pgw.piccadillyjim-第25部分

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！


tude；　when　his　heart　missed　a　beat；　as　he　perceived　that　he　had　made　a　blunder。　Like　many　other　amateur　plotters；　Ann　and　he　had　made　the　mistake　of　being　too　elaborate。　It　had　struck　them　as　an　ingenious　idea　for　Jimmy　to　pretend　that　he　has　arrived　that　morning；　and　superficially　it　was　a　good　idea：　but　he　now　remembered　for　the　first　time　that；　if　he　had　seen　Mr。　Pett　on　the　Atlantic；　the　probability　was　that　Mr。　Pett　had　seen　him。　The　next　moment　the　other　had　confirmed　this　suspicion。
　〃I've　an　idea　I've　seen　you　before。　Can't　think　where。〃
　〃Everybody　well　at　home？〃　said　Jimmy。
　〃I'm　sure　of　it。〃
　〃I'm　looking　forward　to　seeing　them　all。〃
　〃I've　seen　you　some　place。〃
　〃I'm　often　there。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　Mr。　Pett　seemed　to　be　turning　this　remark　over　in　his　mind　a　trifle　suspiciously。　Jimmy　changed　the　subject。
　〃To　a　young　man　like　myself；〃　he　said；　〃with　life　opening　out　before　him；　there　is　something　singularly　stimulating　in　the　sight　of　a　modern　office。　How　busy　those　fellows　seem！〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Pett。　〃Yes。〃　He　was　glad　that　this　conversational　note　had　been　struck。　He　was　anxious　to　discuss　the　future　with　this　young　man。
　〃Everybody　works　but　father！〃　said　Jimmy。
　Mr。　Pett　started。
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　Mr。　Pett　was　vaguely　ruffled。　He　suspected　insult；　but　could　not　pin　it　down。　He　abandoned　his　cheeriness；　however；　and　became　the　man　of　business。
　〃I　hope　you　intend　to　settle　down；　now　that　you　are　here；　and　work　hard；〃　he　said　in　the　voice　which　he　vainly　tried　to　use　on　Ogden　at　home。
　〃Work！〃　said　Jimmy　blankly。
　〃I　shall　be　able　to　make　a　place　for　you　in　my　office。　That　was　my　promise　to　your　step…mother；　and　I　shall　fulfil　it。〃
　〃But　wait　a　minute！　I　don't　get　this！　Do　you　mean　to　put　me　to　work？〃
　〃Of　course。　I　take　it　that　that　was　why　you　came　over　here；　because　you　realised　how　you　were　wasting　your　life　and　wanted　a　chance　of　making　good　in　my　office。〃
　A　hot　denial　trembled　on　Jimmy's　tongue。　Never　had　he　been　so　misjudged。　And　then　the　thought　of　Ann　checked　him。　He　must　do　nothing　that　would　interfere　with　Ann's　plans。　Whatever　the　cost；　he　must　conciliate　this　little　man。　For　a　moment　he　mused　sentimentally　on　Ann。　He　hoped　she　would　understand　what　he　was　going　through　for　her　sake。　To　a　man　with　his　ingrained　distaste　for　work　in　any　shape　the　sight　of　those　wage…slaves　outside　there　in　the　outer　office　had；　as　he　had　told　Mr。　Pett；　been　stimulating：　but　only　because　it　filled　him　with　a　sort　of　spiritual　uplift　to　think　that　he　had　not　got　to　do　that　sort　of　thing。　Consider　them　in　the　light　of　fellow…workers；　and　the　spectacle　ceased　to　stimulate　and　became　nauseating。　And　for　her　sake　he　was　about　to　bee　one　of　them！　Had　any　knight　of　old　ever　done　anything　as　big　as　that　for　his　lady？　He　very　much　doubted　it。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Count　me　in。　I　take　it　that　I　shall　have　a　job　like　one　of　those　out　there？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Not　presuming　to　dictate；　I　suggest　that　you　give　me　something　that　will　take　some　of　the　work　off　that　fellow　who's　swimming　in　paper。　Only　the　tip　of　his　nose　was　above　the　surface　as　I　passed　through。　I　never　saw　so　many　fellows　working　so　hard　at　the　same　time　in　my　life。　All　trying　to　catch　the　boss's　eye；　too；　I　suppose？　It　must　make　you　feel　like　a　snipe。〃
