登陆注册
15518200000060

第60章

Three months before, George Dawkins had made his first visit to a gambling house.

At first, he had entered only from curiosity.

He watched the play with an interest which gradually deepened, until he was easily persuaded to try his own luck. The stakes were small, but fortune favored him, and he came out some dollars richer than he entered. It would have been fortunate for him if he had failed. As it was, his good fortune encouraged him to another visit. This time he was less fortunate, but his gains about balanced his losses, so that he came out even. On the next occasion he left off with empty pockets. So it went on until at length he fell into the hands of Duval, who had no scruple in fleecing him to as great an extent as he could be induced to go.

George Dawkins's reflections were not of the most cheerful character as, leaving Duval, he slowly pursued his way homeward. He felt that he had fallen into the power of an unscrupulous villain, who would have no mercy upon him. He execrated his own folly, without which all the machination of Duval would have been without effect.

The question now, however, was, to raise the money. He knew of no one to whom he could apply except his father, nor did he have much hope from that quarter. Still, he would make the effort.

Reaching home he found his father seated in the library. He looked up from the evening paper as George entered.

"Only half-past nine," he said, with an air of sarcasm. "You spend your evenings out so systematically that your early return surprises me. How is it? Has the theater begun to lose its charm!"

There was no great sympathy between father and son, and if either felt affection for the other, it was never manifested. Mutual recrimination was the rule between them, and George would now have made an angry answer but that he had a favor to ask, and felt it politic to be conciliatory.

"If I had supposed you cared for my society, sir, I would have remained at home oftener."

"Umph!" was the only reply elicited from his father.

"However, there was a good reason for my not going to the theater to-night."

"Indeed!"

"I had no money."

"Your explanation is quite satisfactory," said his father, with a slight sneer.

"I sympathize in your disappointment."

"There is no occasion, sir," said George, good humoredly, for him. "I had no great desire to go."

Dawkins took down a book from the library and tried to read, but without much success.

His thoughts continually recurred to his pecuniary embarrassments, and the debt which he owed to Duval seemed to hang like a millstone around his neck. How should he approach his father on the subject? In his present humor he feared he would have little chance.

As his father laid down the newspaper Dawkins said, "Wouldn't you like a game of checkers, sir?"

This, as he well knew, was a favorite game with his father.

"I don't know but I should," said Mr. Dawkins, more graciously than was his wont.

The checker-board was brought, and the two commenced playing. Three games were played all of which his father won. This appeared to put him in a good humor, for as the two ceased playing, he drew a ten-dollar-bill from his pocket-book, and handed to his son, with the remark, "There, George, I don't want you to be penniless. You are a little extravagant, though, I think. Your pay from Mr. Danforth ought to keep you in spending money."

"Yes, sir, I have been rather extravagant, but I am going to reform."

"I am very glad to hear it."

"I wish, sir," said George a moment afterwards," that you would allow me to buy my own clothes."

"I've no sort of an objection, I am sure.

You select them now, don't you?"

"Yes, sir, but I mean to suggest that you should make me an allowance for that purpose, --about as much as it costs now,--and give me the money to spend where I please."

Mr. Dawkins looked sharply at his son.

"The result would probably be," he said, "that the money would be expended in other ways, and I should have to pay for the clothes twice over."

Dawkins would have indignantly disclaimed this, if he had not felt that he was not altogether sincere in the request he had made.

"No," continued his father, "I don't like the arrangement you propose. When you need clothing you can go to my tailor and order it, of course not exceeding reasonable limits."

