Chapter 21 A Friend In Need

 "Mr. Browning is a man of very peculiar¹ appearance," said Kean.

 

"You refer to the wart² on the upper part of his right cheek?"

 

"Yes, it gives him a repulsive³ look."

 

"And yet he is popular in Milwaukee?"

 

"Yes, among those who were not swindled by his mining scheme. He has done more harm than he can ever repair. For instance," added the young man, bitterly, "this crime which I have committed--I will call it by its right name--I was impelled⁴ to do by my mother's poverty, brought on by him."

 

"How does it happen that you are not at the office to day?"

 

"I felt sick--sick at heart, rather than sick in body, and I sent word to my employer that I could not be there. I dread⁵ entering the office, for at any time exposure may come."

 

"If you could only raise the fifty dollars, you could replace the money before it was inquired for."

 

Ambrose Kean shook his head.

 

"I can't possibly raise it," he said, despondently⁶.

 

"I would let you have it if I possessed⁷ as much money, but, as you may suppose, I am poor."

 

"I am no less grateful to you, Luke. You have a good heart, I am sure. You don't despise me?"

 

"No, why should I?"

 

"I have been guilty of a crime."

 

"But you are sorry for it. Is there positively⁸ no one with whom you are acquainted who is rich enough to help you?"

 

"There is one lady in Chicago--a rich lady--who was a schoolmate of my mother. She was older and in better circumstances, but they were good friends."

 

"Who is this lady?"

 

"A Mrs. Merton."

 

"Mrs. Merton!" exclaimed Luke, in excitement. "Of Prairie Avenue?"

 

"Yes; I believe she lives there."

 

"Why, I know her--I am in her employ," said Luke.

 

Ambrose Kean stared at Luke in open amazement⁹.

 

"Is this true?" he asked.

 

"Yes."

 

"Is she a kind lady? Do you think she would help me in this trouble of mine?"

 

"She is very kind-hearted, as I know from my own experience. I will go to her at once, and see what I can do."

 

Ambrose Kean grasped Luke's hand with fervor¹⁰.

 

"You are a friend sent from heaven, I truly believe," he said. "You have given me hope of retrieving¹¹ myself."

 

"I will leave you for a time," said Luke. "There is no time to be lost."

 

"I shall be full of anxiety till I see you again."

 

"Be hopeful. I think I shall bring you good news."

 

When Luke reached the house on Prairie Avenue he was about to ring the bell when Harold Tracy opened the door.

 

"You here again!" he said, in a tone of displeasure. "Weren't you here this morning?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Did Aunt Eliza ask you to come this afternoon?"

 

"No."

 

"Then what brings you?"

 

"Business," answered Luke, curtly¹², and he quietly entered the hall, and said to a servant who was passing through, "Will you be kind enough to ask Mrs. Merton if she will see me?"

 

"Well, you're cheeky!" ejaculated Harold, who had in tended to keep him out.

 

"As long as Mrs. Merton doesn't think so, I shall not trouble myself," said Luke, coldly.

 

"Sooner or later Aunt Eliza will see you in your true colors," said Harold, provoked.

 

"I think she does now."

 

At this moment the servant returned.

 

"You are to go upstairs," she said. "Mrs. Merton will see you."

 

The old lady was sitting back in an easy-chair when Luke entered. She smiled pleasantly.

 

"This is an unexpected pleasure," she said, "this after-noon call."

 

"I will tell you at once what brought me, Mrs. Merton."

 

"It isn't sickness at home, I hope?"

 

"No, I came for a comparative stranger."

 

Then Luke told the story of Ambrose Kean, his sudden yielding to temptation, his repentance¹³ and remorse¹⁴.

 

"I am interested in your friend," said Mrs. Merton. "You say he appropriated fifty dollars?"

 

"Yes, but it was to help his mother."

 

"True, but it was a dangerous step to take. It won't be considered a valid¹⁵ excuse."

 

"He realizes all that. His employer is a just but strict man, and if the theft is discovered Kean will be arrested, and, of course, convicted."

 

"And you think I will help him? Is that why you have come to me with this story?"

 

"I don't think I would have done so if he had not mentioned you as an old friend and schoolmate of his mother."

 

"What's that?" added Mrs. Merton, quickly. "His mother an old schoolmate of mine?"

 

"That is what he says."

 

"What was her name before marriage?"

 

"Mary Robinson."

