登陆注册
4710000000058

第58章

"I will, Miss Norris."

"Do you live in Albany?"

Carl explained that he was traveling on business, and should leave the next day if he could get through.

"How far are you going?"

"To Chicago."

"Can you attend to some business for me there?"

"Yes, if it won't take too long a time."

"Good! Come round to my house to supper at six o'clock, and I will tell you about it. Henry, write my address on a piece of paper, and give it to this young man."

Henry Norris smiled, and did as his aunt requested.

"You have considerable confidence in this young man?" he said.

"I have."

"You may be mistaken."

"Rachel Norris is not often mistaken."

"I will accept your invitation with pleasure, Miss Norris," said Carl, bowing politely.

"Now, as I have some business to attend to, I will bid you both good-morning."

As Carl went out, Miss Norris said: "Henry, that is a remarkable boy."

"I think favorably of him myself. He is in the employ of an old schoolmate of mine, Henry Jennings, of Milford. By the way, what business are you going to put into his hands?"

"A young man who has a shoe store on State Street has asked me for a loan of two thousand dollars to extend his business. His name is John French, and his mother was an old schoolmate of mine, though some years younger. Now I know nothing of him. If he is a sober, steady, industrious young man, I may comply with his request. This boy will investigate and report to me."

"And you will be guided by his report?"

"Probably."

"Aunt Rachel, you are certainly very eccentric."

"I may be, but I am not often deceived."

"Well, I hope you won't be this time. The boy seems to me a very good boy, but you can't put an old head on young shoulders."

"Some boys have more sense than men twice their age."

"You don't mean me, I hope, Aunt Rachel," said Mr. Norris, smiling.

"Indeed, I don't. I shall not flatter you by speaking of you as only twice this boy's age."

"I see, Aunt Rachel, there is no getting the better of you."

Meanwhile Carl was making business calls.

He obtained a map of the city, and located the different firms on which he proposed to call.

He had been furnished with a list by Mr. Jennings. He was everywhere pleasantly received --in some places with an expression of surprise at his youth--but when he began to talk he proved to be so well informed upon the subject of his call that any prejudice excited by his age quickly vanished. He had the satisfaction of securing several unexpectedly large orders for the chair, and transmitting them to Mr. Jennings by the afternoon mail.

He got through his business at four o'clock, and rested for an hour or more at his hotel.

Then he arranged his toilet, and set out for the residence of Miss Rachel Norris.

It was rather a prim-looking, three-story house, such as might be supposed to belong to a maiden lady. He was ushered into a sitting-room on the second floor, where Miss Norris soon joined him.

"I am glad to see you, my young friend," she said, cordially. "You are in time."

"I always try to be, Miss Norris."

"It is a good way to begin."

Here a bell rang.

"Supper is ready," she said. "Follow me downstairs."

Carl followed the old lady to the rear room on the lower floor. A small table was set in the center of the apartment.

"Take a seat opposite me," said Miss Norris.

There were two other chairs, one on each side--Carl wondered for whom they were set.

No sooner were he and Miss Norris seated than two large cats approached the table, and jumped up, one into each chair. Carl looked to see them ordered away, but instead, Miss Norris nodded pleasantly, saying: "That's right, Jane and Molly, you are punctual at meals."

The two cats eyed their mistress gravely, and began to purr contentedly.

同类推荐
  • 七颂堂识小录

    七颂堂识小录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天道偶测

    天道偶测

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说十八臂陀罗尼经

    佛说十八臂陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幽闲鼓吹

    幽闲鼓吹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说回向轮经

    佛说回向轮经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 破天

    破天

    本已站在世界巅峰的神级人物,却因为一个古朴的戒指,成为异世界一个药师家族的废物公子。从此便开启了一段精彩绝伦的破天之路!他实力远超同龄人,却又无数次面临生死的考验!这是一个让你可以兴奋到爆的故事!顺我者强,逆我者亡,红尘滚滚,天地苍茫,看我如何一剑刺破天芒!
  • 重生之又呆又悍的女汉纸

