第一章沃尔特舍伍德的信.docx

第一章沃尔特舍伍德的信Chapter1WalterSherwood,sLetter沃尔特给他的老监护人厄泽克尔麦克医生寄了一封信，而他的上一封信刚刚寄去两天时间，所以当麦克医生的管家南希斯普莱格把信送到医生书房的时候，医生有些疑惑。六十多岁的麦克医生戴上眼镜开始读沃尔特寄来的这封信。读信的时候，医生的眉头开始皱了起来，看上去有些心神不宁，显然，这和信的内容有关。信上说，大学里生活所花的钱比他想象得要多，他加入了两三个体育社团，同时他的同学们又在为扩建图书馆捐款，他父亲给他留下的钱用得差不多了，所以他需要他的监护人一一麦克医生再寄给他一张一百美元的支票。看过信之后，医生的思绪纷乱，他担心沃尔特会养成乱花钱的习惯，尽管沃尔特的父亲给沃尔特留下了一大笔遗产。沃尔特是一个十七岁的大学生，他很聪明，很招人喜欢，但是他不善于克制自己，喜欢享受生活。在大学里，沃尔特热衷于体育运动，但是学习一般。医生萌生了一个想法，他要在沃尔特不知情的情况下，去欧几里德弄清沃尔特在学校的表现。需要说明的是，沃尔特舍伍德是欧几里德大学二年级的一名学生，这所大学坐落在欧几里德小镇的中心。医生对南希做了交待之后，便出发了。当天傍晚，医生到达了小镇。他来到欧几里德旅馆，在登记时，他并没有说自己是医生，并且说自己来自三十英里外的小村庄，而不是阿尔巴尼。这是因为医生不想引起人们的注意或者说医生不想引起沃尔特的注意。Here'saletterforyou,DoctorMack."saidthehousekeeper,assheenteredtheplainroomusedasalibraryandsittingroombyheremployer,DoctorEzekielMack."Il'sfromWalter,Isurmise.ThiswasafavoritewordwithMissNancySprague,who,thoughahousekeeper,pridedherselfonhavingbeenaschoolmistressinherearlierdays.ttIndeed,Nancy.Letmeseeit.Walterisreallygettingattentive.Hislastlettercametohandonlytwodayssince.Hehasn,tforgottenhisoldguardian75“Oh,no,sir.He,llneverdothat.Hehasapredilectionforhisoldhome.Hisheartisintherightplace.”44Justso.”DoctorMackadjustedhisspectacles,forhewasrisingsixty,andhiseyesrequiredassistance,andopenedtheletter.Ashereadithisforeheadcontracted,andhelookeddisturbed.Aperusalofthelettermayhelpustounderstandwhy.Itranasfollows:DEARGUARDIAN,Youwillbesurprisedathearingfrommesosoonagain,butIamreallyforcedtowrite.IfindcollegelifemuchmoreexpensivethanIsupposeditwouldbe.Afellowisexpectedtojointwoorthreesocieties,andeachcostsmoney.Iknowyouwouldn'thavemeappearmean.Thenthestudentshavebeenaskedtocontributetoafundfortheenlargementofthelibrary,andalmosteverydaythereisademandformoneyforoneobjectoranother.Asitisnearlytheendoftheterm,IcalculatethatwithacheckforanextrahundreddollarsIcangetalong.Iamawfullysorrytoaskforit,butitwillcomeoutofthemoneyfatherleftme,andIamsurehewouldwishmetokeepupappearances,andnotfallbehindtherestoftheboys.Istandfairlywellinmystudies,andIexpecttobestrokeoarofthecollegeboatclub.Besidesthis,1havebeenelectedcatcherofthecollegebaseballclub.Iamthoughttoexcelinathleticsports,andreallyenjoymycollegelifeverymuch.Pleasesendmethecheckbyreturnofmail.affectionatelyyours,WALTERDoctorMacklaidtheletteronthetable,andslowlyremovedtheglassesfromhisnose.“Onehundreddollars!,herepeated.Thatisthesecondextracheckhehaswrittenfor,thisterm.Thenhisregulartermbillswillcomedueintwoweeks.HeisspendingmorethanthreetimesasmuchasIdidwhenincollege.Fortyyearshavemadeadifference,nodoubt,butnotsogreatadifferenceasthat.Ihopetheboyisn,tfallingintoextravaganthabits.Icareforthatmorethanfrthemoney.Hisfatherleftagoodfortune,ofwhichfactheisunfortunatelyaware,butIdon,tmeanthatitshallspoilhim.Now,whatshallIdo.ShallIsendhimthecheckornot?”DoctorMackleanedbackinhischair,andthoughtbusily.Hefeltanxiousabouthisward,whohadenteredcollegeearlyandwasnowonlyseventeen.WalterSherwoodwasaboyofexcellenttalentandpopularmanners,buthewasinclinedtobeSelfindulgentandhadalargecapacityfor“enjoyment."Hisguardianhadfondlyhopedthathewouldleadtheclassinscholarship,butinsteadofthishewasonlydoingtfairlywel,inhisstudies.Tobesure,heexcelledinathleticsports,but,asDoctorMackreflected,thiswasnotgenerallyconsideredthechiefaiminacollegecourse,exceptbysomeofthestudentsthemselves.