Chapter 15 ＂By Express＂

 "There's a model for you," said the tailor to Maurice Tudor. "He won't pay his bills."

 

"How did you come to trust him in the first place?"

 

"I didn't know him then as well as I do now. I make it a practice to accommodate my customers by trusting them for a month or two, if they want it. But Luke Harrison isn't one to be trusted."

 

"I should say not."

 

"If young Walton wants to get an overcoat on credit, I shan't object. I judge something by looks, and I am sure he is honest."

 

"Well, good night, Mr. Merrill. You'll have my coat done soon?"

 

"Yes, Mr. Tudor. It shall be ready for you to-morrow."

 

Maurice Tudor left the tailor's shop, revolving¹ a new idea which had just entered his mind. Now he remembered that he had at home and excellent overcoat which he had worn the previous winter, but which was now too small for him. He had no younger brother to wear it, nor in his circumstances was such economy necessary. As well as he could judge by observing Harry²'s figure, it would be an excellent fit for him. Why should he not give it to him?

 

The opportunity came. On his way home he overtook our hero, plunged³ in thought. In fact, he was still occupied with the problem of the needed overcoat.

 

"Good evening, Harry," said young Tudor.

 

"Good evening, Mr. Tudor," answered Harry. "Are you going back to the city soon?"

 

"In the course of a week or two. Mr. Leavitt's son is in a store in Boston, is he not?"

 

"Yes. I have taken his place in the shop."

 

"By the way, I saw you in Merrill's this evening."

 

"Yes; I was pricing an overcoat."

 

"I bought this one in Boston just before I came away. I have a very good one left from last winter but it is too small for me. It is of no use to me. If I thought you would accept it, I would offer it to you."

 

Harry's heart gave a joyful⁴ bound.

 

"Accept it!" he repeated. "Indeed I will and thank you for your great kindness."

 

"Then I will write home at once to have it sent to me. I also have a suit which I have outgrown⁵; if you wouldn't be too proud to take it."

 

"I am not so foolish. It will be a great favor."

 

"I thought you would take it right," said Maurice, well pleased. "I will also send for the suit. I will get my mother to forward them by express."

 

"They will be as good as money to me," said Harry; "and that is not very plenty with me."

 

"Will you tell me something of your circumstances? Perhaps I may have it in my power to help you."

 

Harry, assured of his friendly interest, did not hesitate to give him a full account of his plans in life, and especially of his desire to relieve his father of the burden of poverty. His straightforward⁶ narrative⁷ made a very favorable impression upon Maurice, who could not help reflecting: "How far superior this boy is to Luke Harrison and his tribe!"

 

"Thank you for telling me all this," he said. "It was not from mere⁸ curiosity that I asked."

 

"I am sure of that," said Harry. "Thanks to your generosity⁹, I shall present a much more respectable appearance, besides being made more comfortable."

 

Three days later a large bundle was brought by the village expressman to Mr. Leavitt's door.

 

"A bundle for you, Walton," said the expressman, seeing Harry in the yard.

 

"What is there to pay?" he asked.

 

"Nothing. It was prepaid in the city?"

 

Harry took it up to his room and opened it eagerly. First came the promised overcoat. It was of very handsome French cloth, with a velvet¹⁰ collar, and rich silk facings, far higher in cost than any Mr. Merrill would have made for him. It fitted as if it had been made for him. Next came, not one, but two complete suits embracing coat, vest and pants. One of pepper-and-salt cloth, the other a dark blue. These, also, so similar was he in figure to Maurice, fitted him equally well. The clothes which he brought with from form Granton were not only of coarse material but were far from stylish¹¹ in cut, whereas these garments had been made by a fashionable Boston tailor and set off his figure to much greater advantage.

 

"I wonder what Luke Harrison will say?" said our hero to himself, smiling, as he thought of the surprise of Luke at witnessing his transformation¹².

 

"I've a great mind to keep these on to-night," he said.

 

"Perhaps I shall meet Luke. He won't have anything more to say about my going without an overcoat."

 

After supper Harry, arrayed in his best suit and wearing the overcoat, walked down tot he center of the village.

 

Luke was standing¹³ on the piazza¹⁴ of the tavern¹⁵.

 

"Luke, see how Walton is dressed up!" exclaimed Frank Heath, who was the first to see our hero.

 

"Dressed up!" repeated Luke, who was rather shortsighted. "That would be a good joke."

 

"He's got a splendid overcoat," continued Frank.

 

"Where'd he get it? Merrill hasn't been making him one."

 

"It's none of Merrill's work. It's too stylish for him."

 

By this time Harry had come within Luke's range of vision. The latter surveyed him with astonishment¹⁶ and it must be confessed, with disappointment; for he had been fond of sneering¹⁷ at Harry's clothes, and now the latter was far better dressed than himself.

 

"Where did you get that coat, Walton?" asked Luke, the instant Harry came up.

 

"Honestly," said Harry, shortly.

 

"Have you got anything else new?"

 

Harry opened his coat and displayed the suit.

 

"Well, you are coming out, Walton, that's a fact," said Frank Heath. "That's a splendid suit."

 

"I thought you couldn't afford to buy a coat," said Luke.

 

"You see I've got one," answered Harry.

 

"How much did it cost?"

 

"That's a secret."

 

Here he left Luke and Frank.

 

"Well, Luke, what do you say to that?" said Frank Heath.

 

Luke said nothing. He was astonished and unhappy. He had a fondness for dress and spent a good share of his earnings¹⁸ upon it, paying where he must, and getting credit besides where he could. But he had never had so stylish a suit as this and it depressed¹⁹ him.

1 revolving   

adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想

参考例句：

• The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
• The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。

2 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

3 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

4 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

5 outgrown   

长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过

参考例句：

• She's already outgrown her school uniform. 她已经长得连校服都不能穿了。
• The boy has outgrown his clothes. 这男孩已长得穿不下他的衣服了。

6 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

7 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

8 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

9 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

10 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

11 stylish   

adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的

参考例句：

• He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
• What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。

12 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

13 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

14 piazza   

n.广场；走廊

参考例句：

• Siena's main piazza was one of the sights of Italy.锡耶纳的主要广场是意大利的名胜之一。
• They walked out of the cafeteria,and across the piazzadj.他们走出自助餐厅,穿过广场。

15 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。

16 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

17 sneering   

嘲笑的，轻蔑的

参考例句：

• "What are you sneering at?" “你冷笑什么？” 来自子夜部分
• The old sorceress slunk in with a sneering smile. 老女巫鬼鬼崇崇地走进来，冷冷一笑。

18 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

19 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。