Chapter 20 Rodney Loses His Pupil

    Jasper had little doubt that his letter would lead to Rodney's loss of position. It was certainly a mean thing to plot another's downfall, but Jasper was quite capable of it. Had he secured the loan he asked he would have been willing to leave Rodney alone, but it would only have been the first of a series of similar applications.

    It was several days before Jasper had an opportunity of learning whether his malicious¹ plan had succeeded or not. On Sunday forenoon he met Rodney on Fifth Avenue just as the church services were over. He crossed the street and accosted² the boy he had tried to injure.

    "Good morning, Ropes," he said, examining Rodney's face curiously³ to see whether it indicated trouble of any kind.

    "Good morning!" responded Rodney coolly.

    "How are you getting along in your place?"

    "Very well, thank you."

    "Shall I find you at your pupil's house if I call there some afternoon?"

    "Yes, unless I am out walking with Arthur."

    "I wonder whether he's bluffing," thought Jasper. "I daresay he wouldn't tell me if he had been discharged. He takes it pretty coolly."

    "How long do you think your engagement will last?" he asked.

    "I don't know. I never had a talk with Mr. Sargent on that point."

    "Do you still give satisfaction?"

    Rodney penetrated⁴ Jasper's motives⁵ for asking all these questions, and was amused.

    "I presume if I fail to satisfy Mr. Sargent he will tell me so."

    "It would be a nice thing if you could stay there three or four years."

    "Yes: but I don't anticipate it. When Arthur get a little older he will be sent to school."

    "What will you do then?"

    "I haven't got so far as that."

    "I can't get anything out of him," said Jasper to himself. "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if he were already discharged."

    They had now reached Madison Square, and Jasper left Rodney.

    The latter looked after him with a smile.

    "I think I have puzzled Jasper," he said to himself. "He was anxious to know how his scheme had worked. He will have to wait a little longer."

    "If Mr. Sargent keeps Ropes after my letter he must be a fool," Jasper decided⁶. "I wonder if Ropes handles the mail. He might have suppressed the letter."

    But Rodney was not familiar with his handwriting, and would have no reason to suspect that the particular letter contained anything likely to injure him in the eyes of Mr. Sargent.

    Later in his walk Jasper met Philip Carton. His former friend was sitting on a bench in Madison Square. He called out to Jasper as he passed.

    "Come here, Jasper, I want to talk with you."

    Jasper looked at him in a manner far from friendly.

    "I am in a hurry," he said.

    "What hurry can you be in? Come and sit down here. I must speak to you."

    Jasper did not like his tone, but it impressed him, and he did not dare to refuse.

    He seated himself beside Philip, but looked at him askance. Carton was undeniably shabby. He had the look of a man who was going down hill and that rapidly.

    "I shall be late for dinner," grumbled⁷ Jasper.

    "I wish I had any dinner to look forward to," said Carton. "Do you see this money?" and he produced a nickel from his pocket.

    "What is there remarkable⁸ about it?"

    "It is the last money I have. It won't buy me a dinner."

    "I am sorry, but it is none of my business," said Jasper coolly. "You are old enough to attend to your own affairs."

    "And I once thought you were my friend," murmured Philip bitterly.

    "Yes, we were friends in a way."

    "Now you are up and I am down -- Jasper, I want a dollar."

    "I dare say you do. Plenty want that."

    "I want it from you."

    "I can't spare it."

    "You can spare it better than you can spare your situation."

    "What do you mean by that?" asked Jasper, growing nervous.

    "I'll tell you what I mean. How long do you think you would stay in the store if Mr. Goodnow knew that you were concerned in the theft from which he has suffered?"

    "Was I the only one?"

    "No; I am equally guilty."

    "I am glad you acknowledge it. You see you had better keep quiet for your own sake."

    "If I keep quiet I shall starve."

    "Do you want to go to prison?"

    "I shouldn't mind so much if you went along, too."

    "Are you crazy, Philip Carton?"

    "No, I am not, but I am beinning to get sensible. If I go to prison I shall at least have enough to eat, and now I haven't."

    "What do you mean by all this foolish talk?"