“IwishIknewjusthowWalterismakingout.thoughtthedoctor.Then,afterapause,heresumed,withasuddeninspiration:"Whyshouldn'tIknow?11goovertoEuclidtomorrowwithoutgivingWalteranyintimationofmyvisit,andseeformyself.”ItmaybestatedherethatWalterSherwoodwasamemberofthesophomoreclassinEuclidCollege,situatedinthetownofthesamename.IfthereaderdoesnotfindEuclidinalistofAmericancolleges,itisbecauseforspecialreasonsIhavethoughtitbesttoconcealtherealnameofthecollege,notwishingtobringtheInstitutionintopossibledisrepute.Therearesomewhomightmisjudgethecollege,becauseitcontainedsomestudentswhomadeanunprofitableuseoftheirtime.“Nancy,“saidDoctorMackatthesupper-table,tyoumaypackahandbagforme.Ishallstartonajourneytomorrowmorning.44Whereto,sir,ifImaymakesoboldastoinquire?"44IthinkofgoingtoEuclid.”“ToseeMasterWalter?”“Exactly.”uYbuhaven,theardanybadnews,Ihope?,saidthehousekeeperanxiously.“Oh,no.”“Thenheisn'tsick?”44Quitethecontrary.Heisquitestrongandathletic,Ishouldjudge,fromhisletter.,“Hewillbegladtoseeyou,sir.”tWell,perhapsso.Butyouknow,Nancy,youngpeopledon,tmisstheirparentsandguardiansasmuchastheyaremissedathome.Theyhaveplentyofexcitementandsocietyatcollege.”ttYes,sir,that,strue,butmsureMasterWalterwon,tforgethisoldhome.IfyouhaveroomforsomecookiesIwillputsomeintothebag.Walterisfondofthem.”tNo,Ithinkyouneedn,tdoit,Nancy.Hehasagoodboardinghouse,andnodoubthegetsallthecakeshewants.Bytheway,Iwanttotaketheboybysurprise,sodon,twriteandlethimknowmcoming.“No,sir,Iwon't."Thiswasexactlywhatthehousekeeperhadintendedtodo,forshepresumeduponherlongserviceinthefamilytowriteafewlinesoccasionallytotheboywhomshehadknownfromtheageofsix.“OfcourseIshallbepleasedtogivehimanymessagefromyou.”tThankyou,DoctorMack.TellhimifhecatchescoldIcansendhimsomecamomile.Camomileteaisexcellentinsuchcases.Mymotherandgrandmotheruseditalltheirlives.”ttYouseemtoforgetthatIamadoctor,Nancy.NotthatIobjecttocamomiletea-initsplace-thoughIcantrulysaythatIneverhankeredafterit.”“Howlongwillyoubegone,doctor?”“Ican,tsayexactly.Yousee,Euclidisnearlytwohundredmilesoff.”“Oh,well,don,thurry!NodoubtWalterwillwanttokeepyouwithhimaslongaspossible?,"Idon'tfeelsosureofthat,Mthoughtthedoctorshrewdly.ttBoysarenotusuallysofondofthesocietyoftheirguardians,thoughIdon,tdoubtWalterhasasincereregardforme.Heisawarmheartedboy.”DoctorMackwasnolongerinactivepractice.Threeyearsbeforehehadselectedanassistant-ayoungDoctorWinthropinwhomhispatientshadcometofeelconfidence,sothatwhenhewantedtogoawayforafewdaystherewasnoseriousobjection.Unlikesomeelderlypractitioners,DoctorMackdidnotfeelintheleastjealousofhisyoungassistant,butwasverygladtonotehispopularity.