　Mr。　Pett　replied　stiffly。　He　disliked　this　levity　on　the　sacred　subject　of　office　work。　He　considered　that　Jimmy　was　not　approaching　his　new　life　in　the　proper　spirit。　Many　young　men　had　discussed　with　him　in　that　room　the　subject　of　working　in　his　employment；　but　none　in　quite　the　same　manner。
　〃You　are　at　a　serious　point　in　your　career；〃　he　said。　〃You　will　have　every　opportunity　of　rising。〃
　〃Yes。　At　seven　in　the　morning；　I　suppose？〃
　〃A　spirit　of　levity〃　began　Mr。　Pett。
　〃I　laugh　that　I　may　not　weep；〃　explained　Jimmy。　〃Try　to　think　what　this　means　to　a　bright　young　man　who　loathes　work。　Be　kind　to　me。　Instruct　your　floor…walkers　to　speak　gently　to　me　at　first。　It　may　be　a　far；　far　better　thing　that　I　do　than　I　have　ever　done；　but　don't　ask　me　to　enjoy　it！　It's　all　right　for　you。　You're　the　boss。　Any　time　you　want　to　call　it　a　day　and　go　off　and　watch　a　ball…game；　all　you　have　to　do　is　to　leave　word　that　you　have　an　urgent　date　to　see　Mr。　Rockerfeller。　Whereas　I　shall　have　to　submerge　myself　in　paper　and　only　e　up　for　air　when　the　danger　of　suffocation　bees　too　great。〃
　It　may　have　been　the　mention　of　his　favourite　game　that　softened　Mr。　Pett。　The　frostiness　which　had　crept　into　his　manner　thawed。
　〃It　beats　me；〃　he　said；　〃why　you　ever　came　over　at　all；　if　you　feel　like　that。〃
　〃Duty！〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Duty！　There　es　a　time　in　the　life　of　every　man　when　he　must　choose　between　what　is　pleasant　and　what　is　right。〃
　〃And　that　last　fool…game　of　yours；　that　Lord　Percy　Whipple　business；　must　have　made　London　pretty　hot　for　you？〃　suggested　Mr。　Pett。
　〃Your　explanation　is　less　romantic　than　mine；　but　there　is　something　in　what　you　say。〃
　〃Had　it　occurred　to　you；　young　man；　that　I　am　taking　a　chance　putting　a　fellow　like　you　to　work　in　my　office？〃
　〃Have　no　fear。　The　little　bit　of　work　I　shall　do　won't　make　any　difference。〃
　〃I've　half　a　mind　to　send　you　straight　back　to　London。〃
　〃Couldn't　we　promise？〃
　〃How？〃
　〃Well；　haven't　you　some　snug　secretarial　job　you　could　put　me　into？　I　have　an　idea　that　I　should　make　an　ideal　secretary。〃
　〃My　secretaries　work。〃
　〃I　get　you。　Cancel　the　suggestion。〃
　Mr。　Pett　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully。
　〃You　puzzle　me。　And　that's　the　truth。〃
　〃Always　speak　the　truth；〃　said　Jimmy　approvingly。
　〃I'm　darned　if　I　know　what　to　do　with　you。　Well；　you'd　better　e　home　with　me　now；　anyway；　and　meet　your　aunt；　and　then　we　can　talk　things　over。　After　all；　the　main　thing　is　to　keep　you　out　of　mischief。〃
　〃You　put　things　crudely；　but　no　doubt　you　are　right。〃
　〃You'll　live　with　us；　of　course。〃
　〃Thank　you　very　much。　This　is　the　right　spirit。〃
　〃I'll　have　to　talk　to　Nesta　about　you。　There　may　he　something　you　can　do。〃
　〃I　shouldn't　mind　being　a　partner；〃　suggested　Jimmy　helpfully。
　〃Why　don't　you　get　work　on　a　paper　again？　You　used　to　do　that　well。〃
　〃I　don't　think　my　old　paper　would　wele　me　now。　They　regard　me　rather　as　an　entertaining　news…item　than　a　worker。〃
　〃That's　true。　Say；　why　on　earth　did　you　make　such　a　fool　of　yourself　over　on　the　other　side？　That　breach…of…promise　case　with　the　barmaid！〃　said　Mr。　Pett　reproachfully。
　〃Let　bygones　be　bygones；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃I　was　more　sinned　against　than　sinning。　You　know　how　it　is；　uncle　Pete！〃　Mr。　Pett　started　violently；　but　said　nothing。　〃You　try　out　of　pure　goodness　of　heart　to　scatter　light　and　sweetness　and　protect　the　poor　working…girllike　Heavenand　brighten　up　her　lot　and　so　on；　and　she　turns　right　around　and　soaks　it　to　you　good！　And　anyway　she　wasn't　a　barmaid。　She　worked　in　a　florist's　shop。〃
