登陆注册
5392600000064

第64章

Within the week I was at home in my new position.The strangeness of regular hours and regular employment wore away with surprising rapidity.There were, of course, mornings when sea and sky and the freshness of outdoors tempted me and I wondered whether or not Ihad been foolish to give up my fine and easy life.But these periods of temptation were shorter and less frequent as I became more and more familiar with my duties and with the routine of the bank.I found myself taking a greater interest in the institution and, to my astonishment, I was actually sorry when Saturday came.

It seemed odd enough to once more have money in my pocket which Ihad earned.It was not a great amount, of course, but I felt it to be mine.Yes, there was no doubt about it, I had done the right thing, and was glad.I was grateful to Taylor for having given me the opportunity.Perhaps I should have been grateful to the person whose brutal and impertinent frankness had piqued me into grasping that opportunity, but I was not.

She made her second call upon Mother two days after our impromptu picnic at Seabury's Pond.I heard all about it when I came home that afternoon.It appeared that she had brought more flowers and a fresh supply of books.She had remained even longer than on her first visit and she and Mother had talked about almost everything under the sun.One topic, however, had not been discussed, a fact which my guarded questions made certain.She, like myself, had said nothing concerning the day in the woods.

"I told her of your consenting to help Mr.Taylor in his dilemma,"said Mother.

"Did you?" said I."It was kind of you to put it in that way.""That was the truthful way of putting it, wasn't it? She seemed very much interested.""Indeed.And surprised, I presume."

"Why, yes, I think so.She seemed surprised at first; then she laughed; I could not understand why.She has a very pleasant laugh, hasn't she?""I have never noticed." This was untrue.

"She has.She is a charming girl.I am sorry you were not here when she called.I told her you would be home soon and asked her to wait, but she would not.""I am glad she didn't."

"Roscoe!"

"I am, Mother.That young lady comes here to see you merely because she has nothing else to do just now.I shouldn't accept too many favors from her."Mother said I was unreasonable and prejudiced and I did not argue the point.Lute and Dorinda discussed the caller at the supper table until I was constrained to leave the room.Mabel Colton might amuse herself with Mother and the two members of our household whom she had described as "characters," she might delude them into believing her thoughtful and sympathetic and without false pride, but I knew better.She had insulted me.She had, in so many words, told me that I was lazy and worthless, just as she might have told her chauffeur or one of the servants.That it was true made no difference.Would she have spoken in that way to--to Victor Carver, for instance? Hardly.She was just what I had thought her at first, a feminine edition of Victor, with more brains than he possessed.

Captain Jed Dean came into the bank the third day after my installation as bookkeeper and teller.I was alone in the director's room, going over some papers, and he entered and shook hands with me.The old fellow professed delight at my presence there.

"George tells me you're takin' hold fust-rate," he said."That's good.I'm glad to hear it.""Why?" I asked.There was a trace of his old pomposity in the speech--or I imagined there was--and I chose to resent it.These were the days when I was in the mood to resent almost anything.

"Why?" he repeated, in surprise."What do you mean?""Why are you glad?" I said."I can't see what difference it makes to you whether I succeed or not."He regarded me with a puzzled expression, but, instead of taking offense, he laughed.

"You've got a chip on your shoulder, ain't you, Ros?" he observed.

"Workin' you too hard at the start, are we?""No," I answered, curtly.

"Then what is the matter?"

"Why, nothing, unless it is that everyone I meet seems to take such a great interest in my being here.I believe all of Denboro talks of nothing else.""Not much else, I shouldn't wonder.But that's to be expected, ain't it? Everybody's glad you're makin' good.""Humph! They all seem to regard that as the eighth wonder of the world.The position doesn't require a marvel of intelligence;almost any one with a teaspoonful of brains could fill it.""Why no, they couldn't.But that's nothin' to do with it.I see what's the matter with you, Ros.You think all hands are knocked on their beam ends because you've gone to work.Some of 'em are, that's a fact, and you can't blame 'em much, considerin' how long you've lived here without doin' anything.But all of 'em that amount to a three-cent piece are glad, and the rest don't count anyway.You've made a good many friends in this town lately, son."I smiled bitterly."Friends," I said.

"Why, yes, friends.And friends are worth havin', especially if you make 'em without beggin' for their friendship.I give in that you've surprised some of us.We didn't know that you had it in you.But your standin' up to old Colton was a fine thing, and we appreciated it.""That is because you were against his grabbing the Lane.""What of it? And 'twan't that altogether.I, for one, ain't complainin' because you stood up to me and wouldn't sell to the town.By the way, Tim Hallet's gang haven't bothered you lately, have they?""No.And I advise them not to."

