That which was the supreme1 tragedy to the broken girl in the cellmerely afforded rather agreeable entertainment to her formerfellows of the department store. Mary Turner throughout her termof service there had been without real intimates, so that nownone was ready to mourn over her fate. Even the two room-mateshad felt some slight offense2, since they sensed the superiorityof her, though vaguely3. Now, they found a smug satisfaction inthe fact of her disaster as emphasizing very pleasurably theirown continuance in respectability.
As many a philosopher has observed, we secretly enjoy themisfortunes of others, particularly of our friends, since theyare closest to us. Most persons hasten to deny this truth in itsapplication to themselves. They do so either because from lack ofclear understanding they are not quite honest with themselves,from lack of clear introspection, or because, as may be moreeasily believed, they are not quite honest in the assertion. As amatter of fact, we do find a singular satisfaction in thetroubles of others. Contemplation of such suffering renders morestriking the contrasted well-being4 of our own lot. We need thepains of others to serve as background for our joys--just as sinis essential as the background for any appreciation5 of virtue6,even any knowledge of its existence.... So now, on the day ofMary Turner's trial, there was a subtle gaiety of gossipings toand fro through the store. The girl's plight7 was like ashuttlecock driven hither and yon by the battledores of manytongues. It was the first time in many years that one of theemployees had been thus accused of theft. Shoplifters were socommon as to be a stale topic. There was a refreshing8 novelty inthis case, where one of themselves was the culprit. Her fellowworkers chatted desultorily9 of her as they had opportunity, andcomplacently thanked their gods that they were not as she--withreason. Perhaps, a very few were kindly10 hearted enough to feel atouch of sympathy for this ruin of a life.
Of such was Smithson, a member of the executive staff, who didnot hesitate to speak his mind, though none too forcibly. As forthat, Smithson, while the possessor of a dignity nourished byyears of floor-walking, was not given to the holding of vigorousopinions. Yet, his comment, meager11 as it was, stood wholly inMary's favor. And he spoke12 with a certain authority, since hehad given official attention to the girl.
Smithson stopped Sarah Edwards, Mr. Gilder13's private secretary,as she was passing through one of the departments that morning,to ask her if the owner had yet reached his office.
"Been and gone," was the secretary's answer, with the tersenesscharacteristic of her.
"Gone!" Smithson repeated, evidently somewhat disturbed by theinformation. "I particularly wanted to see him.""He'll be back, all right," Sarah vouchsafed15, amiably16. "He wentdown-town, to the Court of General Sessions. The judge sent forhim about the Mary Turner case.""Oh, yes, I remember now," Smithson exclaimed. Then he added,with a trace of genuine feeling, "I hope the poor girl gets off.
She was a nice girl--quite the lady, you know, Miss Edwards.""No, I don't know," Sarah rejoined, a bit tartly17. Truth to tell,the secretary was haunted by a grim suspicion that she herselfwas not quite the lady of her dreams, and never would be able toacquire the graces of the Vere De Vere. For Sarah, while a mostefficient secretary, was not in her person of that slenderelegance which always characterized her favorite heroines in thenovels she affected18. On the contrary, she was of a sort to havegratified Byron, who declared that a woman in her maturity19 shouldbe plump. Now, she recalled with a twinge of envy that theaccused girl had been of an aristocratic slimness of form. "Oh,did you know her?" she questioned, without any real interest.
Smithson answered with that bland20 stateliness of manner which wasthe fruit of floor-walking politeness.
"Well, I couldn't exactly say I knew her, and yet I might say,after a manner of speaking, that I did--to a certain extent. Yousee, they put her in my department when she first came here towork. She was a good saleswoman, as saleswomen go. For thematter of that," he added with a sudden access of energy, "shewas the last girl in the world I'd take for a thief." Hedisplayed some evidences of embarrassment21 over the honest feelinginto which he had been betrayed, and made haste to recover hisusual business manner, as he continued formally. "Will youplease let me know when Mr. Gilder arrives? There are one or twolittle matters I wish to discuss with him.""All right!" Sarah agreed briskly, and she hurried on toward theprivate office.
