Chapter 29 Some Unexpected Changes

 When Conrad came home his first visit was to his mother.

 

"Has anything been found out about the stolen opera glass?" he asked, with a studied air of indifference¹.

 

"I should say there had," she answered. "I followed the clew you suggested, and searched the boy's room. On the bureau I found the pawn² ticket."

 

"You don't say so! What a muff Ben must have been to leave it around so carelessly! What did you do with it?"

 

"I waited till Mr. Lynx was conferring with Cousin Hamilton, and then I carried it in and gave it to them."

 

"What did they say?" asked Conrad eagerly.

 

"They seemed thunderstruck, and Mr. Lynx very politely thanked me for the help I had given them."

 

"Has Ben been bounced yet?"

 

"No; but doubtless he will be very soon. Cousin Hamilton doesn't want to think him a thief and gambler, but there seems no way of escaping from such a mass of proof."

 

"I should say not. Do you think she's told Ben? Does he look down in the mouth?" continued Conrad.

 

"I haven't seen him since."

 

When they met at the table Mrs. Hamilton's manner toward Ben was decidedly frigid³, as Conrad and his mother saw, much to their satisfaction. Ben looked sober, but his appetite did not appear to be affected⁴.

 

"Your course is about run, young man!" thought Mrs. Hill.

 

"I should like to see you after supper, Conrad," said Mrs. Hamilton. "Come into my sitting room."

 

"I wonder if she is going to give me Ben's place," thought Conrad, hardly knowing whether he wished it or not.

 

With a jaunty⁵ air and a self-satisfied smile, he followed Mrs. Hamilton into her "private office," as she sometimes called it.

 

"Shut the door, Conrad," she said.

 

He did so.

 

"I have heard news of the opera glass," she commenced.

 

"Mother gave me a hint of that," said Conrad.

 

"It was stolen and pawned⁶ at Simpson's on the Bowery."

 

"It's a great shame!" said Conrad, thinking that a safe comment to make.

 

"Yes, it was a shame and a disgrace to the one who took it."

 

"I didn't think Ben would do such a thing," continued Conrad, growing bolder.

 

"Nor I," said Mrs. Hamilton.

 

"After all you have done for him, too. I never liked the boy, for my part."

 

"So I suspected," said Mrs. Hamilton dryly. "However, I will tell you what I want of you. I am going down to Simpson's to-morrow to redeem⁷ the glass, and want you to go with me."

 

"You want me to go with you!" ejaculated Conrad, turning pale.

 

"Yes; I don't care to go to that part of the City by myself, and I will take you to keep me company."

 

"But I must go to the office," faltered⁸ Conrad.

 

"I will send Ben to say that you can't go to-morrow."

 

"Why don't you take Ben to Simpson's, or the detective?" suggested Conrad, in great alarm, bethinking himself that it would hardly do to take Ben, since the attendant would certify⁹ that he was not the one who pawned the glass.

 

"Because I prefer to take you. Have you any objection to go!"

 

"Oh, no, of course not!" answered Conrad, not daring to make any further objection.

 

In the morning Mrs. Hill came to Mrs. Hamilton, and said:

 

"Poor Conrad has a terrible toothache! He is afraid he won't be able to go with you to Simpson's. Will you kindly¹⁰ excuse him?"

 

Mrs. Hamilton expected some such excuse.

 

"I will take Ben, then," she said.

 

"Are you going to keep that boy--after what be has done?" asked the housekeeper¹¹.

 

"It is inconvenient¹² for me to part with him just yet."

 

"Then--I hope you will excuse the suggestion--I advise you to keep your bureau drawers locked."

 

"I think it best myself," said Mrs. Hamilton. Is Conrad's toothache very bad?"

 

"The poor fellow is in great pain."

 

When Ben was invited by Mrs. Hamilton to go to the pawnbroker's he made no objection.

 

"It is only fair to tell you, Ben," said Mrs. Hamilton, that the person who pawned the opera glass gave your name."

 

"Then," said Ben, "I should like to know who it is."

 

"I think I know," said his patroness; "but when we redeem the glass we will ask for a description of him."

 

An hour later they entered the pawnbroker's shop. Mrs. Hamilton presented the ticket and made herself known.

 

"Will you tell me," she asked, "whether you have ever seen the young gentleman that accompanies me?"

 

"Not to my knowledge," answered the attendant, after attentively¹³ regarding Ben.

 

"Can you remember the appearance of the boy who pawned the opera glass?"

 

"He was taller than this boy, and pale. He was thinner also. His hair was a light brown."

 

A light dawned upon Ben, and his glance met that of Mrs. Hamilton, so that she read his suspicions.

 

"I think we both know who it was that took your name, Ben," she said; "but for the present I wish you to keep it secret."

 

"I will certainly do so, Mrs. Hamilton."

 

"I am placed in difficult circumstances, and have not made up my mind what to do."

 

"I hope you won't allow yourself to be prejudiced against me by any false stories."

