登陆注册
5249500000047

第47章 CHAPTER XX(1)

MRS. GORDON FEELS FAINT, AND KATY ENTERS A NEW SPHERE.

On her arrival at Temple Street, Katy was promptly admitted by Michael, and shown in the sitting-room, where Mrs. Gordon and Grace were waiting for her.

"I was very sorry to hear that your mother is sick, Katy," said the former; "and I should have paid you a visit, instead of sending for you, if I had not been so much exhausted by my journey from Baltimore."

"You are very kind, ma'am."

"Did Dr. Flynch call upon you at the first of the month?"

"Yes, ma'am; and we paid the rent as usual," replied Katy.

"I am sorry you did so, Katy; you should have told him you were not in a condition to pay the rent."

"I couldn't tell him so, he is so cold and cruel."

"I think you misjudge him, for he has a really kind heart, and would not have distressed you for all the world. Besides, I told him he need not collect your rent any time when you did not feel ready to pay it. I hope he gave you no trouble?"

"No, ma'am; I didn't give him a chance, for I paid him as soon as he demanded it; though it took nearly all the money we had. I hope you will excuse me, ma'am, but I haven't liked him since the trouble we had a year ago, when he accused my dear mother of telling a lie."

"Perhaps he was hasty."

"I forgive him, ma'am; but I can't help thinking he is a very wicked man," answered Katy, with considerable emphasis.

"I hope not so bad as that; for I am sure, if you had told him it was not convenient for you to pay the rent, he would not have insisted. But you want some assistance Katy?"

"Yes, ma'am; that is, I want to borrow some money," replied Katy, blushing deeply.

"That's just like you," interposed Grace, laughing. "I suppose you will want to give your note this time."

"I don't care about giving a note, but I mean to pay the money back again, every cent of it."

"And the interest too, I suppose?"

"Yes," said Katy, though she had not a very clear idea of the value of money, as an article of merchandise.

"Don't distress her, Grace; you forget that her mother is very sick, and she cannot feel like listening to your pleasantries," said Mrs. Gordon.

"Forgive me, Katy," replied Grace, tenderly.

Katy burst into tears, though she could not exactly tell why. She was overcome with emotion as the beautiful young lady took her hand, and looked so sorrowfully in her face. She was not used to so much kindness, so much sympathy, so much love; for it seemed as though both Grace and her mother loved her--that their hearts beat with hers.

"Don t cry, Katy; I am sorry I said a word," pleaded Grace. "I would not have hurt your feelings for all the world."

"You did not hurt my feelings; you are so kind to me that I could not help crying. I suppose I am very silly."

"No, you are not, Katy; now dry up your tears, and tell us all about it," added Mrs. Gordon, in soothing tones. "How long has your mother been sick?"

"Almost two weeks."

"What ails her?"

"She has got a fever; but she is much better to-day. The doctor says she hasn't got it very bad; but she has been very sick, I think."

"Who takes care of her?"

"I do, ma'am."

"You! She must need a great deal of attention. But who takes care of her at night?"

"I do, ma'am. I have been up a great deal every night."

"Poor child! It is enough to wear you out."

"I wouldn't mind it at all, if I had nothing else to trouble me."

"What other troubles have you?"

"I can't make any candy now, and haven't made any for nearly a fortnight; so that we have no money coming in. We spent nearly all we had in buying our winter clothing and fuel. It worries me very much, for we had plenty of money before mother was taken sick."

"I hope you haven't wanted for anything."

"No, ma'am; for when my purse was empty, I came up here, only yesterday, to borrow some of you, if you would please to lend it me."

"Certainly, I will, my child. I am very glad you came."

"Michael would make me tell what I wanted, and then he let me have three dollars, and offered to let me have as much as I wanted. I didn't know as you would like it if I borrowed money of your servant."

"You did just right: and I am glad that Michael has a kind heart.

Now, how much money do you want?"

"I thought I would ask you to lend me twenty dollars; and just as soon, after mother gets well, as I can gather the money together, I will pay you--and the interest," she added, glancing at Grace.

"Now, Katy, that is too bad!" exclaimed Grace, catching her by the hand, while a tear started from her eye. "You know I didn't mean that."

"I know you didn't; but I don't know much about such things, and thought likely it was right for us to pay interest, if we borrowed money."

"I should be very glad to give you twenty dollars, Katy, if you would only let me; for I am rich, as well as mother, and I certainly should not think of taking interest."

"We will say no more about that," interrupted Mrs. Gordon. "I will let you have the money with the greatest pleasure, for I know you will make good use of it."

"I will, indeed."

"And you must promise me that you will not distress yourself to pay it again," continued the kind lady, as she took out her purse.

"I will not distress myself, but I will pay it as soon as I can."

"You must not be too proud."

"No, ma'am; but just proud enough."

"Yes, that's it," replied Mrs. Gordon, smiling. "Pride is a very good thing in its place. It keeps people from being mean and wicked sometimes."

"That's true pride," added Katy.

"Yes; for there is a false pride, which makes people very silly and vain; which keeps them from doing their duty very often. You have none of this kind of pride."

"I hope not."

"Your friend Simon Sneed, whom the mayor spoke to me about, affords us a very good example of the folly of cherishing false pride. Where is Simon now?"

