With all his unattractiveness, Nick might have possessed2 qualities which would have rightly made him popular. So far from this, however, he was naturally mean, selfish, and a bully3, with very slight regard for truth.
Will it be believed that, in spite of his homely4 face, Nick really thought himself good-looking and aspired5 to be a beau? For this reason he had often wished that he possessed Philip's accomplishment6 of being able to play upon the violin.
His conversational7 powers were rather limited, and he felt at a loss when he undertook to make himself fascinating to the young ladies in the village. If he could only play on the violin like Philip he thought he would be irresistible8.
He had therefore conceived the design of buying Philip's instrument for a trifle, judging that our hero would feel compelled to sell it.
The reader will now understand the object which led to Nick's call so soon after the funeral of Mr. Gray. He was afraid some one else might forestall9 him in gaining possession of the coveted10 instrument.
When Philip saw who his visitor was, he was not overjoyed. It was with reluctance11 that he rose and gave admission to Nick.
“I thought I would call around and see you, Phil,” said Nick, as he sat down in the most comfortable chair in the room.
“Thank you,” responded Phil coldly.
“Do you mean my father?” inquired Philip.
“Of course I do. There ain't any one else dead, is there!”
“I had been expecting my poor father's death for some time,” said Philip gravely.
“Just so! He wa'n't very rugged14. We've all got to come to it sooner or later. I expect dad'll die of apoplexy some time-he's so awful fat,” remarked Nicholas cheerfully. “If he does, it's lucky he's got me to run the business. I'm only eighteen, but I can get along as well as anybody. I'm kinder smart in business.”
“I am glad you are smart in anything,” thought Philip; for he knew that Nick was a hopeless dunce in school duties.
“I hope your father'll live a good while,” he said politely.
“Yes, of course,” said Nick lightly. “I'd be sorry to have the old man pop off; but then you never can tell about such a thing as that.”
Philip did not relish15 the light way in which Nick referred to such a loss as he was suffering from, and, by way of changing the subject, said:
“I believe you said you came on business, Nicholas?”
“My violin!” said Philip, rather surprised.
“What for?”
“To play on, of course! What did you think I wanted it for?”
“But you can't play, can you?”
“Not yet; but I expect you could show me some—now, couldn't you?”
“What put it into your head to want to play on the violin?” asked Philip, with some curiosity.
“Why, you see, the girls like it. It would be kind of nice when I go to a party, or marm has company, to scrape off a tune18 or two-just like you do. It makes a feller kinder pop'lar with the girls, don't you see?” said Nick, with a knowing grin.
“And you want to be popular with the young ladies!” said Philip, smiling, in spite of his bereavement19, at the idea being entertained by such a clumsy-looking caliban as Nick Holden.
“Of course I do!” answered Nick, with another grin. “You see I'm gettin' along-I'll be nineteen next month, and I might want to get married by the time I'm twenty-one, especially if the old man should drop off sudden.”
“I understand all that, Nicholas—”
“Call me Nick. I ain't stuck up if I am most a man. Call me pet names, dearest.”
“Just as you prefer. Nick, then, I understand your object. But what made you think I wanted to sell the violin?”
It was Nick's turn to be surprised.
“Yes; but the violin is mine, and I am not going to sell it.”
“You'll have to,” said Nick.
“What do you mean by that, Nicholas Holden?” said Philip quickly.
“Because you'll have to sell everything to pay your father's debt. My father said so this very morning.”
“I think I know my own business best,” said Philip coldly. “I shall keep the violin.”
“Maybe it ain't for you to say,” returned Nick, apparently23 not aware of his insolence24. “Come, now, I'll tell you what I'll do. My father's got a bill against yours for a dollar and sixty-four cents. I told father I had a use for the fiddle, and he says if you'll give it to me, he'll call it square. There, what do you say to that?”
Nicholas leaned back in his chair and looked at Philip through his small, fishy25 eyes, as if he had made an uncommonly26 liberal offer. As for Philip, he hardly knew whether to be angry or amused.
“You offer me a dollar and sixty-four cents for my violin?” he repeated.
“Yes. It's second-hand27, to be sure, but I guess it's in pretty fair condition. Besides, you might help me a little about learnin' how to play.”
“How much do you suppose the violin cost?” inquired Philip.
“Couldn't say.”
“It cost my father twenty-five dollars.”
“Oh, come, now, that's too thin! You don't expect a feller to believe such a story as that?”
“I expect to be believed, for I never tell anything but the truth.”
“Oh, well, I don't expect you do, generally, but when it comes to tradin', most everybody lies,” observed Nick candidly28.
“I have no object in misrepresenting, for I don't want to sell the violin.”
“You can't afford to keep it! The town won't let you!”
“The town won't let me?” echoed Philip, now thoroughly29 mystified.
“Of course they won't. The idea of a pauper30 bein' allowed a fiddle to play on! Why, it's ridiculous!”
“What do you mean?” demanded Philip, who now began to comprehend the meaning of this thick-witted visitor. “What have I got to do with the town, or with paupers31?”
“Why, you're goin' to the poorhouse, ain't you?”
“Certainly not!” answered Philip, with flashing eyes.
“I guess you're mistaken,” said Nick coolly. “Squire Pope was over to our shop this mornin', and he told dad that the seleckmen were goin' to send you there after the auction.”
Philip's eyes flashed angrily. He felt insulted and outraged32. Never for a moment had he conceived the idea that any one would regard him as a candidate for the poorhouse.
He had an honorable pride in maintaining himself, and would rather get along on one meal a day, earned by himself in honest independence, than be indebted to public charity even for a luxurious33 support.
“Squire Pope doesn't know what he's talking about,” retorted Philip, who had to exercise some self-restraint not to express himself more forcibly “and you can tell him so when you see him. I am no more likely to go to the poorhouse than you are!”
“Come, that's a good one,” chuckled34 Nick. “Talk of me goin' to the poorhouse, when my father pays one of the biggest taxes in town! Of course, it's different with you.”
“You'll have to excuse me now,” said Philip, determined35 to get rid of his disagreeable companion. “I have something to do.”
“Then you won't sell me the fiddle, Phil?”
“Then I'll have to bid it off at the auction. Maybe I'll get it cheaper.”
And Mr. Nicholas Holden at length relieved Philip of his company.
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1
freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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forestall
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| vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止 | |
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coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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15
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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16
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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19
bereavement
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| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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22
auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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23
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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24
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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fishy
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| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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28
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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30
pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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paupers
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| n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷 | |
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32
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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34
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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