At the beginning of the year he was promoted, and received a considerable increase of salary. The situation given to him belonged by right of seniority of service to Max Zeigler, and was looked upon as a certainty by him. He was so indignant at the snub, that he made no effort to conceal2 his feelings. While the hurt rankled3, he went to Mr. Warmore and demanded an explanation. He got it, and resigned forthwith. No one regretted to see him go, and least of all Tom Gordon, who gave a sigh of thankfulness at the removal of the thorn from his side.
It was strange how Mr. Warmore found out everything about his employees. Often they felt astonishment5, and could not understand by what means he picked up knowledge they were often certain was only known to themselves. Thus he learned at an early date the petty persecutions suffered by Tom at the hands of Zeigler; and there can be little doubt that that information was one cause of the fellow receiving such a marked set-back. Then he knew as much of that wrestling and boxing bout4 as if he had been a witness. There is reason to suspect he was secretly pleased at the issue, though he would never admit it. It is not wise at all times for the teacher or employer to let those under his charge know the extent of his knowledge of their doings. In other words, it is not always best to see what you do see.
Mr. Warmore was a reserved man. He was kind, but just, toward his clerks. He established a free reading-room in Bellemore, saw that every employee had his regular vacation each summer or whenever he preferred it, encouraged them to be frugal6 and moral, gave them good advice, forbade coarseness of language or profanity, and hired a pew in each of the two leading churches, which were always at the disposal of his young men without any expense to them.
Occasionally he gave entertainments at his own handsome residence for their benefit. Now and then he would invite some of them to dinner. His wife was in delicate health, but a most excellent woman, who did much to make such evenings highly enjoyable. Their only son had died in his infancy7, and their daughter Jennie was attending a boarding-school. Little was seen of her, though when at home she often drove to the store with her mother, to take her father out with them. She was remarkably8 attractive in looks, but, like her father, reserved in manner. She recognized the clerks, when she chanced to meet them, with the air and manner of a lady; but all felt there was a gulf9 between her and them which was impassable. They concluded (and did not criticise10 her therefor) that she held herself socially above each and all of them.
The second incident that took place came to Tom Gordon in the summer-time while away on his fortnight's vacation. He had grown to be tall, and more attractive than when younger. He was fond of good clothes; and when he took the steamer at the landing, and went down the Hudson to New York, it would have been hard to find a better looking or more correctly costumed young man than Tom. He did not show it in his manner, but how could he help knowing it?
Strange that almost the first persons he noticed on the boat were Sam Harper and his sister Nellie, returning from an excursion up the river. They, too, had done considerable growing, and made a handsome couple. Tom looked so well that Nellie was very pleased to meet him. She would have been glad to receive attention from him, and showed by her manner that she expected it. But Tom could not forget that snub a couple of years before, when he was selling papers on a Broadway car. He liked Sam and his father and mother, but couldn't forgive Nellie for hurting his feelings. So, when the brother turned her over to him, Tom with exquisite11 courtesy raised his hat, bade her good-day, and strolled to another part of the boat. She understood the meaning of the repulse12, as he meant she should, and she felt it.
And who should he run against on the wharf13 in the city but his old friend Patsey McConough, who had done him such a good turn when he first arrived in the metropolis14. The genial15 Irishman had driven down with a carriage to meet his employer, who was on the steamer, so he had but little opportunity to talk with Tom, whom he did not recognize until the youth made himself known. But they shook hands warmly, and each was pleased to find the other doing so well. They parted with the best wishes, hoping soon to see each other again.
Tom, like a sensible youth, made the most of his vacation. He spent several days among his friends at Briggsville, who heartily16 welcomed him among them, even though saddened by the fact that the orphan17 who went away with him could never return to them again. Then he gave a few days to the seashore, where none enjoyed the bathing, the boating, and frolicking more than he. All too soon the two weeks drew to an end, and he again boarded the steamer which stopped at the landing opposite Bellemore, on its way to more important towns and cities up the Hudson.