    "I mean that if you won't give me any money I will go to the store and tell Mr. Goodnow something that will surprise him."

    Jasper was getting thoroughly⁹ frightened.

    "Come, Philip." he said, "listen to reason. You know how poor I am."

    "No doubt. I know you have a good home and enough to eat."

    "I only get seven dollars a week."

    "And I get nothing."

    "I have already been trying to help you. I went to Ropes the other day, and asked him to lend me five dollars. I meant it for you."

    "Did he give it to you?"

    "He wouldn't give me a cent. He is mean and miserly!"

    "I don't know. He knows very well that you are no friend of his, though he doesn't know how much harm you have done him."

    "He's rolling in money. However, I've put a spoke¹⁰ in his wheel, I hope."

    "How?"

    "I wrote an anonymous¹¹ letter to Mr. Sargent telling him that Ropes was discharged from the store on suspicion of theft."

    "You are a precious scamp, Jasper."

    "What do you mean?"

    "You are not content with getting Ropes discharged for something which you yourself did -- -- "

    "And you too."

    "And I too. I accept the amendment¹². Not content with that, you try to get him discharged from his present position."

    "Then he might have lent me the money," said Jasper sullenly¹³.

    "It wouldn't have been a loan. It would have been a gift. But no matter about that. I want a dollar."

    "I can't give it to you."

    "Then I shall call at the store tomorrow morning and tell Mr. Goodnow about the stolen goods."

    Finding that Carton was in earnest Jasper finally, but with great reluctance¹⁴, drew out a dollar and handed it to his companion.

    "There, I hope that will satisfy you," he said spitefully.

    "It will -- for the present."

    "I wish he'd get run over or something," thought Jasper. "He seems to expect me to support him, and that on seven dollars a week."

    Fortunately for Jasper, Philip Carton obtained employment the next day which lasted for some time, and as he was paid ten dollars a week he was not under the necessity of troubling his old confederate for loans.

    Now and then Jasper and Rodney met, but there were no cordial relations between them. Jasper could not forgive Rodney for refusing to lend him money, and Rodney was not likely to forget the anonymous letter by which Jasper had tried to injure him.

    So three months passed. One day Mr. Sargent arrived at home before it was time for Rodney to leave.

    "I am glad to see you, Rodney," said his employer. "I have some news for you which I am afraid will not be entirely¹⁵ satisfactory to you."

    "What is it, sir?"

    "For the last three years I have been wishing to go to Europe with my wife and Arthur. The plan has been delayed, because I could not make satisfactory business arrangements. Now, however, that difficulty has been overcome, and I propose to sail in about two weeks."

    "I hope you'll enjoy your trip, sir."

    "Thank you. Of course it will terminate, for a time at least your engagement to teach Arthur."

    "I shall be sorry for that, sir, but I am not selfish enough to want you to stay at home on that account."

    "I thought you would feel that way. I wish I could procure¹⁶ you another position before I go, but that is uncertain. I shall, however, pay you a month's salary in advance in lieu of a notice."

    "That is very liberal, sir."

    "I think it only just. I have been very well pleased with your attention to Arthur, and I know he has profited by your instructions as well as enjoyed your companionship. I hope you have been able to save something."

    "Yes, sir, I have something in the Union Dime¹⁷ Savings¹⁸ Bank."

    "That's well. You will remain with me one week longer, but the last week Arthur will need for preparations."

    Two weeks later Rodney stood on the pier¹⁹ and watched the stately Etruria steam out into the river. Arthur and his father were on deck, and the little boy waved his handkerchief to his tutor as long as he could see him.

    Rodney turned away sadly.

    "I have lost a good situation," he soliloquized. "When shall I get another?"

1 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。

2 accosted   

v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭

参考例句：

• She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger. 在街上，一个完全陌生的人贸然走到她跟前搭讪。
• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

4 penetrated   

adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
• They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。

5 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

6 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。

7 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

8 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

9 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

10 spoke   

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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

11 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。

12 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

13 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

14 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

15 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

16 procure   

vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条

参考例句：

• Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？
• I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

17 dime   

n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角

参考例句：

• A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。
• The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。

18 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

19 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。