"Good Lord! suppose I'd been laid out before I had a chance to spend a dollar!" he thought with horror.
He looked at his watch. It was only half-past ten. It had taken him less than an hour to acquire eighty millions. An hour and a half must still pass before he could satisfy his great need of telling Kate what had happened—that is unless he descended3 on her office and carried her off bodily in a taxi-cab, like young Lochinvar. But he was doubtful how Kate would take this. He was a little afraid of Kate.
In the meantime he had to see his lawyer. But he couldn't very well go and ask a man to take charge of an eighty million dollar estate while he looked like a tramp. Clothes!—enchanting thought; he was able to buy anything in New York that caught his fancy. It need not be supposed that the fair sex enjoys a monopoly of this passion; the young male, being more restricted in his choice, brings to it a deeper, more concentrated passion. The difference in shirt patterns! The design of a cravat4 of which only four square inches is shown!
He retreated into the shelter of a doorway5 to consider this matter, watching the passers-by meanwhile for inspiration. But he did not see what he wanted. The young men looked either grubby or flash. Jack discovered that he had a definite taste in clothes that he had never been able to indulge.
He was aware of course of the subtle differences between ready-made and made-to-order. But while he took the time to search out the best tailor in New York he had to have something. Dimly he remembered having heard of a fine old firm that outfitted6 men from top to toe. It was on Madison avenue. He looked about for the nearest subway station, and then remembered with a delightful start that there were such things as taxi-cabs in the world, and his pocket was full of money.
He held up a negligent7 finger to a passing cab. He got in and, leaning back luxuriously8, wondered how the people who looked at him would look if they knew!
At a few minutes before noon, an elegantly dressed young fellow, conspicuous9 for his graceful10 figure and sparkling brown eyes, was walking nervously11 up and down Centre street; ten paces each way and back. A taxi-cab waited at the curb12 beside him. In one hand the young man carried a pair of yellow chamois gloves, and swung a yellow malacca stick in the other. He wore a boutonnière of corn-flowers.
As he waited his nervousness increased. It suddenly occurred to him that to greet Kate with a flourish of the new Fedora, and hand her into the waiting taxi might create a scandal in the eyes of her fellow workers. Indeed he was not at all sure but that she might turn him down flat. At the same time he began to worry about the yellow gloves and the yellow stick—a thought too conspicuous for Centre street, perhaps.
Finally he went to the cab and, unobtrusively dropping the stick inside, paid the man off and let him go. He then thrust the gloves and the boutonnière in his pocket, and felt much better.
When Kate finally did come down-stairs, her first glance overlooked the new clothes entirely13, and went straight to his eyes. Seeing the beaming smile there, her eyes fell demurely14. Then did she perceive the finery from the feet up, but was too well bred to make any comment. Jack was obliged to ask her very off-hand:
"Notice any change?"
"You look very nice to-day."
"Oh, I got tired going round like a rag-picker!"
She made no further remark, and Jack who had counted on creating more of an effect than this, felt a little aggrieved15. You never could get any change out of this girl, he reflected. But just let her wait! She was due to be surprised for once in her young life!
At the corner he held her in talk for a moment, while he searched for a taxi out of the tail of his eye.
"Let's not go to Geiger's to-day."
"Geiger's is all right."
"I'm sick of the joint16!"
"It's as good as any of the places around here."
"Let's go down-town."
"But you know I only have an hour."
A taxi came bowling17 through from the Bowery with its little "vacant" flag raised. Jack held up a finger. It drew up beside them with squealing18 brakes, and the chauffeur19 opened the door. Kate who had not observed Jack's signal, turned her back on it.
"Get in," said Jack.
That was when she received her first shock. Her eyes opened very wide. "Why, Mr. Norman!" she began.
"Get in!" said Jack so peremptorily20, that in her state of fluster21 she actually obeyed.
"Café Savarin," said Jack to the chauffeur.
The cab started with a jerk, throwing them back on the cushions. "Let me out!" she said—but not very strongly.
He affected22 not to hear. There was a delicious satisfaction in seeing the self-possessed little lady overcome with confusion, if only for a moment.
"To-morrow I'll come for you in my own car," he said, nonchalantly.
"Are you crazy?" she murmured, really alarmed.
He laughed. "Can't I have a car as well as anybody?"
"But I thought—that is—you always said——"
"That I was as poor as Job's turkey, eh? Only a stall. I just worked for Fisher for the sociological experience. I don't have to work really."
She looked at him with troubled eyes.
He couldn't resist the temptation to tease her a little. "My old man's a multi-millionaire," he rattled23 on. "Of course I get sick of that life sometimes, and scout24 about a bit."
Her eyes became so reproachful his heart smote25 him.
"Oh, that's only a joke," he said quickly. "Lord knows the poverty was real enough—but it's over for good!" "For both of us," he would have liked to add, but did not quite dare. "Look!" he cried, drawing his hand out of his pocket with the great roll of yellow-backed bills. "My income for half an hour!"
"Where did you get it?" she said aghast
He laughed again. "Honest, I didn't steal it."
"Please!"
He told her at last. The story sounded strange in his own ears. When he came to the end he saw to his astonishment26 that there were tears in her eyes.
"Why—why, what's the matter?" he cried.
"I don't know," she said smiling through the rain. "Am I not silly? But I suppose it means change. And I hate changes!"
"A change for the better, only. If you knew how I hated poverty!"
Her eyes dropped. "I, too," that meant, but she did not care to tell him so, audibly.
"If you knew how mean I felt every day when we went to that beanery together, and you had to pay for your own lunch!"