Strolling over the boat to see whether there were any acquaintances among his fellow-travelers, he found none, and, having nothing better to do, sat down on a camp-stool on the forward deck to view the picturesque19 scenery, which, however, had become so familiar that he fell to studying human nature as it appeared immediately around him.
That which interested him the most was a dudish young man, dressed in the extreme of fashion, carrying a heavy cane20, and wearing eyeglasses. He had high cheek bones, fishy21 gray eyes, fine teeth, and a simpering smile. Tom judged he was a couple of years older than himself, and became interested in him because of his amusing efforts to charm the ladies around him. The vulgar expression would be that he was trying to "mash22" them. The word is not a good one, but it will help my reader to understand the meaning.
Evidently he believed himself irresistible23, and his smirking24, posing, and ogling25 were ludicrous to the last degree. Among the numerous young ladies on board were a dozen Vassar girls, as bright, merry, and full of mischief26 as they could possibly be. They met the ogling of the dude with sly glances and smiles which made him more killing27 than ever. Encouraged by this, and not doubting that he had made a conquest, he ventured to approach and address them. The reception he met was enough to congeal28 water. It fairly took away his breath. Then he blushed clear out to the end of his ears, and withdrew to some other part of the boat, where he could hope to be better appreciated.
Some of the girls managed to stroll thither29 a few minutes later, as if unconscious of where he had gone. Tom saw some fun was coming, and he drifted thither too.
The dude had succeeded in making an impression on a simpering girl, and was seated on one of the camp-stools beside her, talking in his drawling way, and pointing out the beautiful scenery as they swept past. He frequently raised his heavy cane and indicated the different objects, the better to enlighten his companion.
"Aw, that is Haverstraw," he volunteered, bringing the stick to a level. "It is--aw--quite a famous place; reminds me of Holland across the water, you know."
"What is there about Haverstraw to suggest Holland?" inquired his lady friend.
"They make bricks there--aw--a good many bricks--aw--may I inquire, doncherknow, did you ever see a brick?"
"Oh, yes," she replied, with an impertinent glance from her mischievous30 eyes; "I think I am looking at one now."
"You mean to say that I am a brick--aw--good, dooced good; I must tell that at the club--dooced clevah; couldn't do much bettah meself, doncherknow? Now, if you will kindly31 rise from your seat--aw--I will point out a vewy interesting mountain peak."
"Thank you, I can see well enough without rising."
Nevertheless, the dude came to a stooping posture32, and, with one gloved hand on the railing to steady him self, wabbled the bulky cane again in the direction of the shore.
"Aw--I'm a little off soundings, doncherknow, and am not suah whether that is Dunderberg Mountain or Saint Anthony's Olfactory33 Organ--aw--that's clevah, don't you think,--Saint Anthony's Olfactory Organ, doncherknow"--At the moment of partly rising to his feet, a couple of Vassar girls walked past. When directly opposite the camp-stool of the dude, one of them touched it with the toe of her shoe and shoved it to one side. The lady seated near and listening to the young man's chatter34 saw it, but pretended she did not, and, therefore, made no effort to save her new friend from his impending35 catastrophe36. It was the same with a dozen other persons.
There is no form of practical joking more to be condemned37 than that of taking a chair from under a person when he is about to sit down. Lasting38 injury has resulted in more than one instance, and no person should ever do it himself or permit it to be done by another. Possibly, however, the case now in hand was an exception; for it was evident that the principal performer was so soft that no harm could come to him from the fall. No spectator felt any misgiving39 on that score.
Finding his companion did not rise as he had requested, the young man began slowly to sit down. He continued doing so, until he struck the deck with a bump which caused his hat to fly off, the cane to drop from his hand, and his eyeglasses to fall from his nose. He gradually picked himself up, and, amid the laughter of every one near, made his way to the salon40 below, and busied himself reading a copy of an English paper.
This incident would not be worth the telling but for that which followed. The dudish young man who caused so much entertainment on board the steamer that afternoon was destined41 to cross the path of Tom Gordon in a way of which neither dreamed.