 

"No, I can promise you that. I have perfect confidence in you."

 

"Thank you for that, Mrs. Hamilton," said Ben gratefully.

 

"Yet I am about to take a course that will surprise you."

 

"What is that?"

 

"I am going to let you leave me for a time, and put Conrad in your place."

 

Ben looked bewildered, as well he might. There was nothing that would have surprised him more.

 

"Then I am afraid you don't find me satisfactory," he said anxiously.

 

"Why not?"

 

"You discharge me from your service."

 

"No" answered Mrs. Hamilton, smiling; "I have other work for you to do. I mean to give you a confidential¹⁴ commission."

 

Ben's face brightened up immediately.

 

"You will find me faithful," he said, "and I hope I may repay your confidence."

 

"I think you will. I will explain matters to you before you reach the house, as I don't want Mrs. Hill or Conrad to know about the matter. Indeed, for reasons of my own, I shall let them think that I discharged you."

 

Ben smiled; he was not averse¹⁵ to such a plan.

 

"And now for the business. I own a farm in the western part of Pennsylvania. I have for years let it for a nominal¹⁶ sum to a man named Jackson. Of late he has been very anxious to buy it, and has offered me a sum greater than I had supposed it to be worth. As I know him to be a close-fisted man, who has tried more than once to get me to reduce the small rent I charge him, this naturally excites my curiosity. I think something has been discovered that enhances the value of the farm, and, if so, I want to know it. You are a boy, and a visit to the neighborhood will not excite surprise.

 

"I understand," said Ben. "When do you wish me to start?"

 

"This afternoon. I have prepared written instructions, and here is a pocketbook containing a hundred and fifty dollars for expenses."

 

"Shall I need so much?"

 

"Probably not; but I wish you to be amply provided. You will remove all your things from my house, but you may store anything you don't need to carry."

 

When Conrad heard that Mrs. Hamilton had taken Ben with her, he was alarmed lest it should be discovered that the boy pawning¹⁷ the opera glass was not Ben, but himself. When, upon Mrs. Hamilton's return, he was summoned to her presence, he entered with trepidation¹⁸.

 

"Is your toothache better, Conrad?" asked Mrs. Hamilton.

 

"A little better, thank you."

 

"I am going to make a change in your position. Ben is to leave me, and you will take his place as my secretary."

 

Conrad's heart bounded with joy and surprise.

 

"How can I thank you, Cousin Hamilton!" he said, with a feeling of great relief.

 

"By serving me well."

 

"All has turned out for the best, mother," said Conrad joyfully¹⁹, as he sought his mother's presence. "Ben is bounced, and I am to take his place."

 

"Heaven be praised!" ejaculated Mrs. Hill.

 

"I hope you'll soon find a place," said Conrad mockingly, when Ben left the house, valise in hand.

 

"I think I shall," answered Ben calmly. 

1 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

2 pawn   

n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押

参考例句：

• He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
• It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。

3 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 jaunty   

adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意

参考例句：

• She cocked her hat at a jaunty angle.她把帽子歪戴成俏皮的样子。
• The happy boy walked with jaunty steps.这个快乐的孩子以轻快活泼的步子走着。

6 pawned   

v.典当，抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 )；以（某事物）担保

参考例句：

• He pawned his gold watch to pay the rent. 他抵当了金表用以交租。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 redeem   

v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等）

参考例句：

• He had no way to redeem his furniture out of pawn.他无法赎回典当的家具。
• The eyes redeem the face from ugliness.这双眼睛弥补了他其貌不扬之缺陷。

8 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

9 certify   

vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给

参考例句：

• I can certify to his good character.我可以证明他品德好。
• This swimming certificate is to certify that I can swim one hundred meters.这张游泳证是用以证明我可以游100米远。

10 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

11 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

12 inconvenient   

adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的

参考例句：

• You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
• Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？

13 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

15 averse   

adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的

参考例句：

• I don't smoke cigarettes,but I'm not averse to the occasional cigar.我不吸烟，但我不反对偶尔抽一支雪茄。
• We are averse to such noisy surroundings.我们不喜欢这么吵闹的环境。

16 nominal   

adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的

参考例句：

• The king was only the nominal head of the state. 国王只是这个国家名义上的元首。
• The charge of the box lunch was nominal.午餐盒饭收费很少。

17 pawning   

v.典当，抵押( pawn的现在分词 )；以（某事物）担保

参考例句：

• He is contemplating pawning his watch. 他正在考虑抵押他的手表。 来自辞典例句
• My clothes were excellent, and I had jewellery; but I never even thought of pawning them. 我的衣服是很讲究的，我有珠宝；但是我从没想到要把它们当掉。 来自辞典例句

18 trepidation   

n.惊恐，惶恐

参考例句：

• The men set off in fear and trepidation.这群人惊慌失措地出发了。
• The threat of an epidemic caused great alarm and trepidation.流行病猖獗因而人心惶惶。

19 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。