Chapter 10

      If Mrs. Bradley had been wiser, she would havefelt less confident of her nephew's producing a favorableimpression upon Mr. Wharton. She resolved toopen the subject at the breakfast table``I didn't know, Mr. Wharton,'' she commenced,``that you intended to engage a reader.''

　　``Nor did I propose to do so until last evening.''

　　``I think--you'll excuse me for saying so--thatyou will find that boy too young to suit you.''

　　``I don't think so. He reads very clearly anddistinctly.''

　　``If I had known you thought of engaging areader, I would have asked you to engage mynephew.''

　　``Indeed, I was not aware that you had a nephewin the city. Is he a boy?''

　　``No; he is a young man. He was twenty yearsold last June.''

　　``Is he unfavorably situated¹?''

　　``He has a place as salesman.''

　　``With what firm?''

　　``Gilbert & Mack.''

　　``Why, that is the same firm that employs myyoung friend. It is a good firm.''

　　``Perhaps it is, but my poor nephew receives avery small salary. He finds it very hard to getalong.''

　　``Your nephew is young. He will be promoted ifhe serves his employers well.''

　　``Thomas would have been glad to read to you inthe evening, sir,'' said Mrs. Bradley, commencingthe attack.

　　``But for my present engagement, I might havetaken him,'' said Mr. Wharton, politely.

　　``Have you engaged that boy for any length oftime?''

　　``No; but it is understood that he will stay whileI need him, and he continues to suit me. I have afavorable opinion of him. Besides, he needs the pay.

　　He receives but three dollars a week as a cash-boy,and has a sister to support as well as himself.''

　　``I am sorry,'' she said in an injured tone. ``Ihope you'll excuse my mentioning it, but I took theliberty, having been for twenty years in your employ.''

　　``To be sure! You were quite right,'' said heremployer, kindly<sup>2</sup>. ``Perhaps I may be able to dosomething for your nephew, though not that. Tellhim to come and see me some time.''

　　``Thank you, sir,'' said the housekeeper³.

　　There was one question she wanted to determine,and that was the amount of compensation receivedby Frank. She did not like to inquire directly fromMr. Wharton, but resolved to gain the informationfrom our hero. Some evenings later she had theopportunity. Mr. Wharton had an engagement, andasked her to tell Frank, when he arrived that hewas released from duty. Instead of this she receivedhim in the library herself.

　　``Probably Mr. Wharton will not be at home thisevening,'' she said. ``If he does not return in halfan hour, you need not wait.''

　　She took up her work, seated in Mr. Wharton'susual place, and Frank remained ready for duty.

　　``Mr. Wharton tells me you have a sister,'' shesaid.

　　``Yes, ma'am.''

　　``You must find it hard work to provide for heras well as yourself.''

　　``I do, or rather I did till I came here.''

　　``How much does Mr. Wharton pay you?'' sheasked, in an indifferent tone.

　　``Five dollars a week,'' answered Frank.

　　``You are lucky that you have such a chance,'' shesaid.

　　``Yes, ma'am; it is more than I earn, I know, butit is a great help to me.''

　　``And how much do you get as cash-boy?''

　　``Three dollars a week.''

　　``So you actually receive nearly twice as much fora couple of hours in the evening as for the wholeday.''

　　``Yes, ma'am.''

　　``What a pity Thomas can't have this chance,'' shethought.

　　When it was nine o'clock, she said:

　　``You need not wait any longer. Mr. Whartonwill not be home in time to hear you read.''

　　``Good-evening, Mrs. Bradley,'' said Frank.

　　``Good-evening!'' she responded, coldly.

　　``That boy is in the way,'' she said to herself,when she was left alone. ``He is in my way, andTom's way. I can see that he is artfully intriguingfor Mr. Wharton's favor, but I must checkmate him.

　　It's odd,'' she resumed, after a pause, ``but there issomething in his face and voice that seems familiarto me. What is it?''

　　* * * * *The following evening the housekeeper receivedanother visit from her nephew.

　　``How do, aunt?'' said Thomas Bradley, carelessly,as he entered the housekeeper's room.

　　``Very well, thank you, Thomas. I am glad youare here. I have been wanting to see you.''

　　``The old man isn't going to do anything for me,is he?''

　　``How can you expect it so soon? He doesn'tknow you yet. How much do you think he pays thecash-boy that reads to him in the evening?''

　　``I don't know.''

　　``Five dollars a week.''

　　``I wouldn't give up my evenings for that,'' he said.

　　``It isn't so much the pay, Thomas, though thatwould be a help. He might take a fancy to you.''

　　``That might pay better. When are you going tointroduce me?''

　　``This evening; that is, I will ask Mr. Whartonif he will see you.''

　　Mrs. Bradley entered the library, where Frankwas engaged in reading aloud.

　　``Excuse my interruption,'' she said; ``but mynephew has just called, and I should like to introducehim to you, if you will kindly receive him.''

　　``Certainly, Mrs. Bradley,'' said Mr. Wharton.

　　``Bring him in.''

　　The housekeeper left the room, but speedilyreappeared, followed by her nephew, who seemed alittle abashed⁴.

　　``My nephew, Thomas Bradley, Mr. Wharton,''

　　said his aunt, by way of introduction. ``You haveoften heard me speak of Mr. Wharton, Thomas.''

　　``How do you do, sir?'' said Thomas awkwardly.

　　``Pray take a seat, Mr. Bradley. Your aunt hasbeen long a member of my family. I am glad to seea nephew of hers. I believe you are a salesman atGilbert & Mack's?''

　　``Yes, sir.''

　　``Then you must know my young friend here?''

　　pointing to Frank.