Tom gave no more thought to him until, when waiting to walk ashore18 at the landing, he saw, to his surprise, the young man was about to do the same. It looked as if he intended to make a call at Bellemore. Greater astonishment came when Tom saw the handsome carriage of Mr. Warmore at the landing. The driver was perched on the high seat in front, while Mrs. Warmore and her daughter Jennie occupied the rear seat, facing the vacant one.
"Can it be possible? Well, that beats me!"
Tom held on like grim death.
Tom held on like grim death.
The carriage was waiting for this young man, who simpered forward with uplifted hat and greeted them effusively42. Mrs. Warmore noticed Tom, and bowed to him, inviting43 him to enter the carriage and ride with them,--an invitation which, as he expressed to himself, he would not have accepted for seventeen thousand million dollars. The dude stepped into the carriage, dropped into the seat facing the ladies, and devoted44 himself to gnawing45 the head of his cane and making bright remarks to them.
"Well, who in the name of the seven wonders can he be?" mused46 Tom, walking briskly homeward. "He must be some relative of the Warmores; but they ought to be ashamed of such a specimen47 as that. He was the laughing-stock of the boat. I was forming quite an exalted48 opinion of Miss Jennie; but if she fancies that sort of thing, my respect for her has gone down to zero."
When Tom stepped upon the porch of Farmer Pitcairn's home, and shook hands with him, and received a motherly kiss from his good wife, he went inside, and, sitting down to their evening meal, asked Mr. Pitcairn whether he had noticed the young man riding in the Warmore carriage with the mother and daughter.
"Yes; I've seen him before. He is a son of an old friend of the family. I've an idee that he and Miss Warmore are intended for each other."
"Do you know his name?"
"Yes--let me see. Ah, it is Catherwood--G. Field Catherwood. He parts his name, like his hair, in the middle. He is quite a dude in his dress, but when you come to know him pretty well he isn't such a bad sort of fellow."
"How is it you know so much about him?" asked Tom in surprise.
"He has stopped here a good many times when out riding with the ladies. He's fond of mother's buttermilk."
"I thought his kind preferred sweet milk," Tom could not help remarking, with a laugh; "but I must not judge him too harshly. We all have our peculiarities49, and he is not likely to fancy me any more than I do him."
Tom returned to his work refreshed and renewed in strength and spirits. The year passed pleasantly. That which followed saw him promoted another step, so that when the fourth year opened it saw him in a situation where the salary of but a single employee exceeded his; that was the bookkeeper.
He had every reason to expect that place when the vacancy50 should occur. Mr. Warmore had given so many evidences of his regard that it was conceded by all that he was his favorite clerk. He had never violated his principles of honesty, truthfulness51, and consideration for every one with whom he came in contact. A young man who lives up to that rule of conduct is as sure to succeed, if his life is spared, as the sun is to rise.
The bookkeeper was an elderly gentleman, so well-to-do that, at the beginning of the fifth year, he resigned and gave up all active work. His son was engaged in successful business in New York, and urged his father to join him, where he would be a partner. So he left. His successor in the establishment of Mr. Warmore, instead of being Tom Gordon, was G. Field Catherwood.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
rankled
|
|
| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bout
|
|
| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
frugal
|
|
| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
infancy
|
|
| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
gulf
|
|
| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
criticise
|
|
| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
repulse
|
|
| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
wharf
|
|
| n.码头，停泊处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
metropolis
|
|
| n.首府；大城市 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
orphan
|
|
| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
fishy
|
|
| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
mash
|
|
| n.麦芽浆，糊状物，土豆泥；v.把…捣成糊状，挑逗，调情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
smirking
|
|
| v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
ogling
|
|
| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
congeal
|
|
| v.凝结，凝固 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
mischievous
|
|
| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
posture
|
|
| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
olfactory
|
|
| adj.嗅觉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
chatter
|
|
| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
catastrophe
|
|
| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
lasting
|
|
| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
misgiving
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
salon
|
|
| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
effusively
|
|
| adv.变溢地，热情洋溢地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
inviting
|
|
| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
gnawing
|
|
| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
mused
|
|
| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
peculiarities
|
|
| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
vacancy
|
|
| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
truthfulness
|
|
| n. 符合实际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |