Chapter 19 Jasper's Revenge

    Rodney was considerably¹ surprised one evening to receive a call from Jasper in his room. He was alone, as Mike had been detailed² about a week ago for night duty. The room looked more attractive than formerly³. Rodney had bought a writing desk, which stood in the corner, and had put up three pictures, which, though cheap, were attractive.

    "Good evening, Jasper," he said. "It is quite friendly of you to call."

    "I hadn't anything else on hand this evening, and thought I would come round see how you were getting along."

    "Take a seat and make yourself at home."

    "Do you object to cigarettes?" asked Jasper, producing one from a case in his pocket.

    "I object to smoking them myself, but I don't want to dictate⁴ to my friends."

    "You look quite comfortable here," continued Jasper in a patronizing tone.

    "We try to be comfortable, though our room is not luxurious⁵."

    "Who do you mean by `we'? Have you a room mate?"

    "Yes. Mike Flynn rooms with me."

    "Who is he -- a newsboy?"

    "No. He is a telegraph boy."

    "You don't seem to very particular," said Jasper, shrugging his shoulders.

    "I am very particular."

    "Yet you room with an Irish telegraph boy."

    "He is a nice boy of good habit, and a devoted⁶ friend. What could I want more?"

    "Oh, well, you have a right to consult your own taste."

    "You have a nice home, no doubt."

    "I live with my uncle. Yes, he has a good house, but I am not so independent as if I had a room outide."

    "How are things going on at the store?"

    "About the same as usual. Why don't you come in some day?"

    "For two reasons; I am occupied during the day, and I don't want to go where I am considered a thief."

    "I wish I was getting your income. It is hard to get along on seven dollars a week."

    "Still you have a nice home, and I suppose you have most of your salary to yourself."

    "Yes, but there isn't much margin⁷ in seven dollars. My uncle expects me to buy my own clothes. You were lucky to get out of the store. Old Goodnow ought to give me ten dollars."

    "Don't let him hear you speak of him as old Goodnow, Jasper."

    "Oh, I'm smart enough for that. I mean to keep on the right side of the old chap. What sort of a man are you working for?"

    "Mr. Sargent is a fine man."

    "He isn't mean certainly. I should like to be in your shoes."

    "If I hear of any similar position shall I mention your name?" asked Rodney, smiling.

    "No; I could not take care of a kid. I hate them."

    "Still Arthur is a nice boy."

    "You are welcome to him. What do you have to teach?"

    "He is studying Latin and French, besides English branches."

    "I know about as much of Latin and French as a cow. I couldn't be a teacher. I say, Rodney," and Jasper cleared his throat, "I want you to do me a favor."

    "What is it?"

    "I want you to lend me ten dollars."

    Rodney was not mean, but he knew very well that a loan to Jasper would be a permanent one. Had Jasper been his friend even this consideration would not have inspired a refusal, but he knew very well that Jasper had not a particle of regard for him.

    "I don't think I can oblige you, Jasper," he said.

    "Why not? You get fifteen dollars a week."

    "My expenses are considerable. Besides I am helping⁸ Mike, whose salary is very small. I pay the whole of the rent and I have paid for some clothes for him."

    "You are spending your money very foolishly," said Jasper frowning.

    "Would I spend it any less foolishly if I should lend you ten dollars?"

    "There is some difference between Mike Flynn and me. I am a gentleman."

    "So is Mike."

    "A queer sort of gentleman! He is only a poor telegraph boy."

    "Still he is a gentleman."

    "I should think you might have money enough for both of us."

    "I might but I want to save something from my salary. I don't know how long I shall be earning as much. I might lose my place."

    "So you might."

    "And I could hardly expect to get another where the pay would be as good."

    "I would pay you on installment⁹ -- a dollar a week," urged Jasper.

    "I don't see how you could, as you say your pay is too small for you now."

    "Oh, well, I could manage."

    "I am afraid I can't oblige you, Jasper," said Rodney in a decided¹⁰ tone.

    "I didn't think you were so miserly," answered Jasper in vexation.

    "You may call it so, if you like. You must remember that I am not situated¹² like you. You have your uncle to fall back upon in case you lose your position, but I have no one. I have to hustle¹³ for myself."

    "Oh, you needn't make any more excuses. I suppose ten dollars is rather a large sum to lend. Can you lend me five?"

    "I am sorry, but I must refuse you."

    Jasper rose from the chair on which he had been sitting.

    "Then I may as well go," he said. "I am disappointed in you, Ropes. I thought you were a good, whole souled fellow, and not a miser¹¹."

    "You must think of me as you please, Jasper. I feel that I have a right to regulate my own affairs."

    "All I have to say is this, if you lose your place as you may very soon, don't come round to the store and expect to be taken back."

    "I won't" answered Rodney, smiling. "I wouldn't go back at any rate unless the charge of theft was withdrawn¹⁴."

    "That will never be!"

    "Let it be so, as long as I am innocent."

    Jasper left the room abruptly¹⁵, not even having the politeness to bid Rodney good evening.

    Rodney felt that he was quite justified¹⁶ in refusing to lend Jasper money. Had he been in need he would have obliged him, though he had no reason to look upon him as a friend.

    No one who knew Rodney could regard him as mean or miserly. Could he have read Jasper's thoughts as he left the house he would have felt even less regret at disappointing him.

    About two days afterward¹⁷ when Rodney went up to meet his pupil, Mr. Sargent handed him a letter.

    "Here is something that concerns you, Rodney," he said. "It doesn't appear to be from a friend of yours."

    With some curiosity Rodney took the letter and read it.

    It ran thus:

    Mr. JOHN SARGENT:

    DEAR SIR -- I think it my duty to write and tell you something about your son's tutor -- something that will surprise and shock you. Before he entered your house he was employed by a firm on Reade Street. He was quite a favorite with his employer, Mr. Otis Goodnow, who promoted him in a short time. All at once it was found that articles were missing from the stock. Of course it was evident that some one of the clerks was dishonest. A watch was set, and finally it was found that Rodney Ropes had taken the articles, and one -- a lady's cloak -- was found in his room by a detective. He was discharged at once without a recommendation.

    For a time he lived by selling papers, but at last he managed to get into your house. I am sure you won't regard him as fit to educate your little son, though I have no doubt he is a good scholar. But his character is bad -- I don't think he ought to have concealed¹⁸ this from you out of friendship for you, and because I think it is my duty, I take the liberty of writing. If you doubt this I will refer to Mr. Goodnow, or Mr. James Redwood, who had charge of the room in which Ropes was employed. Yours very respectually, A FRIEND.

    "You knew all this before, Mr. Sargent" said Rodney, as he handed back the letter.

    "Yes. Have you any idea who wrote it?"

    "I feel quite sure that it was a boy about two years older than myself, Jasper Redwood."

    "Is he related to the man of the same name whom he mentions?"

    "Yes, he is his nephew."

    "Has he any particular reason for disliking you, Rodney?"

    "Yes, sir. He came round to my room Wednesday evening, and asked me to lend him ten dollars."

    "I presume you refused."

    "Yes, sir. He is not in need. He succeeded to my place, and he has a home at the house of his uncle."

    "He appears to be a very mean boy. Anonymous¹⁹ letters are always cowardly, and generally malicious²⁰. This seems to be no exception to the general rule."

    "I hope it won't affect your feelings towards me, Mr. Sargent."

    "Don't trouble yourself about that Rodney. I am not so easily prejudiced against one of whom I have a good opinion."

    "I suppose this is Jasper's revenge," thought Rodney.

1 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

2 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

3 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

4 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

5 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

6 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

7 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 miser   

n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)

参考例句：

• The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。

12 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

13 hustle   

v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌)

参考例句：

• It seems that he enjoys the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.看起来他似乎很喜欢大城市的热闹繁忙的生活。
• I had to hustle through the crowded street.我不得不挤过拥挤的街道。

14 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

15 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

16 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

17 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

18 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

19 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

20 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。