mother(母亲)-第3节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
unhappy beneath the many hours of gaiety that came to me； as to every
young man。〃
〃Those two years we could have been in Michigan；〃 said Ethel； 〃had
you understood。〃
〃I know。 But understanding； I believe that I should do the same again。
At the office； when not busy； I wrote more poetry； and began also to write
prose； which I found at the outset less easy。 When my first writings were
accepted （they were four sets of verses upon the Summer Resort） I felt that
I could soon address Ethel； for I had made ten dollars outside my salary。
Had she not been in Europe that July； I believe that I should have spoken
to her at once。 But I sent her the paper； and I have the letter that she wrote
in reply。〃
〃I〃began Ethel。 But she stopped。
〃Yes； I know now that you kept the verses；〃 said Richard。 〃My next
manuscript； however； was rejected。 Indeed； I went on offering my literary
productions nearly every week until the following January before a second
acceptance came。 It was twenty five dollars this time； and almost made me
feel again that I could handsomely support Ethel。 But not quite。 After the
first charming elation at earning money with my pen； those weeks of
refusal had caused me to think more soberly。 And though I was now bent
upon becoming an author and leaving Nassau Street； I burned no bridges
behind me； but merely filled my spare hours with writing and with
showing it to Ethel。〃
〃It was now that the second area of perturbation of my life came to me。
I say the second； because the first had been the recent dawning belief that
Ethel thought about me when I was not there to remind her of myself。 This
idea had stirred but you will understand。 And now； what was my proper；
my honourable course？ It was a positive relief that at this crisis she went
to Florida。 I could think more quietly。 My writing had come to be quite
often accepted； sometimes even solicited。 Should I speak to her； and ask
her to wait until I could put a decent roof over her head； or should I keep
9
… Page 10…
MOTHER
away from her until I could offer such a roof？ Her father； I supposed；
could do something for us。 But I was not willing to be a pensioner。 His
businesswere he generouswould be to provide cake and butter； but the
bread was to be mine and bread was still a long way off； according to New
York standards。 These things I thought over while she was in Florida； yet
when once I should I find myself with her again； I began to fear that I
could not hold myself frombut these are circumstances which universal
knowledge renders it needless to mention； and I will pass to the second
perturbation。〃
〃A sum of money was suddenly left me。 Then for the first time I
understood why I had during my boyhood been so periodically sent to see
a cross old brother of my mother's； who lived near Cold Spring on the
Hudson； and whom we called Uncle Snaggletooth when no one could hear
us。 Uncle Godfrey （for I have called him by his right name ever since）
died and left me what in those old days six years ago was still a large
amount。 To…day we understand what true riches mean。 But in those bygone
times six years ago； a million dollars was a sum considerable enough to be
still seen； as it were； with the naked eye。 That was my bequest from Uncle
Godfrey； and I felt myself to be the possessor of a fortune。〃
At this point in Richard's narrative； a sigh escaped from Ethel。
〃I know；〃 he immediately said； 〃that money is always welcome。 But it
is certainly some consolation to reflect how slight a loss a million dollars
is counted to…day in New York。 And I did not lose all of it。〃
〃I met Ethel at the train on her return from Florida； and crossed with
her on the ferry from Jersey City to Desbrosses Street。 There I was obliged
to see her drive away in the carriage with her father。〃
〃Mr。 Field；〃 said Mrs。 Davenport； 〃what hour did that train arrive at
Jersey City？〃
Richard looked surprised。 〃Why； seven…fifteen P。 M。；〃 he replied。 〃The
tenth of March。〃
〃Dark！〃 Mrs。 Davenport exclaimed。 〃Mr。 Field； you and Ethel were
engaged before the ferry boat landed at Desbrosses Street。〃
Richard and Ethel both sat straight up； but remained speechless。
10
… Page 11…
MOTHER
〃Pardon my interruption；〃 said Mrs。 Davenport； smiling。 〃I didn't want
to miss a single point in this storydo go on！〃
Richard was obliged to burst out laughing； in which Ethel； after a
moment； followed him； though perhaps less heartily。 And as he continued；
his blush subsided。
〃With my Uncle Godfrey's legacy I was no longer dependent upon my
salary； or my pen； or my father's purse； and I decided that with the money
properly invested； I could maintain a modest establishment of my own。
Ethel agreed with me entirely； and； after a little； we disclosed our plans to
our families； and they met with approval。 This was in April； and we
thought of October or November for the wedding。 It seemed long to wait；
but it came near being so much longer； that I grow chilly now to think of
it。〃
〃Of course； I went steadily on with my work at the office in Nassau
Street； nor did I neglect my writing entirely。 My attention； however； was
now turned to the question of investing my fortune。 Just round the corner
from our office was the firm of Blake and Beverly； Stocks and Bonds。
Thither my steps began frequently to turn。 Mr。 Beverly had business which
brought him every week to the room of our president； and so having a sort
of acquaintance with him； I felt it easier to consult him than to seek any
other among the brokers； to which class I was a well nigh total stranger。
He very kindly consented to be my adviser。 I was well pleased to find how
much I had underrated the interest…bearing capacity of my windfall。 'Four
per cent！' he cried； when I told him this was the extent of my expectations。
'Why； you're talking like a trustee。' And then seeing that his meaning was
beyond me； he explained in his bluff； humorous manner。 'All a trustee
cares for you know； is his reputation for safety。 It's not his own income
he's nursing； and so he doesn't care how small he makes it； provided only
that his investments would be always called safe。 Now there are ways of
being safe without spending any trouble or time upon it； and those are the
ways a trustee will take。 For example；' and here he arose and unhooking a
file of current quotations from the wall； placed it in my lap as I sat beside
him。 'now here are Government three's selling at 108 3…8。 They are as safe
11
… Page 12…
MOTHER
as the United States； and if I advised you to buy them； it would cost me no
thought； and my character for safety would run no risk of a blemish。 That
is the sort of bond that a trustee recommends。 But see what income it gives
you。 Roughly speaking； about twenty…eight thousand dollars。'〃
〃'That would not do at all；' said I； thinking of Ethel and October。〃
〃'Certainly not for you；' returned Mr。 Beverly； gaily。 If you were a
timorous old maid； now； who would really like all her money in her
stocking in gold pieces； only she's ashamed to say so！ But a young fellow
like you with no responsibility； no wife； and butcher's billit's quite
another thing！'〃
〃'Quite；' said I； 'oh； quite！'〃
〃Richard；〃 interrupted Ethel； 〃do you have to make yourself out so
simple？〃
〃My dear； you forget that I said I should invent nothing； but should
keep myself to actual experiences。 The part of my story that is coming
now is one where I should be very glad to draw upon my imagination。〃
〃Mr。 Beverly now ran his finger up and down various columns。 'Here
again；' said he； 'is a typical trustee bond； and nets you a few thousand
dollars more at present prices。 New York Central and Hudson River 3 1…2's。
Or here are West Shore 4's at 113 5…8。 But you see it scales down to pretty
much the same thing。 The sort of bond that a trustee will call safe does not
bring the owner more than about three and one…half p
