Chapter 5

      ``Have you carried Frank Fowler to thepoorhouse?'' asked Tom Pinkerton, eagerly, on hisfather's return.

　　``No, said the deacon, ``he is going to make a visitat Mr. Pomeroy's first.''

　　``I shouldn't think you would have let him makea visit,'' said Tom, discontentedly. ``I should thinkyou would have taken him to the poorhouse rightoff.''

　　``I feel it my duty to save the town unnecessaryexpense,'' said Deacon Pinkerton.

　　So Tom was compelled to rest satisfied with hisfather's assurance that the removal was only deferred¹.

　　Meanwhile Frank and Grace received a cordialwelcome at the house of Mr. Pomeroy. Sam and Frankwere intimate friends, and our hero had been in thehabit of calling frequently, and it seemed homelike.

　　``I wish you could stay with us all the time, Frank--you and Grace,'' said Sam one evening.

　　``We should all like it,'' said Mr. Pomeroy, ``but wecannot always have what we want. If I had it in mypower to offer Frank any employment which itwould be worth his while to follow, it might do. Buthe has got his way to make in the world. Have youformed any plans yet, Frank?''

　　``That is what I want to consult you about, Mr.

　　Pomeroy.''

　　``I will give you the best advice I can, Frank. Isuppose you do not mean to stay in the village.''

　　``No, sir. There is nothing for me to do here. Imust go somewhere where I can make a living forGrace and myself.''

　　``You've got a hard row to hoe, Frank,'' said Mr.

　　Pomeroy, thoughtfully. ``Have you decided² where togo?''

　　``Yes, sir. I shall go to New York.''

　　``What! To the city?''

　　``Yes, sir. I'll get something to do, no matterwhat it is.''

　　``But how are you going to live in the meantime?''

　　``I've got a little money.''

　　``That won't last long.''

　　``I know it, but I shall soon get work, if it is onlyto black boots in the streets.''

　　``With that spirit, Frank, you will stand a fairchance to succeed. What do you mean to do withGrace?''

　　``I will take her with me.''

　　``I can think of a better plan. Leave her here tillyou have found something to do. Then send for her.''

　　``But if I leave her here Deacon Pinkerton willwant to put her in the poorhouse. I can't bear tohave Grace go there.''

　　``She need not. She can stay here with me forthree months.''

　　``Will you let me pay her board?''

　　``I can afford to give her board for three months.''

　　``You are very kind, Mr. Pomeroy, but it wouldn'tbe right for me to accept your kindness. It is myduty to take care of Grace.''

　　``I honor your independence, Frank. It shall beas you say. When you are able-mind, not till then--you may pay me at the rate of two dollars a weekfor Grace's board.''

　　``Then,'' said Frank, ``if you are willing to boardGrace for a while, I think I had better go to the cityat once.''

　　``I will look over your clothes to-morrow, Frank,''

　　said Mrs. Pomeroy, ``and see if they need mending.''

　　``Then I will start Thursday morning--the dayafter.''

　　About four o'clock the next afternoon he was walkingup the main street, when just in front of DeaconPinkerton's house he saw Tom leaning against atree.

　　``How are you Tom?'' he said, and was about topass on.

　　``Where are you going?'' Tom asked abruptly³.

　　``To Mr. Pomeroy's.''

　　``How soon are you going to the poorhouse tolive?''

　　``Who told you I was going?''

　　``My father.''

　　``Then your father's mistaken.''

　　``Ain't you a pauper<sup>4</sup>?'' said Tom, insolently<sup>5</sup>. ``Youhaven't got any money.''

　　``I have got hands to earn money, and I am goingto try.''

　　``Anyway, I advise you to resign as captain of thebaseball club.''

　　``Why?''

　　``Because if you don't you'll be kicked out. Doyou think the fellows will be willing to have a pauperfor their captain?''

　　``That's the second time you have called me apauper. Don't call me so again.''

　　``You are a pauper and you know it.''

　　Frank was not a quarrelsome boy, but thisrepeated insult was too much for him. He seized Tomby the collar, and tripping him up left him on theground howling with rage. As valor⁶ was not hisstrong point, he resolved to be revenged upon Frankvicariously. He was unable to report the case to hisfather till the next morning, as the deacon did notreturn from a neighboring village, whither he hadgone on business, till late, but the result of hiscommunication was a call at Mr. Pomeroy's from thedeacon at nine o'clock the next morning. Had hefound Frank, it was his intention, at Tom's request,to take him at once to the poorhouse. But he wastoo late. Our hero was already on his way to NewYork.

1 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

4 pauper   

n.贫民，被救济者，穷人

参考例句：

• You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候，也活得像个乞丐。
• If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干，做到老也是穷死。

5 insolently   

adv.自豪地，自傲地

参考例句：

• No does not respect, speak insolently,satire, etc for TT management team member. 不得发表对TT管理层人员不尊重、出言不逊、讽刺等等的帖子。 来自互联网
• He had replied insolently to his superiors. 他傲慢地回答了他上司的问题。 来自互联网

6 valor   

n.勇气，英勇

参考例句：

• Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
• Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。