She began to cry again. Such a beautiful April storm! I wished I could have comforted her. But I was not George. And I was glad I was not Hiram – and yet I was sorry, too.
She stopped crying and went on with her story.
“George Brown and I were sweethearts since he was eight and I was five. When he was nineteen – that was four years ago – he left Greenburg and went to the city. He said he was going to be a policeman or a railroad president or something. And then he was coming back for me. But I never heard from him any more. And I – I – liked him.”
She was going to cry again, but Tripp said:
“Mr. Chalmers, tell the lady what to do.”
I coughed. I saw my duty. Tripp was right: the young lady must be sent back to Greenburg that day. She must be convinced, assured, instructed, ticketed, and returned without delay. I hated Hiram and despised George; but duty must be done.
“Miss Lowery,” said I, as impressively as I could, “life is hard, after all. Those whom we first love we seldom wed. But life is full of realities as well as visions and dreams. One cannot live on memories. I am sure you will be happy with Mr. Dodd.”
“Oh, he’s all right,” answered Miss Lowery. “Yes, I could get along with him fine[45]. He’s promised me an automobile and a motor-boat. But I am just thinking about George. He doesn’t write, because something happened to him. On the day he left, he and me got a hammer and a chisel and cut a dime into two pieces. I took one piece and he took the other, and we promised to be true to each other and always keep the pieces till we meet again. I’ve got mine at home now in a ring-box. I know I was silly to come here looking for him. I never realized what a big place it is.”
And then Tripp laughed, still trying to earn his whisky dollar.
“Oh, the boys from the country forget a lot when they come to the city. I guess George, maybe, is in love with some other girl, or maybe he has gone to the dogs on account of whiskey[46]. You listen to Mr. Chalmers and go back home, and you’ll be all right.”
I spoke gently and philosophically with Miss Lowery, delicately convincing her of the importance of returning home at once. She said she had left her horse tied to a tree near the railroad station. The three of us hurried to the ferry, and there I bought a ticket to Greenburg for a dollar and eighty cents. I bought one, and a red, red rose for Miss Lowery. We said good-bye to her.
I looked at Tripp and almost sneered. He looked more careworn, contemptible, and disreputable than ever.
“Can’t you get a story out of it?” he asked, huskily. “Some sort of a story?”
“Not a line[47],” said I. “But we’ve helped the little lady, and that’ll be our only reward.”
“I’m sorry,” said Tripp, almost inaudibly. “I’m sorry you just spent your money.”
“Let’s try to forget it,” said I.
Tripp unbuttoned his coat to take a handkerchief from his pocket. As he did so I noticed a cheap silver-plated watch-chain across his vest. Something was hanging from the chain. It was the half of a silver dime that had been cut in halves with a chisel.
“What!” I said, looking at him keenly.
“Oh yes,” he responded, dully. “George Brown, now Tripp, what’s the use?[48]”
I took Tripp’s whiskey dollar from my pocket and put it in his hand.
Exercises
1. Choose the right variant:
1. The young lady took the train to New York to find the man who had promised to love her.
2. The young lady took the ferry to New York to find the man who had promised to love her.
3. The young lady took the train to New York to find the man who was her brother.
4. The young lady took the train to New York to find the man who had never come there.
2. What is a boarding-house?
1. a serviced apartment complex
2. specialized buildings for permanent military accommodation
3. a house in which lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights
4. a basic shelter, left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge
3. Who was Tripp indeed?
1. Hiram Dodd
2. Mr. Chalmers
3. Mr. Lowery
4. George Brown
4. Why did Ada and George cut a dime into two pieces?
1. They had a lot of money and did not know what to do with it.
2. They promised to be true to each other and always keep the pieces till they meet again.
3. They wanted to double their welfare.
4. They wanted to have powerful amulets.
5. What is a dime?
1. a coin worth five cents
2. one-cent coin, commonly known as a penny
3. a ten-cent coin
4. a coin worth 25 cents
6. What is a chisel?
1. a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object
2. a tool with a characteristically shaped cutting edge
3. a tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials
4. a tool consisting of a hard blade, wire, or chain with a toothed edge
7. Choose the right variant:
1. The young lady stopped Tripp in the street to ask him about George.
2. The young man, Ada was going to marry, was a reporter.
3. Mr. Chalmers did not give Tripp a dollar for whisky.
4. Tripp told the reporter a story of a girl from New York.
8. Why were Tripp’s hands shaking?
1. Because he was dancing.
2. Because he was nervous before making his speech.
3. Because he had artificial limbs.
4. Because of whisky.
9. What does it mean, “he has gone to the dogs”?
1. He was going to feed his pets.
2. He has become a drunkard.
3. He has got his promotion.
4. He is engaged in preparations for a new expedition.
10. Choose the right verb:
I never _____________ what a big place it is.
1. saw
2. came
3. think
4. realized
11. Choose the correct verbs:
When he _____________ on my table he ________ one hand with the other; both hands were ________.
1. shook, held, sitting
2. sat, shook, holding
3. sat, held, shaking
4. shook, sat, holding
12. Insert the right prepositions:
with – into – for – from
1. Tripp unbuttoned his coat to take a handkerchief _____________ his pocket.
2. On the day he left, he and me got a hammer and a chisel and cut a dime ____________ two pieces.
3. And then he was coming back ___________ me.
4. Half of his face was covered _____________ short, curly red beard.
13. Complete the chart:
Makes the Whole World Kin
The burglar stepped inside the window quickly, and then he took his time[49]. The house was a private residence.
The burglar lighted a cigarette. He wore a blue sweater. He wore no masks, dark lanterns, or gum shoes[50]. He carried a 38-calibre revolver in his pocket, and he chewed peppermint gum[51] thoughtfully.
The furniture of the house was in its summer dust protectors[52]. The burglar did not expect a remarkable haul[53]. Maybe some money, a watch, a jewelled pin – nothing exorbitant. The burglar had seen the window left open and had taken the chance[54].
46
he has gone to the dogs on account of whiskey – отправился к чертям собачьим из-за виски, спился