the financier-第5节

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His　father　examined　it　closely。　　〃Sixty…two　dollars！〃　he　observed。　〃Mr。　Dalrymple！　That's　good　paper！　Yes；　I　can。　　It　will　cost　you　ten　per　cent。；〃　he　added；　jestingly。　　〃Why　don't　you　just　hold　it；　though？　I'll　let　you　have　the　thirty…two　dollars　until　the　end　of　the　month。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　his　son；　〃you　discount　it　and　take　your　money。　　I　may　want　mine。〃

His　father　smiled　at　his　business…like　air。　　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　fix　it　to…morrow。　　Tell　me　just　how　you　did　this。〃　　And　his　son　told　him。

At　seven　o'clock　that　evening　Frank's　mother　heard　about　it；　and　in　due　time　Uncle　Seneca。

〃What'd　I　tell　you；　Cowperwood？〃　he　asked。　　〃He　has　stuff　in　him；　that　youngster。　　Look　out　for　him。〃

Mrs。　Cowperwood　looked　at　her　boy　curiously　at　dinner。　　Was　this　the　son　she　had　nursed　at　her　bosom　not　so　very　long　before？　Surely　he　was　developing　rapidly。

〃Well；　Frank；　I　hope　you　can　do　that　often；〃　she　said。

〃I　hope　so；　too；　ma；〃　was　his　rather　noncommittal　reply。

Auction　sales　were　not　to　be　discovered　every　day；　however；　and　his　home　grocer　was　only　open　to　one　such　transaction　in　a　reasonable　period　of　time；　but　from　the　very　first　young　Cowperwood　knew　how　to　make　money。　　He　took　subscriptions　for　a　boys'　paper；　handled　the　agency　for　the　sale　of　a　new　kind　of　ice…skate；　and　once　organized　a　band　of　neighborhood　youths　into　a　union　for　the　purpose　of　purchasing　their　summer　straw　hats　at　wholesale。　　It　was　not　his　idea　that　he　could　get　rich　by　saving。　　From　the　first　he　had　the　notion　that　liberal　spending　was　better；　and　that　somehow　he　would　get　along。

It　was　in　this　year；　or　a　little　earlier；　that　he　began　to　take　an　interest　in　girls。　　He　had　from　the　first　a　keen　eye　for　the　beautiful　among　them；　and；　being　good…looking　and　magnetic　himself；　it　was　not　difficult　for　him　to　attract　the　sympathetic　interest　of　those　in　whom　he　was　interested。　　A　twelve…year　old　girl；　Patience　Barlow；　who　lived　further　up　the　street；　was　the　first　to　attract　his　attention　or　be　attracted　by　him。　　Black　hair　and　snapping　black　eyes　were　her　portion；　with　pretty　pigtails　down　her　back；　and　dainty　feet　and　ankles　to　match　a　dainty　figure。　She　was　a　Quakeress；　the　daughter　of　Quaker　parents；　wearing　a　demure　little　bonnet。　　Her　disposition；　however；　was　vivacious；　and　she　liked　this　self…reliant；　self…sufficient；　straight…spoken　boy。　　One　day；　after　an　exchange　of　glances　from　time　to　time；　he　said；　with　a　smile　and　the　courage　that　was　innate　in　him：　〃You　live　up　my　way；　don't　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　a　little　flusteredthis　last　manifested　in　a　nervous　swinging　of　her　school…bag〃I　live　at　number　one…forty…one。〃

〃I　know　the　house；〃　he　said。　　〃I've　seen　you　go　in　there。　　You　go　to　the　same　school　my　sister　does；　don't　you？　Aren't　you　Patience　Barlow？〃　He　had　heard　some　of　the　boys　speak　her　name。　　〃Yes。　　How　do　you　know？〃

〃Oh；　I've　heard；〃　he　smiled。　　〃I've　seen　you。　　Do　you　like　licorice？〃

He　fished　in　his　coat　and　pulled　out　some　fresh　sticks　that　were　sold　at　the　time。

