CHAPTER IV. AT THE HOSPITAL.

 On a neat bed, at the Bellevue Hospital, old Jacob was stretched out. He had been in considerable pain, but opiates had been administered, and he was in an uneasy slumber¹.

 

Tom presented himself at the office below as soon as he could after hearing of the accident.

 

"Is he much hurt? Is he in danger?" he asked, anxiously, for Jacob was nearer to him than any one else.

 

"He is now sleeping, and must not be disturbed. Come tomorrow, and we can tell you more," was the reply.

 

"You can tell me if he was much hurt."

 

"One leg is broken, but we cannot yet tell whether he has received any internal injury. All depends upon that."

 

Tom presented himself the next day. This time the physician looked grave.

 

"We have reason to think that he is injured internally. His life is uncertain."

 

"Poor Jacob!" murmured Tom, moved by pity for the old man.

 

"Is he your grandfather?" asked the physician.

 

"No; but I have lived with him for some years. Can I see him?"

 

"Yes."

 

Tom followed the doctor into a long hall lined with beds. About midway, on the left hand side, he recognized the form of his old companion.

 

"I am sorry to see you here, Jacob," said Tom, gently.

 

"I'm almost dead," said the old man, peevishly². "The man drove over me on purpose."

 

"I hope not."

 

"I tell you he did!" said Jacob, irritably³.

 

"Well, Jacob, it can't be helped. You must try to get well."

 

"I'm an old man. I'm afraid I shall never get well again," and he looked eagerly into Tom's face.

 

Having heard what he did from the doctor, Tom was placed in an awkward position. He was too honest to give false hopes, and he remained silent.

 

"What did the doctor tell you?" demanded Jacob, suspiciously.

 

"He said he could not tell whether you would get well or not."

 

"He thought I was going to die?" said the old man, nervously⁴.

 

"He didn't say that."

 

"I don't want to die," moaned the old man, terrified. "I'm only sixty-five. My father lived to be seventy-five."

 

"You may live, Jacob."

 

"I—I'm not ready to die. Ask the doctor to do all he can."

 

"He will be sure to do that."

 

There was a pause. The old man's features were convulsed. He had not till now thought that he was in danger of dying. He was trying to realize the terrible fact. Tom stood by in silence, for he had some idea of Jacob's feelings, and he pitied him.

 

At length the old man turned his face again toward him, and said:

 

"Tom?"

 

"What is it, Jacob?"

 

"I want you to ask the doctor every day if he thinks I am going to die; and, when he says there is no hope, tell me."

 

"Yes, Jacob."

 

"Do you promise?"

 

"Yes, I promise."

 

"There is something I must tell you before I die—something important. Do you hear?"

 

"Yes, I hear."

 

"It's something you ought to know. Now you can go. I want to sleep."

 

"Perhaps it is something about my father," thought Tom, with vague curiosity.

 

It was a matter that he had never troubled himself much about, but now it did occur to him that he should like to know a little more about himself. He determined⁵ to keep faithfully the promise he had made the old man.

 

He was destined⁶ to have one more adventure before the day closed.

 

On leaving the hospital Tom directed his course to Broadway. It was the busiest part of the day, and the street was crowded with stages, drays, and other vehicles, making it difficult to cross.

 

A hump-backed seamstress stood on the sidewalk, looking helplessly across, but not daring to venture on the perilous⁷ passage. There was no policeman in sight.

 

"I wish I could get across," she said, loud enough to be heard. "Mother won't know what has become of me."

 

Tom saw her anxious face, and stepped up at once.

 

"I will take you across, miss," he said, politely.

 

"Will you?" she asked, her face brightening. "I shall be very much obliged to you. My poor mother is sick at home, waiting for some medicine I went out to get for her, and I have been standing⁸ here ten minutes, not daring to cross. I don't know when Broadway has been so full."

 

"Take my arm," said Tom, "and don't be afraid."

 

She had scarcely taken our hero's arm, when a rude street-boy called out, in derision:

 

"Is that your girl, Tom? Ask her what she will take for her hump."

 

"I'll lick you when I come back," retorted Tom. "Don't mind what he says, miss."

 

"I don't," said the seamstress; "I'm used to it," she added with a patient sigh.

 

"Don't think about it," said Tom.

 

"You are not ashamed to be seen with a hunchback?"

 

"There ain't no cause."

 

By this time Tom had skillfully threaded his way with his companion across the street, and landed her in safety on the other side.

 

"I am very much obliged to you," she said, gratefully. "You're a gentleman."

 

With these words she nodded, and walked hastily away.

 

"A gentleman!" repeated Tom, thoughtfully. "Nobody ever called me that before. My clo'es don't look much like it. Maybe it ain't all in the clo'es. I'd like to be a gentleman, and," he added, impulsively⁹, "I mean to be one, some time. I'll have to change my business fust, though. Gentlemen don't generally black boots for a livin'."

 

It was a passing thought that came to him by chance, his desire to grow up a gentleman, but he was more than half in earnest. He had not thought much about the future hitherto, but now his ambition was kindled¹⁰, and he thought he should like to fill a respectable place in society.

 

What road should he take to the success which he coveted¹¹?

1 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。

2 peevishly   

adv．暴躁地

参考例句：

• Paul looked through his green glasses peevishly when the other speaker brought down the house with applause. 当另一个演说者赢得了满座喝彩声时，保罗心里又嫉妒又气恼。
• "I've been sick, I told you," he said, peevishly, almost resenting her excessive pity. “我生了一场病，我告诉过你了，"他没好气地说，对她的过分怜悯几乎产生了怨恨。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

3 irritably   

ad.易生气地

参考例句：

• He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children. 他发火了，暴躁地斥责孩子们。
• On this account the silence was irritably broken by a reproof. 为了这件事，他妻子大声斥责，令人恼火地打破了宁静。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 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。

7 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

9 impulsively   

adv.冲动地

参考例句：

• She leant forward and kissed him impulsively. 她倾身向前，感情冲动地吻了他。
• Every good, true, vigorous feeling I had gathered came impulsively round him. 我的一切良好、真诚而又强烈的感情都紧紧围绕着他涌现出来。

10 kindled   

（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

参考例句：

• We watched as the fire slowly kindled. 我们看着火慢慢地燃烧起来。
• The teacher's praise kindled a spark of hope inside her. 老师的赞扬激起了她内心的希望。

11 coveted   

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

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》