同类推荐
  • 科试考

    科试考

    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。
  • 琉璃王经

    琉璃王经

    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。
  • 大六壬灵觉经

    大六壬灵觉经

    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。
  • A Group of Noble Dames

    A Group of Noble Dames

    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。
  • 文史通义

    文史通义

    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。
热门推荐
  • 真武化身

    真武化身

    在这个武道天途,天骄鱼贯而出的时代。武者上天入地,武贯乾坤,无所不能。地球青年,莫志被人暗算,怀恨重生成为一名落魄的少爷,该如何安身立命?气运改命,夺天造化。
  • EXO——痕

    EXO——痕

    三个种族之间斩不断的恩怨情仇,却成了生活在这个世界上的唯一寄托。复仇还是隐忍?真实还是虚伪?痛苦还是快乐?或是恨,或是爱。心中那抹不去的痕,最后究竟会属于谁……
  • 魔妃,就宠你

    魔妃,就宠你

    前世,因为有你在我身后,所以我才能无所畏惧地面对外面的疾风骤雨。今生,我终于确定,我想要你余生所有的时光,好的,坏的,伤心难过的,开心幸福的,我都要了。我的世界不允许你的消失,不管结局是否完美!你想了解我的世界吗
  • 高冷总裁的宝贝甜妻

    高冷总裁的宝贝甜妻

    原本应聘室内设计人员的她被通知去当总裁贴身助理,刚开始不情愿,无奈,为了母亲,咬咬牙,忍了。可谁知总裁大人看上了她呢。高甜宠文!
  • 家有悍妻:幸福101

    家有悍妻:幸福101

    最痛苦的莫过于看到自己最爱的人的背叛,原来从一开始接近她,就是引狼入室,就是因为自己的引狼入室,害的父亲锒铛入狱,自家的公司落入贼手,好好的一个家变得支离破碎,白雅宁恨顾寒盛的无情,更恨自己引狼入室。在她走投无路时候,没想到一次失误,竟然招来了一头狼,步步紧逼就不说啥了,趁火打劫也就不说什么了,但是谁能告诉她,这个狼一样的男人,竟然蔫坏蔫坏的,一心憋着坏心思,让她给他生娃娃。得知他这蔫坏蔫坏的心思后,白雅宁怎么还能坐的住,她只是迫不得已才留在他的身边,让她生娃娃?想都不要想,必须得赶紧逃逃逃。只是她低估了男人的势力,无论是她逃到哪里了,竟然又被逮回来了,看着眼前的男人,白雅宁有些欲哭无泪。
  • EXO你不曾失去

    EXO你不曾失去

    之前的一本是冷言写的,现在是籽念了。因为认证的问题。所以用小号来写。我还是忘不了你,尽管你改了名字-by林紫煜我开始喜欢你了,为什么你让我忘不了-by吴世勋遇见你我生活改变了-by袁思瑶你是第一个我感兴趣的人-by边伯贤
  • 大学少年成功

    大学少年成功

    一个风流倜傥的大学少年,一个才华横溢的大学少年,他的柔情打动了多少少女的芳心,他却坚守真爱,从未堕落与消沉,他是要成就一番事业的,浪漫主义的他将怎样抉择呢?他是怎样走向成功的呢?
  • 不能说谎的人

    不能说谎的人

    普通的大学生刘海洋,某天在没有征兆的情况下穿越了,迎接他的则是一个自称命运女神的小萝莉?为了回到地球,少年和萝莉踏上了改变这片大陆命运的旅程。作为命运女神的代理人,刘海洋得到了一项几乎是逆天的能力,只要动动嘴皮子就可以做到几乎任何事情。但是随着旅程的推移,他也发现了这个能力的代价,其中之一就是,不能说谎……17748472朋友送的群,不嫌弃的就来聊聊~不过我不太会管理,不知道通过会不会有麻烦……这个放在简介里不会被人鄙视吧……-=
  • 夏露之未知名的悲伤

    夏露之未知名的悲伤

    她的爱情线太难,因为遇到了一个对感情不太明白的笨蛋,她,不知道自己还能这样僵持多久,她知道,总有一天会有人出来打破这种僵局。
  • 复仇亡

    复仇亡

    复仇,是她唯一的任务。知道他出现,两人坠入爱河,可女孩知道,情,他不配拥有,女孩终将会如何选择....