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said；　sweetly；　taking　one。

〃It　isn't　very　good。　　I've　been　carrying　it　a　long　time。　　I　had　some　taffy　the　other　day。〃

〃Oh；　it's　all　right；〃　she　replied；　chewing　the　end　of　hers。

〃Don't　you　know　my　sister；　Anna　Cowperwood？〃　he　recurred；　by　way　of　self…introduction。　　〃She's　in　a　lower　grade　than　you　are；　but　I　thought　maybe　you　might　have　seen　her。〃

〃I　think　I　know　who　she　is。　　I've　seen　her　coming　home　from　school。〃

〃I　live　right　over　there；〃　he　confided；　pointing　to　his　own　home　as　he　drew　near　to　it；　as　if　she　didn't　know。　　〃I'll　see　you　around　here　now；　I　guess。〃

〃Do　you　know　Ruth　Merriam？〃　she　asked；　when　he　was　about　ready　to　turn　off　into　the　cobblestone　road　to　reach　his　own　door。

〃No；　why？〃

〃She's　giving　a　party　next　Tuesday；〃　she　volunteered；　seemingly　pointlessly；　but　only　seemingly。

〃Where　does　she　live？〃

〃There　in　twenty…eight。〃

〃I'd　like　to　go；〃　he　affirmed；　warmly；　as　he　swung　away　from　her。

〃Maybe　she'll　ask　you；〃　she　called　back；　growing　more　courageous　as　the　distance　between　them　widened。　　〃I'll　ask　her。〃

〃Thanks；〃　he　smiled。

And　she　began　to　run　gayly　onward。

He　looked　after　her　with　a　smiling　face。　　She　was　very　pretty。　He　felt　a　keen　desire　to　kiss　her；　and　what　might　transpire　at　Ruth　Merriam's　party　rose　vividly　before　his　eyes。

This　was　just　one　of　the　early　love　affairs；　or　puppy　loves；　that　held　his　mind　from　time　to　time　in　the　mixture　of　after　events。　Patience　Barlow　was　kissed　by　him　in　secret　ways　many　times　before　he　found　another　girl。　　She　and　others　of　the　street　ran　out　to　play　in　the　snow　of　a　winter's　night；　or　lingered　after　dusk　before　her　own　door　when　the　days　grew　dark　early。　　It　was　so　easy　to　catch　and　kiss　her　then；　and　to　talk　to　her　foolishly　at　parties。　　Then　came　Dora　Fitler；　when　he　was　sixteen　years　old　and　she　was　fourteen；　and　Marjorie　Stafford；　when　he　was　seventeen　and　she　was　fifteen。　Dora　Fitter　was　a　brunette；　and　Marjorie　Stafford　was　as　fair　as　the　morning；　with　bright…red　cheeks；　bluish…gray　eyes；　and　flaxen　hair；　and　as　plump　as　a　partridge。

It　was　at　seventeen　that　he　decided　to　leave　school。　　He　had　not　graduated。　　He　had　only　finished　the　third　year　in　high　school；　but　he　had　had　enough。　　Ever　since　his　thirteenth　year　his　mind　had　been　on　finance；　that　is；　in　the　form　in　which　he　saw　it　manifested　in　Third　Street。　　There　had　been　odd　things　which　he　had　been　able　to　do　to　earn　a　little　money　now　and　then。　　His　Uncle　Seneca　had　allowed　him　to　act　as　assistant　weigher　at　the　sugar…docks　in　Southwark；　where　three…hundred…pound　bags　were　weighed　into　the　government　bonded　warehouses　under　the　eyes　of　United　States　inspectors。　　In　certain　emergencies　he　was　called　to　assist　his　father；　and　was　paid　for　it。　　He　even　made　an　arrangement　with　Mr。　Dalrymple　to　assist　him　on　Saturdays；　but　when　his　father　became　cashier　of　his　bank；　receiving　an　income　of　four　thousand　dollars　a　year；　shortly　after　Frank　had　reached　his　fifteenth　year；　it　was　self…evident　that　Frank　could　no　longer　continue　in　such　lowly　employment。