The secretary was barely seated at her desk when the violentopening of the door startled her, and, as she looked up, a cheeryvoice cried out:
"Hello, Dad!"At the same moment, a young man entered, with an air of care-freeassurance, his face radiant. But, as his glance went to theempty arm-chair at the desk, he halted abruptly22, and hisexpression changed to one of disappointment.
"Not here!" he grumbled23. Then, once again the smile was on hislips as his eyes fell on the secretary, who had now risen to herfeet in a flutter of excitement.
"Why, Mr. Dick!" Sarah gasped24.
"Hello, Sadie!" came the genial25 salutation. The young manadvanced and shook hands with her warmly. "I'm home again.
Where's Dad?"Even as he asked the question, the quick sobering of his facebore witness to his disappointment over not finding his father inthe office. For such was the relationship of the owner of thedepartment store to this new arrival on the scene. And in thepatent chagrin26 under which the son now labored27 was to be found acertain indication of character not to be disregarded. Unlikemany a child, he really loved his father. The death of themother years before had left him without other opportunity foraffection in the home, since he had neither brother nor sister.
He loved his father with a depth of feeling that made between thetwo a real camaraderie28, despite great differences in temperament29.
In that simple and sincere regard which he bore for his father,the boy revealed a heart ready for love, willing to give ofitself its best for the one beloved. Beyond that, as yet, therewas little to be said of him with exactness. He was a spoiledchild of fortune, if you wish to have it so. Certainly, he wasonly a drone in the world's hive. Thus far, he had enjoyed thegood things of life, without ever doing aught to deserve them bycontributing in return--save by his smiles and his genial air ofhappiness.
In the twenty-three years of his life, every gift that moneycould lavish30 had been his. If the sum total of benefit wassmall, at least there remained the consoling fact that the harmwas even less. Luxury had not sapped the strength of him. Hehad not grown vicious, as have so many of his fellows among thesons of the rich. Some instinct held him aloof31 from the grosservices. His were the trifling32 faults that had their originchiefly in the joy of life, which manifest occasionally inriotous extravagancies, of a sort actually to harm none, howeverabsurd and useless they may be.
So much one might see by a glance into the face. He was wellgroomed, of course; healthy, all a-tingle with vitality33. And inthe clear eyes, which avoided no man's gaze, nor sought anywoman's unseemly, there showed a soul untainted, not yetdeveloped, not yet debased. Through all his days, Dick Gilder hadwalked gladly, in the content that springs to the call of onepossessed of a capacity for enjoyment35; possessed34, too, of everymeans for the gratification of desire. As yet, the man of himwas unrevealed in its integrity. No test had been put upon him.
The fires of suffering had not tried the dross36 of him. What realworth might lie under this sunny surface the future mustdetermine. There showed now only this one significant fact:
that, in the first moment of his return from journeyings abroad,he sought his father with all eagerness, and was sorely grievedbecause the meeting must still be delayed. It was a littlething, perhaps. Yet, it was capable of meaning much concerningthe nature of the lad. It revealed surely a tender heart, oneresponsive to a pure love. And to one of his class, there aremany forces ever present to atrophy37 such simple, wholesome38 powerof loving. The ability to love cleanly and absolutely is thesupreme virtue.
Sarah explained that Mr. Gilder had been called to the Court ofGeneral Sessions by the judge.
Dick interrupted her with a gust39 of laughter.
"What's Dad been doing now?" he demanded, his eyes twinkling.
Then, a reminiscent grin shaped itself on his lips. "Rememberthe time that fresh cop arrested him for speeding? Wasn't hewild? I thought he would have the whole police forcedischarged." He smiled again. "The trouble is," he declaredsedately, "that sort of thing requires practice. Now, when I'marrested for speeding, I'm not in the least flustered--oh, not alittle bit! But poor Dad! That one experience of his almostsoured his whole life. It was near the death of him--also, ofthe city's finest."By this time, the secretary had regained40 her usual poise41, whichhad been somewhat disturbed by the irruption of the young man.