"But what was the difference? We both work for our living."
"A man feels differently. Why I never would ask you if I could come to see you in the evenings, because I couldn't take you out anywhere. I was afraid I couldn't keep my end up with your gang."
"I haven't any gang," she murmured.
"Well all that's ended now! Now there's no limit but the sky! And here we are. The lawyer guy told me this was the swellest place down-town."
A fresh panic seized her. "I can't eat in a place like this! I'm not fit to be seen!"
"Nonsense! You always look like a lady!"
Circumstances were too strong for her. She found herself being wafted27 across the sidewalk, and was delivered into the hands of the maid in the lobby, before she could think of an effective resistance. Indeed they were seated at a snowy little board brightened by an electric candle, before she really got her breath. At Jack's elbow stood a post-graduate waiter with a deferential28 bend in his back, and at just the right distance an orchestra was discussing the Meditation29 from Tha?s.
A sigh escaped Kate, for after all she was a perfectly30 human girl. "Oh, this is heavenly!"
Jack's eyes sparkled. "Good! I was wondering when you'd begin to let yourself go." He leaned forward. "You should worry! You're the prettiest girl here—and the best dressed!"
Which was true—on both counts. There was no doubt about her prettiness; Heaven had attended to that. Eyes of the deepest blue with a glance steady and deep; an adorable little nose, and a mouth at once firm and most kissable. As for her clothes, it may be they were of cheap materials, but the taste that had chosen redeemed31 them. The hat, most important item, was of Kate's own manufacture, being copied from the window of a milliner whose name is a household word.
"Don't be silly," said the wearer severely32. "The waiter is waiting."
"That's what he's here for! Oh, dear! I wish we could stay all afternoon!"
This was put forth33 really as a proposal rather than a wish. But Kate was relentless34.
"We'll have to hurry," she said firmly.
"Well, we've time for a cup of green turtle, a lobster35 paté and a coupe St. Jacques," said Jack. A whispered order was added, and one of the yellow backs changed hands. The waiter departed.
"One would think you had been coming here all your life," said Kate demurely.
This was delicious flattery. "I've planned it in dreams," he said.
Presently the waiter returned, smiling from ear to ear, and bearing a bunch of violets almost as big as a cart wheel. Their delicious fragrance36 filled all the air. With a flourish he placed them before Kate.
She gasped37. "Oh! How wonderful! For me!"
"Who do you think?" said Jack.
"But—but what shall I do with them?"
"Put them on. Any woman can wear violets without hurting."
"But what will they think when I get back to the office."
"The worst!" said Jack solemnly.
"Oh, Mr. Norman!"
"Why go back to the office?" asked Jack very offhand38.
"Oh, Mr. Norman!" she said again, with a scandalized air.
"My name is Jack," he said unabashed.
She made believe not to hear.
"I can't bear to think of you working even for a day longer in that stuffy39 hole! Why, my first thought when I heard the news was I can take her out of that! What fun will it be for me to fluff around town spending money when you are still jailed there, punishing the alphabet."
"What do you mean?" she said, trying to look indignant.
"You know what I mean. Or if you don't, look at me and you'll see!"
She did not avail herself of the invitation. "You don't seem to have thought much of me. What I might like. Am I nothing to you, but a sort of little follower40, a hanger-on to help you spend money!"
"Oh, Katy, that's unjust. Look at me! Katy darling, I love you. Will you marry me?"
"Somebody will hear you," she murmured glancing nervously around.
"That's no answer."
"Why—I scarcely know you!"
"Time will fix that."
"You're not in earnest."
"I am! Look at me! I know you well! For months I have thought of you night and day. Oh, I tried to cut you out at first; I thought I was only storing up trouble for myself. Poor devil of a stool-warmer like me. What chance did I have? But I couldn't help myself! Every time I saw your face at the window I forgot my hard-headed resolutions. You see you had me at a disadvantage. I had an ideal of what a lady was, that I got from my mother—but knocking round in cheap boarding houses, well you don't meet that kind. It was just plumb41 luck my meeting you. First time I heard your voice you just knocked me out. That was what I had wanted—all my life. Look at me! Don't you think I'm in earnest now?"
"Please, not here!" she murmured.
He suddenly realized that a girl is entitled to a certain degree of privacy in receiving a proposal. "Oh! I clean forgot where we were!" he said contritely42. "I'm sorry. The two things are so mixed up in my mind, I felt I couldn't tell you quick enough."
A silence fell between them. He studied her face wistfully, but could read nothing in the closed lips and downcast eyes.
"Katy, dear, can't you give me one word to go on?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing definite, Katy—but just a hint I can't stand the suspense43."
She murmured softly: "My answer is no."
"Oh, Katy!" he said brokenly. "Sometimes I thought you looked at me as if—my mistake, I suppose. Don't you like me, Katy?"
"One doesn't marry on liking44. I used to like you as a poor boy; But money changes people's characters. I'll have to wait and see."
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收听单词发音
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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2
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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3
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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6
outfitted
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| v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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8
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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9
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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10
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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12
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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13
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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14
demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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15
aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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16
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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17
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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18
squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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19
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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20
peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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21
fluster
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| adj.慌乱，狼狈，混乱，激动 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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24
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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25
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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26
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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27
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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29
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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30
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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31
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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32
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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33
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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34
relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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35
lobster
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| n.龙虾，龙虾肉 | |
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36
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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37
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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38
offhand
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| adj.临时，无准备的；随便，马虎的 | |
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39
stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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40
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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41
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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42
contritely
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43
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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44
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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