Just　at　this　time　his　Uncle　Seneca；　again　back　in　Philadelphia　and　stouter　and　more　domineering　than　ever；　said　to　him　one　day：

〃Now；　Frank；　if　you're　ready　for　it；　I　think　I　know　where　there's　a　good　opening　for　you。　　There　won't　be　any　salary　in　it　for　the　first　year；　but　if　you　mind　your　p's　and　q's；　they'll　probably　give　you　something　as　a　gift　at　the　end　of　that　time。　　Do　you　know　of　Henry　Waterman　&　Company　down　in　Second　Street？〃

〃I've　seen　their　place。〃

〃Well；　they　tell　me　they　might　make　a　place　for　you　as　a　bookkeeper。　They're　brokers　in　a　waygrain　and　commission　men。　　You　say　you　want　to　get　in　that　line。　　When　school's　out；　you　go　down　and　see　Mr。　Watermantell　him　I　sent　you；　and　he'll　make　a　place　for　you；　I　think。　　Let　me　know　how　you　come　out。〃

Uncle　Seneca　was　married　now；　having；　because　of　his　wealth；　attracted　the　attention　of　a　poor　but　ambitious　Philadelphia　society　matron；　and　because　of　this　the　general　connections　of　the　Cowperwoods　were　considered　vastly　improved。　　Henry　Cowperwood　was　planning　to　move　with　his　family　rather　far　out　on　North　Front　Street；　which　commanded　at　that　time　a　beautiful　view　of　the　river　and　was　witnessing　the　construction　of　some　charming　dwellings。　His　four　thousand　dollars　a　year　in　these　pre…Civil…War　times　was　considerable。　　He　was　making　what　he　considered　judicious　and　conservative　investments　and　because　of　his　cautious；　conservative；　clock…like　conduct　it　was　thought　he　might　reasonably　expect　some　day　to　be　vice…president　and　possibly　president；　of　his　bank。

This　offer　of　Uncle　Seneca　to　get　him　in　with　Waterman　&　Company　seemed　to　Frank　just　the　thing　to　start　him　off　right。　　So　he　reported　to　that　organization　at　74　South　Second　Street　one　day　in　June；　and　was　cordially　received　by　Mr。　Henry　Waterman；　Sr。　There　was；　he　soon　learned；　a　Henry　Waterman；　Jr。；　a　young　man　of　twenty…five；　and　a　George　Waterman；　a　brother；　aged　fifty；　who　was　the　confidential　inside　man。　　Henry　Waterman；　Sr。；　a　man　of　fifty…five　years　of　age；　was　the　general　head　of　the　organization；　inside　and　outtraveling　about　the　nearby　territory　to　see　customers　when　that　was　necessary；　coming　into　final　counsel　in　cases　where　his　brother　could　not　adjust　matters；　suggesting　and　advising　new　ventures　which　his　associates　and　hirelings　carried　out。　　He　was；　to　look　at；　a　phlegmatic　type　of　manshort；　stout；　wrinkled　about　the　eyes；　rather　protuberant　as　to　stomach；　red…necked；　red…faced；　the　least　bit　popeyed；　but　shrewd；　kindly；　good…natured；　and　witty。　　He　had；　because　of　his　naturally　common…sense　ideas　and　rather　pleasing　disposition　built　up　a　sound　and　successful　business　here。　　He　was　getting　strong　in　years　and　would　gladly　have　welcomed　the　hearty　cooperation　of　his　son；　if　the　latter　had　been　entirely　suited　to　the　business。

He　was　not；　however。　　Not　as　democratic；　as　quick…witted；　or　as　pleased　with　the　work　in　hand　as　was　his　father；　the　business　actually　offended　him。　　And　if　the　trade　had　been　left　to　his　care；　it　would　have　rapidly　disappeared。　　His　father　foresaw　this；　was　grieved；　and　was　hoping　some　young　man　would　eventually　appear　who　would　be　inter