　　``How are you, Cash?'' said Thomas, laughing,under the impression that he had said somethingsmart.

　　``Very well, Mr. Bradley,'' answered Frank,quietly.

　　``You see, that's all the name we call 'em in thestore,'' said Thomas.

　　Mr. Wharton could not help thinking:

　　``How poorly this young man compares with myyoung friend. Still, as he is Mrs. Bradley's nephew,I must be polite to him.''

　　``Are there many cash-boys in your establishment,Mr. Bradley?''

　　``About a dozen. Ain't there, Fowler?''

　　``I believe so, Mr. Bradley.''

　　``Gilbert & Mack do a good business, I shouldjudge.''

　　``Yes, they do; but that doesn't do us poorsalesmen much good. We get just enough to keep souland body together.''

　　``I am sorry to hear it,'' said Mr. Wharton.

　　``Why, sir,'' said Thomas, gaining confidence, ``allthey pay me is twelve dollars a week. How canthey expect a fellow to live on that?''

　　``I began my career about your age,'' said Mr.

　　Wharton, ``or perhaps a little younger, and had tolive on but six dollars a week.''

　　``Didn't you come near starving?'' he asked.

　　``On the contrary, I saved a little every week.''

　　``I can't,'' said Thomas, a little discomfited<sup>5</sup>. ``Why,it takes half that to dress decently.''

　　Mr. Wharton glanced quietly at the rather loudand flashy dress worn by his visitor, but only said:

　　``A small salary, of course, makes economy necessary.''

　　``But when a fellow knows he earns a good dealmore than he gets, he doesn't feel like starving himselfjust that his employers may grow rich.''

　　``Of course, if he can better himself they cannotobject.''

　　``That's just what I want to do,'' said Thomas; ``butI expect I need influence to help me to somethingbetter. That's a good hint,'' thought he.

　　``I was telling Thomas,'' said the housekeeper,``that you had kindly expressed a desire to be ofservice to him.''

　　``I am not now in active business,'' said Mr. Wharton,``and of course have not the opportunities Iformerly had for helping⁶ young men, but I will bearyour case in mind, Mr. Bradley.''

　　``Thank you, sir,'' said Thomas. ``I am sure Iearn a thousand dollars a year.''

　　``I think, Thomas,'' said Mrs. Bradley, ``we won'tintrude on Mr. Wharton longer this evening. Whenhe finds something for you he will tell me.''

　　``All right, aunt. Good-night, Mr. Wharton. Good-night, Cash,'' said Thomas, chuckling⁷ anew at theold joke.

　　``Well, aunt,'' said he, when they were once morein the housekeeper's room, ``do you think the oldgentleman will do anything for me?''

　　``I hope so; but I am not sure, Thomas, whetheryou were not too familiar. You spoke⁸ of money tooquick.''

　　``It's my way to come to business.''

　　``I wish you were his reader, instead of that boy.''

　　``Well, I don't. I wouldn't want to he mewed upin that room with the old man every night. I shouldget tired to death of it.''

　　``You would have a chance to get him interestedin you. That boy is artful; he is doing all he can towin Mr. Wharton's favor. He is the one you havemost reason to dread⁹.''

　　``Do you think he will do me any harm?''

　　``I think he will injure your chances.''

　　``Egad! if I thought that, I'd wring¹⁰ the youngrascal's neck.''

　　``There's a better way, Thomas.''

　　``What's that?''

　　``Can't you get him dismissed from Gilbert &Mack's?''

　　``I haven't enough influence with the firm.''

　　``Suppose they thought him dishonest?''

　　``They'd give him the sack, of course.''

　　``Can't you make them think so, Thomas?''

　　``I don't know.''

　　``Then make it your business to find out.''

　　``I suppose you know what good it's going to do,aunt, but I don't. He's got his place here with theold man.''

　　``If Mr. Wharton hears that he is discharged, andhas lost his situation, he will probably dischargehim, too.''

　　``Perhaps so; I suppose you know best.''

　　``Do as I tell you, and I will manage the rest.''

　　``All right. I need your help enough. To-night,for instance, I'm regularly cleaned out. Haven't gotbut twenty-five cents to my name.''

　　``It seems to me, Thomas,'' said his aunt, with atroubled look, ``you are always out of money. I'llgive you five dollars, Thomas, but you must rememberthat I am not made of money. My wages aresmall.''

　　``You ought to have a good nest-egg laid aside,aunt.''

　　``I've got something, Thomas, and when I die, it'llbe yours.''

　　``I hope I shan't have to wait too long,'' thoughtThomas, but he did not give utterance¹¹ to thethought.''

　　``Come again, Thomas, and don't forget what Ihave said,'' said Mrs. Bradley.

1 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

2 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

3 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

4 abashed   

adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He glanced at Juliet accusingly and she looked suitably abashed. 他怪罪的一瞥，朱丽叶自然显得很窘。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The girl was abashed by the laughter of her classmates. 那小姑娘因同学的哄笑而局促不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 discomfited   

v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败

参考例句：

• He was discomfited by the unexpected questions. 意料不到的问题使得他十分尴尬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He will be particularly discomfited by the minister's dismissal of his plan. 部长对他计划的不理会将使他特别尴尬。 来自辞典例句

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 chuckling   

轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时，我能听见他的轻声发笑。
• He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

10 wring   

n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭

参考例句：

• My socks were so wet that I had to wring them.我的袜子很湿，我不得不拧干它们。
• I'll wring your neck if you don't behave!你要是不规矩，我就拧断你的脖子。

11 utterance   

n.用言语表达，话语，言语

参考例句：

• This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
• My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。