    重生之又呆又悍的女汉纸

    【碎碎念:还是一篇温馨的宠文…】果尔是个圆溜溜的萌妹子。研究生导师评价:这个同学,是这个浮华是世界里一个难得的实心眼的孩子!果尔自我介绍:大智若愚!就是这样一个外表软乎、内力有点小自恋的妹子有着“伟大”的梦想:一:民族团结!二:国家统一!!三:世界和平!!!四:顿顿有肉!!!!重生在五年后,果尔仍以此为方针,过着平淡但不平庸的小日子。在务实之风吹向大地后,果尔终在意识到此四项基本方针的遥远,于是脚踏实地地重新制备了八项基本原则。一:顿顿有肉,多吃菜!二:民族团结从家庭团结做起!!…N年以后:书房:某“冷男”对“面瘫儿”传授追女秘诀:相中了,那就拽着不放,没有条件也要创造条件地把人给拨拉到身边时刻看着,距离产生美什么的——都是扯淡!
  • 文化创意产业前沿路径:建构与超越

    文化创意产业前沿路径:建构与超越

    文化是识别一个民族的基因,创意是发展一个国家的动力。历史进入21世纪,在产业经济的作用下,“文化”和“创意”的结合萌生出了一种新型的产业形态——文化创意产业。2006年9月13日,中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅印发了《国家“十一五”时期文化发展规划纲要》,“文化创意产业”这一概念也首次正式出现在党和政府的这一重要文件之中。
  • 无道剑圣

    无道剑圣

    天,只有抬头一片;而星辰,则是无边无际。当飞出天际之外,看到的只有浩瀚星空。谁说光明就一定能驱散黑暗的,有种极致的黑,连光都可以吞噬。光速就算再快,也需要时间传播,但黑暗却是瞬间覆盖。天地初生,漆黑一片,光明只是后来产物,如果没有黑暗,光明存在的意义何在?
  • 上阳子金丹大要

    上阳子金丹大要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 杨小落的便宜奶爸

    杨小落的便宜奶爸

    蝉鸣鸟唱的夏夜,杨言站在小区门口,高高拎起一个大袋子,扬声笑喊:“落落,回家吃冰镇西瓜咯!”嗖!一只短腿的柯基迫不及待地从花丛里钻了出来,摇着小屁股,兴奋地跑向他。随后,一个小女孩坐在一只大乌龟的壳上,慢慢悠悠地从大树后面绕了出来,她明亮的大眼睛找到了杨言,嘴巴欣喜地笑起来,脆生生地叫了一声:“爸爸!”在她之后,一只大橘猫身姿轻盈地跃出花丛,然后是一只背着翅膀走路的鹦鹉、一只左顾右盼的白色仓鼠......看着这一幕,路边一个瘪嘴的老奶奶惊奇地转向杨言:“小杨啊,你家闺女,好像有点特别啊!”普群:771842853。V群:538242827。舵主群:831794188
  • 仙剑尊者

    仙剑尊者

    不一样的热血男子,不一样的激情时代,都在异世杀手之王!
  • 诛仙长生传

    诛仙长生传

    痴情绝美的碧瑶,美若天仙的陆雪琪,魅惑众生的小白,活泼灵动的田灵儿,单纯善良的小环,妖媚狠辣的金瓶儿,神秘美艳的幽姬,风华绝代的玲珑。逆天意,挽红颜,求长生,这是言情的诛仙,也是一段追求长生的传奇。 书友QQ群1128409013
  • 绝地求生之极限枪王

    绝地求生之极限枪王

    枪下舔包!血拼空投!独霸机场!毒圈枪王!老夫的求生之路就一个字:刚!死守炮楼!毒中补血!麦田伏地!角落蹲人!老衲吃鸡就一个字:苟!那么问题来了……什么才是吃鸡的正确打开方式?苟?还是刚?
  • 通俗编

    通俗编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。