He chuckled."I heard you advised 'em to that effect," he said.

"I ain't complainin' at that, either, even though I knew what they was up to and thought 'twas more or less of a joke.But I liked the way you fired 'em out of there, not carin' a tinker's darn who was behind 'em.So long as a man stands square in his boots and don't knuckle to anybody he won't lose anything with Jed Dean.

That's me!"

同类推荐
  • 太上无极大道自然真一五称符上经

    太上无极大道自然真一五称符上经

    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。
  • 神气养形论

    神气养形论

    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。
  • 西塍集

    西塍集

    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。
  • Amphitryon

    Amphitryon

    Amphitryon was played for the first time in Paris, at the Theatre du Palais-Royal, January 13, wkkk.net was successfully received, holding the boards until the 18th of March, when Easter intervened.汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瀛涯胜览集

    瀛涯胜览集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 佛说大乘善见变化文殊师利问法经

    佛说大乘善见变化文殊师利问法经

    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。
  • 大英雄时代

    大英雄时代

    2429年,地球最后的和平时代在繁华的黄昏里终结,走向了一场旷日持久的战争,懵懂的英雄们还在襁褓中羽翼未丰,就已经被推向残酷的大气层外。血与火的时代就此拉开帷幕,顷刻间把中央商圈奔走不息的大片霓虹与橱窗里魅力非凡的模特海报烧成了一把灰烬。“告我地球同胞,敌人没有无往不胜的锋锐,并非无可战胜之神,但有我浩然军魂一息尚存,必与这些数典忘祖之辈血战到底,以安我同胞生者之心,慰我同胞死者之灵。”“我等愿身化飞灰,扬于百万星河。”——直到黎明前的最后一刻。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 医路顺风

    医路顺风

    现代女将穿越到不知名的古代社会,……书友们,请看她是如何带着一双幼儿从一无所长、一无所有到医武双绝,逆袭人生的?
  • 山寨新娘:宝贝,打击盗版爹地

    山寨新娘:宝贝,打击盗版爹地

    酒吧兼职最后一天,却被醉汉缠上,无奈捎回家,随手扔到角落里,第二天,她习惯性的一脚踹开浴室门,然后,“偶的神!这是人还是妖”只见一美男紧紧抱着膀子用比小白兔还要娇羞的眼神看着她,“你……你要干什么?”
  • 步步攻略:一纸误终身

    步步攻略:一纸误终身

    风风火火的去接人,被少爷欺负就算了,吃了豆腐又诋毁的路人甲竟然还是黑老大?少爷忙着充当交际花,忙里偷闲还专门‘需要’她,“吃完要买单!”这边冰山黑老大同样闹开了花,手捧鲜花,上交信用卡,拐弯抹角说要嫁给她……
  • 杜甫文集3

    杜甫文集3

    杜甫(712-770),字子美,盛唐大诗人。原籍湖北襄阳,生于河南巩县。初唐诗人杜审言之孙。唐肃宗时,官左拾遗。后人蜀,友人严武推荐他做剑南节度府参谋,加检校工部员外郎。故后世又称他杜拾遗、杜工部。
  • 美洲寓言(语文新课标课外必读第八辑)

    美洲寓言(语文新课标课外必读第八辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard

    The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard

    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。
  • 穿越法医:腹黑王爷嚣张妃

    穿越法医:腹黑王爷嚣张妃

    (一对一,HE,还有萌宠萌娃出没)她女扮男装,只想做个小小的仵作,验验尸,看看美男,逗逗萌娃,溜溜萌宠。他是北辰国传闻最狠辣的指挥使,能止夜儿啼哭,却也是最不受宠的二皇子。哪里知道,这个传闻奸宵无情的男子,早就盯上了她。抓她入了局,白日里美其名曰陪她验尸断挖心案、拐卖案、红衣嗜血案、剥皮案……夜晚却化身为狼,拉她入怀,夜夜笙歌,宠她入骨!可是夫君太生猛,她有些招架不住。艾玛,她的腰啊!
  • 麻辣拽妃算你狠

    麻辣拽妃算你狠

    他一脸倨傲的捏着她的下巴:“实话告诉你,从我们认识到现在,我从没真心爱过你。”她不怒反笑的掐着他的下巴:“你的真心能干嘛?不能蒸,不能煮!”看着她一脸的得意:“等下!你要先猜对我出的一道谜题,若是猜错了就让板子伺候你!”本文绝对精彩!亲们可以放心入坑,每天晚上7点半开始更新!期待大家有空去看我其他作品哦!(*^__^*)