“Ifanyonecallsforme,Nancy,“hesaid,usaythatIamawayforadayortwoandtheycan,tdobetterthangotoDoctorWinthrop.”4Therearesomethatlikeyoubest,sir.”“Nodoubt,nodoubt!They,reusedtome,youknow.There,sagooddealinthat.Anythatpleasecanwaitforme,butmyadvicetothemistogotoDoctorWinthrop/'Nancypackedthedoctor'shandbag,puttinginachangeoflinen,acombandbrush,anextrapairofsocksandacoupleofhandkerchiefs.Then,seeingthattherewasplentyofroom,sheslippedinasmallboxofcookiesandalittlecamomile.Thedoctordiscoveredthemsoonafterhestartedonhisjourney,andwithasmiletossedthecamomileoutofthewindow,whilehegavethecookiestoapoorwomanwhowastravelingwithacoupleofsmallchildreninthesamecarashimself.SothatNancySprague,sthoughtfulnesswasnotwhollylost,thoughtheintendedrecipientdidnotbenefitbyit.DoctorMackhadtowaitoveratajunctionforthreehours,owingtosomeirregularitiesofthetrains,anddidnotreachEuclidtillratheralatehourintheafternoon.HewenttotheEuclidHotel,andenteredhisname,E.MACK(withoutaddingM.D.),andsubstitutingAlbanyforthesmallvillage,thirtymilesaway,wherehemadehishome.44Strategy,doctor,strategy!”hesaidtohimself,4lhavecometospyouttheland,andmustnotmakemyselftooconspicuous.Iamtraveling,asitwere,incognito.,第二章麦克医生得到了一些信息Chapter2Dr.MackGetsSomeInformation麦克医生入住的这家旅馆的生意受益于欧几里德大学的存在。医生在旅馆里认识了一个叫詹姆斯霍顿的年轻人，他是旅馆的工作人员，因为父亲过世而放弃了自己上大学的计划，但是他一直在努力学习。在攀谈中，詹姆斯提到了沃尔特舍伍德，他说沃尔特很受欢迎，但是他学习并不努力，尽管他本来可以成为最优秀的学生；而且沃尔特是班上花钱最多的学生。詹姆斯还告诉麦克医生，沃尔特当晚要在旅馆内请客，而这要花费三十美元。麦克医生恰好住在将要聚餐的房间的对面，詹姆斯告诉麦克医生，他可以通过门上面的气窗看到聚会的情况，所以医生决定要看一看这些大学生的聚餐。当然，他不会让沃尔特看到他。通过气窗，麦克医生看到学生们陆续到来，他也看到了沃尔特，听到了他讲话的声音。沃尔特向参加聚餐的各位同学表示欢迎，并且说到了学习的种种不快，在笑声中宴会开始了。这一切，麦克医生都看在了眼里。heEuclidHotelwasdistantabouthalfamilefromthecollegebuildings.Itwouldhardlyhavepaidexpensesbutforthepatronageitreceivedfromtheparentsandfriendsofthestudents,who,especiallyonpublicoccasions,weredrawntovisitEuclid,andnaturallyputupatthehotel.Thenthestudents,tired,perhaps,ofthefareatthecollegecommons,droppedinoftenandorderedadinner.So,takeitallinall,EuclidHotelbenefitedlargelybythepresenceofthecollege.Nostudents,however,werepermittedtoboardthere,asitwasthoughtbythecollegeprofessorsthattheatmosphereofthehotelwouldbedetrimentaltocollegedisciplineandthesteadyhabitstheydesiredtoinculcateintheyoungmenundertheircare.“Iwonder,thoughtDoctorMack,aftersupperwasover,4whetherIhadbettergoroundtothecollegeandmakeaneveningcallonWalter?”Hewastemptedtodoso,forhewasfondofhisyoungwardandwouldhaveenjoyedseeinghim.Butthenhewished,unobserved,tojudgeforhimselfwhetherWalterwasmakinggooduseofhisprivileges,andthismadeitinjudiciousforhimtodisclosehispresenceinthecollegetown.Hestrolledoutintothetavernyard,andobservedayoungmanengagedinsomelightduties.“Goodevening,si'saidtheyoungman,respectfully.“Goodevening,Isupposeyouareconnectedwiththehotel?“Yes,sir;butIwouldratherbeconnectedwiththecoIlege.,4ThenyouhaveatasteforSIUdy?”“Yes,sir.Ibegantoprepareforcollege,andhadmadesomeprogressinLatinandGreek,whenmyfatherdied,andthatputanendtomyprospects.”