 

"You don't say so!" Mrs. Merton exclaimed with vivacity¹⁶. "Why, Mary was my favorite at school. And this young man is her son?

 

"I would have helped him without knowing this, but now I won't hesitate a moment. Mary's boy! You must bring him here. I want to question him about her."

 

"I can tell you something about her. She lost her money by investing in a California mine--I think it was the Excelsior Mine."

 

"She, too?"

 

Luke looked surprised. He did not understand the meaning of this exclamation¹⁷.

 

"I have a thousand shares of that worthless stock myself," continued the old lady. "It cost me two thousand dollars, and now it is worth nothing."

 

"The one who introduced the stock was a Mr. Browning, of Milwaukee."

 

"I know. He was an unscrupulous knave¹⁸, I have no doubt. I could afford the loss, but hundreds invested, like poor Mary, who were ruined. Is the man living, do you know?"

 

"Yes, he is living in Milwaukee. He is rich, and is prominently spoken of as a candidate for mayor."

 

"If he is ever a candidate I will take care that his connection with this swindling transaction is made known. A man who builds up a fortune on the losses of the poor is a contemptible¹⁹ wretch²⁰, in my opinion."

 

"And mine, too," said Luke. "It is very strange that he answers the description of a man who cheated our family out of ten thousand dollars."

 

"Indeed! How was that?"

 

Luke told the story, and Mrs. Merton listened with great interest.

 

"So all corresponds except the name?"

 

"Yes."

 

"He may have changed his name."

 

"I have thought of that. I mean to find out some time."

 

"I won't keep you any longer. Your friend is, no doubt, in great anxiety. I have the money here in bills. I will give them to you for him."

 

Mrs. Merton was in the act of handing a roll of bills to Luke when the door opened suddenly, and Mrs. Tracy entered.

 

She frowned in surprise and displeasure when she saw her aunt giving money to "that boy," as she contemptuously called him. 

1 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

2 wart   

n.疣，肉赘；瑕疵

参考例句：

• What does the medicaments with remedial acuteness wet best wart have?治疗尖锐湿疣最好的药物有什么？
• Flat wart is generally superficial,or sometimes a slight itching.扁平疣一般是不痛不痒的，或偶有轻微痒感。

3 repulsive   

adj.排斥的，使人反感的

参考例句：

• She found the idea deeply repulsive.她发现这个想法很恶心。
• The repulsive force within the nucleus is enormous.核子内部的斥力是巨大的。

4 impelled   

v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
• I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

6 despondently   

adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地

参考例句：

• It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
• He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句

7 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

8 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

9 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

10 fervor   

n.热诚；热心；炽热

参考例句：

• They were concerned only with their own religious fervor.他们只关心自己的宗教热诚。
• The speech aroused nationalist fervor.这个演讲喚起了民族主义热情。

11 retrieving   

n.检索（过程），取还v.取回( retrieve的现在分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息）

参考例句：

• Ignoring all, he searches the ground carefully for any cigarette-end worth retrieving. 没管打锣的说了什么，他留神的在地上找，看有没有值得拾起来的烟头儿。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• Retrieving the nodules from these great depths is no easy task. 从这样的海底深渊中取回结核可不是容易的事情。 来自辞典例句

12 curtly   

adv.简短地

参考例句：

• He nodded curtly and walked away. 他匆忙点了一下头就走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The request was curtly refused. 这个请求被毫不客气地拒绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 repentance   

n.懊悔

参考例句：

• He shows no repentance for what he has done.他对他的所作所为一点也不懊悔。
• Christ is inviting sinners to repentance.基督正在敦请有罪的人悔悟。

14 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

15 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

16 vivacity   

n.快活，活泼，精神充沛

参考例句：

• Her charm resides in her vivacity.她的魅力存在于她的活泼。
• He was charmed by her vivacity and high spirits.她的活泼与兴高采烈的情绪把他迷住了。

17 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

18 knave   

n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克

参考例句：

• Better be a fool than a knave.宁做傻瓜，不做无赖。
• Once a knave,ever a knave.一次成无赖，永远是无赖。

19 contemptible   

adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的

参考例句：

• His personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.他气貌不扬，言语粗俗。
• That was a contemptible trick to play on a friend.那是对朋友玩弄的一出可鄙的把戏。

20 wretch   

n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人

参考例句：

• You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他，还埋怨他，真不知好歹。
• The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。