tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第19节
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was about to add 〃well educated〃； but divining that education was a
topic not pleasing at the moment to the ears of Helvetia Appleyard； had
tact enough to substitute 〃not a fool。 I can earn my own living； and I
should like to get away。〃
〃It seems to me〃 said the sub…editor。
〃Now； TommyI mean Jane；〃 warned her Peter Hope。 He always
called her Jane in company； unless he was excited。 〃I know what you
are going to say。 I won't have it。〃
〃I was only going to say〃 urged the sub…editor in tone of one
suffering injustice。
〃I quite know what you were going to say；〃 retorted Peter hotly。 〃I
can see it by your chin。 You are going to take their partand suggest
their acting undutifully towards their parents。〃
〃I wasn't；〃 returned the sub…editor。 〃I was only〃
〃You were；〃 persisted Peter。 〃I ought not to have allowed you to be
present。 I might have known you would interfere。〃
〃going to say we are in want of some help in the office。 You
know we are。 And that if Mr。 Grindley would be content with a small
salary〃
〃Small salary be hanged！〃 snarled Peter。
〃there would be no need for his going to Africa。〃
〃And how would that help us？〃 demanded Peter。 〃Even if the boy
were soso headstrong； so unfilial as to defy his father； who has worked
for him all these years； how would that remove the obstacle of Mr。
Appleyard's refusal？〃
〃Why； don't you see〃 explained the sub…editor。
〃No； I don't；〃 snapped Peter。
〃If； on his declaring to his father that nothing will ever induce him to
marry any other woman but Miss Appleyard； his father disowns him； as
he thinks it likely〃
〃A dead cert！〃 was Grindley junior's conviction。
〃Very well； he is no longer old Grindley's son； and what possible
objection can Mr。 Appleyard have to him then？〃
Peter Hope arose and expounded at length and in suitable language
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the folly and uselessness of the scheme。
But what chance had ever the wisdom of Age against the enthusiasm
of Youth； reaching for its object。 Poor Peter； expostulating； was swept
into the conspiracy。 Grindley junior the next morning stood before his
father in the private office in High Holborn。
〃I am sorry； sir；〃 said Grindley junior； 〃if I have proved a
disappointment to you。〃
〃Damn your sympathy！〃 said Grindley senior。 〃Keep it till you are
asked for it。〃
〃I hope we part friends； sir；〃 said Grindley junior； holding out his
hand。
〃Why do you irate me？〃 asked Grindley senior。 〃I have thought of
nothing but you these five…and…twenty years。〃
〃I don't； sir；〃 answered Grindley junior。 〃I can't say I love you。 It
did not seem to me youyou wanted it。 But I like you； sir； and I
respect you。 Andand I'm sorry to have to hurt you； sir。〃
〃And you are determined to give up all your prospects； all the money；
for the sake of thisthis girl？〃
〃It doesn't seem like giving up anything； sir；〃 replied Grindley junior；
simply。
〃It isn't so much as I thought it was going to be；〃 said the old man；
after a pause。 〃Perhaps it is for the best。 I might have been more
obstinate if things had been going all right。 The Lord has chastened
me。〃
〃Isn't the business doing well； Dad？〃 asked the young man； with
sorrow in his voice。
〃What's it got to do with you？〃 snapped his father。 〃You've cut
yourself adrift from it。 You leave me now I am going down。〃
Grindley junior； not knowing what to say； put his arms round the
little old man。
And in this way Tommy's brilliant scheme fell through and came to
naught。 Instead； old Grindley visited once again the big house in
Nevill's Court； and remained long closeted with old Solomon in the
office on the second floor。 It was late in the evening when Solomon
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opened the door and called upstairs to Janet Helvetia to come down。
〃I used to know you long ago；〃 said Hezekiah Grindley； rising。
〃You were quite a little girl then。〃
Later； the troublesome Sauce disappeared entirely； cut out by newer
flavours。 Grindley junior studied the printing business。 It almost
seemed as if old Appleyard had been waiting but for this。 Some six
months later they found him dead in his counting…house。 Grindley
junior became the printer and publisher of Good Humour。
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STORY THE FOURTH： Miss
Ramsbotham gives her Services
To regard Miss Ramsbotham as a marriageable quantity would have
occurred to few men。 Endowed by Nature with every feminine quality
calculated to inspire liking； she had； on the other hand； been disinherited
of every attribute calculated to excite passion。 An ugly woman has for
some men an attraction； the proof is ever present to our eyes。 Miss
Ramsbotham was plain but pleasant looking。 Large； healthy in mind
and body； capable； self…reliant； and cheerful； blessed with a happy
disposition together with a keen sense of humour； there was about her
absolutely nothing for tenderness to lay hold of。 An ideal wife； she was
an impossible sweetheart。 Every man was her friend。 The suggestion
that any man could be her lover she herself would have greeted with a
clear； ringing laugh。
Not that she held love in despite； for such folly she was possessed of
far too much sound sense。 〃To have somebody in love with you
somebody strong and good；〃 so she would confess to her few close
intimates； a dreamy expression clouding for an instant her broad； sunny
face； 〃why； it must be just lovely！〃 For Miss Ramsbotham was prone
to American phraseology； and had even been at some pains； during a six
months' journey through the States （whither she had been commissioned
by a conscientious trade journal seeking reliable information concerning
the condition of female textile workers） to acquire a slight but decided
American accent。 It was her one affectation； but assumed； as one might
feel certain； for a practical and legitimate object。
〃You can have no conception；〃 she would explain； laughing； 〃what a
help I find it。 'I'm 'Muriken' is the 'Civis Romanus sum' of the modern
woman's world。 It opens every door to us。 If I ring the bell and say；
'Oh； if you please； I have come to interview Mr。 So… and…So for such…and…
such a paper；' the footman looks through me at the opposite side of the
street； and tells me to wait in the hall while he inquires if Mr。 So…and…So
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will see me or not。 But if I say； 'That's my keerd； young man。 You tell
your master Miss Ramsbotham is waiting for him in the showroom； and
will take it real kind if he'll just bustle himself；' the poor fellow walks
backwards till he stumbles against the bottom stair； and my gentleman
comes down with profuse apologies for having kept me waiting three
minutes and a half。
〃'And to be in love with someone；〃 she would continue； 〃someone
great that one could look up to and honour and worshipsomeone that
would fill one's