“Thatwasapity.Hasitdestroyedyourtasteforstudy?”“No,IspendanhourafterIamthroughworkinkeepingupmyLatinandGreek,butofcourseImakeslowprogress.,ttNaturaIly.NowIhavenodoubttherearemanystudentswhodonotappreciatetheirprivilegesasmuchasyoudo.”“Iknowit,sir.Thereareprettylivelyboysincollege.Haveyouasonthere?”“No.”“Ididn,tknowbutwhatyoumighthave.,tWhatdoyoumeanbylively?”“Imeantheycaremoretohaveagoodtimethantogetonintheirstudies?44Whatdotheydo?”“Well,someofthembelongtosocieties,andhaveagoodtimewhenevertheymeet.Frequentlytheygivelittlesuppersatthehotelhere,andkeepituptillalatehour.”“Dothefacultyknowofthis?”44Theymaysurmisesomething,buttheydon,tinterfere.Ofcourse,itpaysMr.Daniels,thelandlord,forhechargesagoodroundsum,and,asthereisnootherplacefortheboystogo,theymustpayit.There,sgoingtobeasupperheretonight.“Indeed!”“Itisgivenbyoneofthesophomores,WalterSherwood.”44Whatnamedidyoumention?,askedDoctorMack,startled.“WalterSherwood.Doyouknowhim?”“IknowafamilybythenameofSherwood,answeredDoctorMack,evasively,whatsortofayoungmanishe?”“Idon,tcallhimayoungman.Heisonlyseventeenoreighteen-oneoftheyoungestmembersoftheclass.Heisverypopularamonghismate.saregularjollyboyheis.”4DoeshestandwellinhisSChOlarShip?”Theyoungmanlaughed.“Idon,tthinkhetroubleshimselfmuchaboutstudies,hereplied,4ifromallIhear;butheisprettysmart,learnseasily,andmanagestokeepuprespectably.”DoctorMack,sheartsankwithinhim.Wasthisthebestthatcouldbesaidabouthisward,thesonofhisoldfriend?“Doyouthinkheisdissipated?”heasked,uneasily.44NotthatIeverheard.Heisfondofhavingagoodtime,anddrinkswineathissuppers,butheisn,twhatyouwouldcallintemperate.Hewoulddobetterworkincollegeifhewasn'tsorich.”“Soheisrich,then?”“Hemustbe,forhespendsagooddealofmoney.Pendleton,oneofhisclassmates,toldmethathespentmoremoneythananyoneintheclass.”“Thatiswhyheneedssomanyextrachecks."thoughttheguardiansoberly.“Iamsorryhedoesn'tmakebetteruseofhisprivileges.hesaidaloud.“Yes,sir,itisapity.Ifhedidn,tcaresomuchforagoodtimehemightstandattheheadofhisclasssoPendletonthinks.”“Ifhewereapoorboy,now,youthinktheresultwouldbedifferent?”askedDoctorMack,thoughtfully.“Yes,sir,Ihavenodoubtofit.”tWhendoesthesuppercommence?”“Athalfpasteighto'clock.”44Howlongwillitkeepup?”'Tillnearmidnight.Thelandlordmakesitapointtohavethemclosebeforetwelve.Ihopetheywon,tdisturbyou,sir.”“Aretheylikelytomakemuchnoise?”“Well,sir,theymakespeeches,anddoagooddealofsinging.Then,collegesongsarenaturallynoisy.”“Yes,soIhear.”44Whatisthenumberofyourroom?“Numbernine.”“Why,youarenearlyoppositetheroomwheretheywillhavetheirsupper.Iamafraidyouwon,tstandmuchchanceofsleepingearly.”“Oh,nevermind!Ishallgetanideaofwhatacollegesupperislike.“Soyouwill.Ifyouopenthetransomoveryourdooryouwillhavethefullbenefitofallthatgoeson.”44ThatwillsuitmeverywelI.,thoughtDoctorMack.ttIfyouwouldliketobefartheraway,thelandlordwouldnodoubtchangeyourroom.“Oh,no,"saidthedoctorhastily."Itwillsuitmeverywellforoncetolistentocollegesongsandgetanideaofhowcollegeboysenjoythemselves.