Chapter 4

 The bookbinder, for all his scanty¹ earnings², was resolved toenter Jean at a school where the boy could enjoy a regular andcomplete course of instruction. He selected a day-school notfar from the Luxembourg, because he could see the top branchesof an acacia overtopping the wall, and the house had a cheerfullook.

Jean, as a little new boy (he was now eleven), was some weeksbefore he shook off the shyness with which his schoolfellows'

loud voices and rough ways and his masters' ponderous³ gravityhad at first overwhelmed him. Little by little he grew used tothe work, and learned some of the tricks by means of whichpunishments were avoided; his schoolfellows found him so inoffensivethey left off stealing his cap and initiated⁴ him in the game ofmarbles. But he had little love for school-life, and when fiveo'clock came, prayers were over and his satchel⁵ strapped⁶, itwas with unfeigned delight he dashed out into the street baskingin the golden rays of the setting sun. In the intoxication⁷ offreedom, he danced and leapt, seeing everything, men and horses,carriages and shops, in a charmed light, and out of sheer joy oflife mumbling⁸ at his Aunt Servien's hand and arm, as she walkedhome with him carrying the satchel and lunch-basket.

The evening was a peaceful time. Jean would sit drawing picturesor dreaming over his copy-books at one end of the table whereMademoiselle Servien had just cleared away the meal. His fatherwould be busy with a book. As age advanced he had acquired ataste for reading, his favourites being La Fontaine's _Fables_,Anquetil's _History of France_, and Voltaire's _DictionnairePhilosophique_, "to get the hang of things," as he put it.

His sister made fruitless efforts to distract his attention withsome stinging criticism of the neighbours or a question about"our fat friend who had not come back," for she made a pointof never remembering the Marquis Tudesco's name.

1 scanty   

adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的

参考例句：

• There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
• The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

2 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

3 ponderous   

adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的

参考例句：

• His steps were heavy and ponderous.他的步伐沉重缓慢。
• It was easy to underestimate him because of his occasionally ponderous manner.由于他偶尔现出的沉闷的姿态，很容易使人小看了他。

4 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

5 satchel   

n.(皮或帆布的)书包

参考例句：

• The school boy opened the door and flung his satchel in.那个男学生打开门，把他的书包甩了进去。
• She opened her satchel and took out her father's gloves.打开书箱，取出了她父亲的手套来。

6 strapped   

adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 intoxication   

n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning

参考例句：

• He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
• Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。

8 mumbling   

含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I could hear him mumbling to himself. 我听到他在喃喃自语。
• He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg. 宴会结束时，他仍在咕哝着医院里的事。说着说着，他在一块冰上滑倒，跌断了左腿。