他哈着腰向宾客招呼的那种彬彬有礼、故意装成的笑容里，却仍然具有它平时那种沉着的殷勤。