“Averysensibleoldgentleman!,thoughtJamesHolden.uSomemenofhisagewouldmakeafuss.”AlittlebeforethetimewhenthestudentswereexpectedtoarriveDoctorMackshuthimselfupinhisroom,takingcaretoopenthetransom.Hehadascertainedfromtheyoungman,hisinformant,thatsupperhadbeenengagedfortwelve,andthatthepricechargedperplatewastwodollarsandahalf,alltobepaidbyWalterSherwood.4Thatmakesthirtydollars/5hereflected.44NowonderWalterwritesforextrachecks.Iamwonderingthisthirtydollarsistofigureasacontributiontothelibrary?”Fromhiswindowhecouldseethestudentsastheyapproachedthehotel.FinallyhecaughtsightofWalter,withacollegefriendoneachsideswithwhomhewaschattinggaily.44Whatachange!,thoughtDoctorMack.tItseemsonlyyesterdaythatWalterstartedforcollege,abashful,unformedboy,fullofgoodresolutions,anddeterminedtodistinguishhimselfinscholarship.Nowhehasbecomeagaybutterfly.Andwhatisworse,hehaslearnedtodeceivehisoldguardian,andhischiefaimseemstobetohaveagoodtime.WhatcanIdotochangehiscourse?”Thegooddoctor,sfaceassumedathoughtfullook.“IcantellbetterafterwhatIshallheartonight?'hesaidtohimself.Itwasnotlongbeforetheguestswereallassembledandthefeastwastobegin.Someonerappedforattention,andthenDoctorMackrecognizedthevoiceofhisyoungward.44Gentlemen,hesaid,44Iamgladtowelcomeyoutothisfestalboard.Afterspendingtenoradozenhoursinhardstudy(laughterandapplause),wefinditpleasanttocloseourbooks,torelaxourlearnedbrows(morelaughter),andshowourappreciationofthegoodthingsoflife.AsHorace,yourfavorite,saysdulceestdesipereinloco,.ThatiswhathasbroughtusheretonightwewanttotdesipereinIoco'.''“Sowedo!Goodforyou!”exclaimedoneandanother.“Iregret,“Waltercontinued,uthatalltheprofessorshavedeclinedmyurgentinvitationtobepresentonthisoccasion.ProfessorGriggs-theprofessorofmathematics-saidhewouldnotbreakawayfromhisregulardietoflogarithmsandradicals.5*Greatlaughter.“IhaveexpresslyrequestedMr.Danielstoprovidenologarithmstonight.Theydon'tagreewithmyconstitution.”“Norwithmine!,“Norwithmine!”Echoedoneandanother.“Ishallexpectyouall,afterthebanquet,todosomethingforthegeneralentertainment.Istipulate,however,thatnoneofthecompanyaddressusinLatinorGreek.“Wewon't!”“Wewon't!"44Sufficientfortherecitation-roomistheevilthereof.ButIhavespokenlongenough.Therearetimeswhensilenceisgolden,andoneofthosetimesisathand.Brethren,thefeastawaitsyou!Pitchin!”Thespeakertookhisseat,andthentherewasanoiseofclinkingglasses,andknivesandforkscametothefront.Thebanquethadbegun.第三章一次大学宴会Chapter3ACollegeBanquet麦克医生在自己的房间内听着聚餐会中人们的谈话。这些学生讽刺和批评着大学里的老师；总之，对于他们来说，吃喝玩乐比学习更重要。听着这些谈话，医生为他的年轻的监护对象担忧，他想自己必须想办法改变沃尔特。宴会上，沃尔特提议大家唱歌，并模仿他们讨厌的教授的模样讲话。时间不知不觉地过去了，十一点半的时候，学生们唱起了分别的歌，开始返回自己的宿舍。麦克医生满腹心事。第二天早晨他又碰到了詹姆斯霍顿，他们又聊到了沃尔特。詹姆斯告诉医生，沃尔顿每周最少会租两次马骑，这是一笔不小的费用。医生更加担忧，但他希望詹姆斯不要告诉学生们他看到了聚餐。早餐之后，麦克医生乘车回到家里，他告诉南希，他看到了沃尔特，但是沃尔特并没有看到他，其他的事情以及他的打算，医生并没有告诉南希。iherewasarattlingofknivesandforks,aclinkofglasses,andabuzzofconversation.DoctorMackwasabletohearconsiderableofit.Therewereanecdotesoftheprofessors,acco