"He keeps a store in Washington Street. He is a salesman now, and I don't think he is so foolish as he was."

"Perhaps the lesson he learned did him good. But I am keeping you away from your mother, Katy. Who stays with her while you are away?"

"Mrs. Sneed--Simon's mother."

"Then she is a good woman."

"And Simon is very kind; he has done a great many things for me, and I hope I shall be able to do something for him one of these days."

同类推荐
  • The Duke's Children

    The Duke's Children

    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。
  • 玄圃山灵秘录

    玄圃山灵秘录

    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。
  • 尊瓠室诗话

    尊瓠室诗话

    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。
  • 佛制六物图辩讹

    佛制六物图辩讹

    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。
  • 蕉叶帕

    蕉叶帕

    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
  • 锦绣嫡女

    锦绣嫡女

    她本是梁朝唯一布衣皇后,扶帝登基却被嫁祸巫蛊之祸,最后身怀六甲竟被活活害死,重生后,她发誓她定要复仇!指腹为婚的傻子王爷到底是有什么背景?前世渣夫再度垂青,她又该何去何从?阴谋诡异,重生这一世,她定然将是一个全新的自己!大杀天下,我曲无容想要,必定到手!
  • 地产之王

    地产之王

    周强是房地产中介公司的经纪人,每天的工作是带客户看房、租房、买房,为了生活而奔波忙碌着。偶然间,获得一个未来日记本,记载着未来的房源、客户,让周强得以先知先觉,在房地产行业混的风生水起。娶老婆,要买房,想买房,找周强!……完本作品《房产大亨》(原名房术),万订精品,绝对精彩。
  • 在魔术世界的科学家

    在魔术世界的科学家

    白陌是22世纪的科学家,在设计出人工智能拉普拉斯妖以后,试图解析世界本质的时候,结果被一道雷给劈下来,传送到了异世界……谁说魔术世界不能有科学家,我,白陌,表示我还相信着科学。真香……
  • 其实我没那么爱你

    其实我没那么爱你

    "被算计,被扫地出门,一夕之间,我落入污泥,从此沦为笑柄。“韩铭言,我不怕受到多少伤害,我只怕你不信我。”“你知道我最不能容忍的就是背叛!”他鄙夷的言语,冷酷的眼神,一次次将我推开。爱人的心如双刃的剑,刺伤我一分,他自伤八千。若干年后,我穿千万婚纱要嫁给豪门做千亿媳妇,他却哭着跪在我面前求我原谅。我冷冷的笑,“我等这一天等了太久,韩铭言你给我滚!”峰回路转,这次轮到我远远的甩开他,一血当年的耻辱……"
  • 憨山老人梦游集

    憨山老人梦游集

    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。
  • 痴缠不休:残忍前夫请止步

    痴缠不休:残忍前夫请止步

    她是被设计赶出霍家的落魄下堂妻,求爱不得,求死不能。她好不容易经营起了自己的公司,打算过好自己的生活,又被突然闯出来的前夫完全打乱了节奏。惹不起还躲不起吗,她一躲再躲,他却步步紧逼。“霍斯烨,要我提醒你,我们已经离婚了吗!”他邪肆一笑,“离婚了?那你把离婚证拿出来我瞧瞧?”某女呆住……她爱到痴狂,爱到精疲力尽,“霍斯烨,我们可能真不不适合,你,放手吧。”他双眸猩红似要喷出火来,“放手?自我看到你的第一眼开始,我就知道我这辈子是放不了手了!”
  • 侯门出逃妻

    侯门出逃妻

    苏沫以为自己就这么病逝,一睁眼却发现身在花轿中!被迫拜堂成亲,本以为上天给了自己一个重生的机会,那么相夫教子也无不可。没想到,自己的丈夫却心系嫡姐,对自己恨之入骨......既然相夫相子梦破碎,那么努力讨好祖母,敛财准备逃跑吧!管他什么侯爷公主,都拦不住苏沫向往自由的心!逃第一次,被抓回来!第二次,还是被抓回来!第三次,就不信自己逃不掉!
  • 五灯严统解惑编

    五灯严统解惑编

    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。
  • 青梅蜜蜜宠:你是我的百分百

    青梅蜜蜜宠:你是我的百分百

    【甜宠苏炸】“哥哥,为什么猪的鼻子有两个孔呢?”“因为你的鼻子也有两个孔。”……闷骚偏冷的他,遇到了可爱嘟嘟的她。“哎,盛陌哥哥,你看那边那个吃烤串的女生,长得好好看啊!”“……”“难道你不觉得吗?”“最好看的女生已经在我身边了。在我眼里,现在,你是这条街上唯一一个女性生物。”……从盛夏,走到暖秋,我的眼里只有你。从校园到都市,球球希望给你们带来一个不一样的故事~甜蜜甜蜜的哦~~
  • 好好开你的车

    好好开你的车

    连冬骑着自行车去驾校学开汽车。三个月后他的胸前口袋里揣了一张小型机动车驾驶证(C型),依旧骑自行车。这段短暂的经历却足以令他在未来的路上不时回首张望,并且总是会有难以置信、恍若梦中的感觉。 亮相演出 练车场上画出了许多小场地。连冬找到自己的那一组。二十多个人聚在场地上等着教练,大多数是女性。