　〃I　don't　see　that　that　makes　any　difference。〃
　〃All　the　difference　in　the　world；　all　the　difference　between　the　sordid　and　the　poetical。　I　don't　know　if　you　have　ever　experienced　the　hypnotic　intoxication　of　a　florist's　shop？　Take　it　from　me；　uncle　Pete；　any　girl　can　look　an　angel　as　long　as　she　is　surrounded　by　choice　blooms。　I　couldn't　help　myself。　I　wasn't　responsible。　I　only　woke　up　when　I　met　her　outside。　But　all　that　sort　of　thing　is　different　now。　I　am　another　man。　Sober；　steady；　serious…minded！〃
　Mr。　Pett　had　taken　the　receiver　from　the　telephone　and　was　talking　to　some　one。　The　buzzing　of　a　feminine　voice　came　to　Jimmy's　ears。　Mr。　Pett　hung　up　the　receiver。
　〃Your　aunt　says　we　are　to　e　up　at　once。〃
　〃I'm　ready。　And　it　will　be　a　good　excuse　for　you　to　knock　off　work。　I　bet　you're　glad　I　came！　Does　the　carriage　await　or　shall　we　take　the　subway？〃
　〃I　guess　it　will　be　quicker　to　take　the　subway。　Your　aunt's　very　surprised　that　you　are　here；　and　very　pleased。〃
　〃I'm　making　everybody　happy　to…day。〃
　Mr。　Pett　was　looking　at　him　in　a　meditative　way。　Jimmy　caught　his　eye。
　〃You're　registering　something；　uncle　Pete；　and　I　don't　know　what　it　is。　Why　the　glance？〃
　〃I　was　just　thinking　of　something。〃
　〃Jimmy；〃　prompted　his　nephew。
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Add　the　word　Jimmy　to　your　remarks。　It　will　help　me　to　feel　at　home　and　enable　me　to　overe　my　shyness。〃
　Mr。　Pett　chuckled。
　〃Shyness！　If　I　had　your　nerve！〃　He　broke　off　with　a　sigh　and　looked　at　Jimmy　affectionately。　〃What　I　was　thinking　was　that　you're　a　good　boy。　At　least；　you're　not；　but　you're　different　from　that　gang　ofofthat　crowd　up…town。〃
　〃What　crowd？〃
　〃Your　aunt　is　literary；　you　know。　She's　filled　the　house　with　poets　and　that　sort　of　thing。　It　will　be　a　treat　having　you　around。　You're　human！　I　don't　see　that　we're　going　to　make　much　of　you　now　that　you're　here；　but　I'm　darned　glad　you've　e；　Jimmy！〃
　〃Put　it　there；　uncle　Pete！〃　said　Jimmy。　〃You're　all　right。　You're　the　finest　Captain　of　Industry　I　ever　met！〃
　
　CHAPTER　XIII
　SLIGHT　PLICATIONS
　
　THEY　left　the　subway　at　Ninety…sixth　Street　and　walked　up　the　Drive。　Jimmy；　like　every　one　else　who　saw　it　for　the　first　time；　experienced　a　slight　shock　at　the　sight　of　the　Pett　mansion；　but；　rallying；　followed　his　uncle　up　the　flagged　path　to　the　front　door。
　〃Your　aunt　will　be　in　the　drawing…room；　I　guess；〃　said　Mr。　Pett；　opening　the　door　with　his　key。
　Jimmy　was　looking　round　him　appreciatively。　Mr。　Pett's　house　might　be　an　eyesore　from　without；　but　inside　it　had　had　the　benefit　of　the　skill　of　the　best　interior　decorator　in　New　York。
　〃A　man　could　be　very　happy　in　a　house　like　this；　if　he　didn't　have　to　poison　his　days　with　work；〃　said　Jimmy。
　Mr。　Pett　looked　alarmed。
　〃Don't　go　saying　anything　like　that　to　your　aunt！〃　he　urged。　〃She　thinks　you　have　e　to　settle　down。〃
　〃So　I　have。　I'm　going　to　settle　down　like　a　limpet。　I　hope　I　shall　be　living　in　luxury　on　you　twenty　years　from　now。　Is　this　the　room？〃
　Mr。　Pett　opened　the　drawing…room　door。　A　small　hairy　object　sprang　from　a　basket　and　stood　yapping　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　This　was　Aida；　Mrs。　Pett's　Pomeranian。　Mr。　Pett；　avoiding　the　animal　coldly；　for　he　disliked　it；　ushered　Jimmy　into　the　room。
　〃Here's　Jimmy　Crocker；　Nesta。〃
　Jimmy　was　aware　of　a　handsome　woman　of　middle　age；　so　like　his　step…mother　that　for　an　instant　his　self…possession　left　him　and　he　stammered。
　〃Howhow