Her round face shone delightedly as she regarded him. There wasa maternal42 note of rebuke43 in her voice as she spoke:
"Why, we didn't expect you back for two or three months yet."Once again, Dick laughed, with an infectious gaiety that broughta smile of response to the secretary's lips.
"Sadie," he explained confidentially44, "don't you dare ever to letthe old man know. He would be all swollen46 up. It's bad to let aparent swell47 up. But the truth is, Sadie, I got kind of homesickfor Dad--yes, just that!" He spoke the words with a sort ofshamefaced wonder. It is not easy for an Anglo-Saxon to confessthe realities of affection in vital intimacies48. He repeated thephrase in a curiously49 appreciative50 hesitation51, as one astoundedby his own emotion. "Yes, homesick for Dad!"Then, to cover an excess of sincere feeling, he continued, with aburst of laughter:
"Besides, Sadie, I was broke."The secretary sniffed52.
"The cable would have handled that end of it, I guess," she said,succinctly.
There was no word of contradiction from Dick, who, from ampleexperience, knew that any demand for funds would have receivedanswer from the father.
"But what is Dad doing in court?" he demanded.
Sarah explained the matter with her usual conciseness53:
"One of the girls was arrested for stealing."The nature of the son was shown then clearly in one of its bestaspects. At once, he exhibited his instinct toward the qualityof mercy, and, too, his trust in the father whom he loved, by hiseager comment.
"And Dad went to court to get her out of the scrape. That's justlike the old man!"Sarah, however, showed no hint of enthusiasm. Her mind was everof the prosaic54 sort, little prone55 to flights. In that prosaicquality, was to be found the explanation of her dependability asa private secretary. So, now, she merely made a terse14 statement.
"She was tried to-day, and convicted. The judge sent for Mr.
Gilder to come down this morning and have a talk with him aboutthe sentence."There was no lessening56 of the expression of certainty on theyoung man's face. He loved his father, and he trusted where heloved.
"It will be all right," he declared, in a tone of entireconviction. "Dad's heart is as big as a barrel. He'll get heroff."Then, of a sudden, Dick gave a violent start. He added aconvincing groan57.
"Oh, Lord!" he exclaimed, dismally58. There was shame in hisvoice. "I forgot all about it!"The secretary regarded him with an expression of amazement59.
"All about what?" she questioned.
Dick assumed an air vastly more confidential45 than at any timehitherto. He leaned toward the secretary's desk, and spoke witha new seriousness of manner:
"Sadie, have you any money? I'm broker60 My taxi' has been waitingoutside all this time.""Why, yes," the secretary said, cheerfully. "If you will----"Dick was discreet61 enough to turn his attention to a picture onthe wall opposite while Sarah went through those acrobaticperformances obligatory62 on women who take no chances of losingmoney by carrying it in purses.
"There!" she called after a few panting seconds, and exhibited aflushed face.
Dick turned eagerly and seized the banknote offered him.
"Mighty much obliged, Sadie," he said, enthusiastically. "But Imust run. Otherwise, this wouldn't be enough for the fare!" And,so saying, he darted63 out of the room.
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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desultorily
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| adv. 杂乱无章地, 散漫地 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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gilder
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| 镀金工人 | |
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terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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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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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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camaraderie
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| n.同志之爱，友情 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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dross
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| n.渣滓；无用之物 | |
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atrophy
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| n./v.萎缩，虚脱，衰退 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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intimacies
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| 亲密( intimacy的名词复数 )； 密切； 亲昵的言行； 性行为 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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conciseness
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| n.简洁，简短 | |
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prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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broker
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| n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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obligatory
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| adj.强制性的，义务的，必须的 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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