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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Tony The Tramp;Or Right is Might » CHAPTER XXIV TONY IS DISCHARGED
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CHAPTER XXIV TONY IS DISCHARGED
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Presently Tony came into the yard. He was looking very sober. He had lost the horse, and he didn’t know how to excuse himself. He didn’t feel that he had been to blame, but he suspected that he should be blamed, nevertheless.

What did you do with the horse, Tony?” asked James.

He was stolen from me,” answered Tony.

How could that be?”

“I expect it was the Quaker.”

“The Quaker?” repeated James, in amazement1. “Are you sure you’re not crazy—or drunk?”

“Neither one,” said Tony. “It’s a long story, and—?—”

“You must tell it to Mr. Porter, then. He wants to see you right off. But I’ll tell you for your information that the horse is here.”

“Is here? Who brought him?”

“Sam Payson brought him a short time since.”

“Sam Payson! Where did he say he found him?”

“In the woods.”

“Then he might have left it there,” said Tony, indignantly. “What business had he to untie2 him, and give me all this trouble?”

“You can speak to Mr. Porter about that.”

“Where is he?”

“In the office.”

Tony entered the office.

Mr. Porter regarded him with a frown.

How is this, Tony?” he began. “You leave my horse in the woods to be brought home by another boy. He might have been stolen, do you know that?”

“I’ve been deceived and led into a trap,” said Tony.

What on earth do you mean? Who has deceived and trapped you?”

“The Quaker, who was stopping here. Has he come back?”

“He has settled his bill and left the hotel. What cock-and-bull story is this you have hatched up?”

“It is a true story, Mr. Porter. This man was not a Quaker at all. He was a tramp.”

“Take care what you say, Tony. Do you take me for a fool?”

“He is a man I used to know. When I was coming home he was waiting for me in the woods, only I didn’t know who he really was. He told me there was a man who had fallen into a well in the woods, and he wanted my help to get him out. So I tied the horse and went with him. I wouldn’t have left him but for that story of the man in the well.”

“Go on,” said the landlord. “I warn you I don’t believe a word of this wonderful story of yours.”

“I can’t help it,” said Tony, desperately3. “It’s true.”

“Go on, and I’ll give you my opinion of it afterward4.”

“Just before we got to the well, a branch took off his hat and wig5, and I saw that he was no Quaker, but my enemy, Rudolph Rugg.”

“Rudolph Rugg! A very good name for a romance.”

Tony proceeded:

“Then I tried to get away, but it was too late. The man seized me and threw me down the well. But first he told me that he knew who I was, and that I was heir to a large fortune.”

“Indeed! How happens it that you are not at the bottom of the well still?”

“I got out.”

“So I see. But how?”

“I climbed up by the stones till I reached the rope, and then I found it easy. I hurried to where I had left the horse, but he was gone. I supposed that the Quaker had taken him, but James tells me Sam Payson found him and brought him back.”

“Look here, boy,” said the landlord, sternly, “do you expect me to believe this romance of yours?”

“I don’t know whether you will or not, sir. All I can say is that it is the exact truth.”

“I cannot keep you in my employ any longer. I have been deceived in you, and should no longer trust you. You certainly have mistaken your vocation6. You are not fit to be a stableboy.”

“I should like to know what I am fit for?” said Tony, despondently7.

I will tell you, then. Judging from the story you have told me, I should think you might succeed very well in writing dime8 novels. I don’t know whether it pays, but you can try it.”

“Sometime you will find out that I have told the truth,” said Tony.

Perhaps so, but I doubt it.”

“When do you want me to go?”

“You can stay till to-morrow morning. Wait a minute. Here is a five-dollar bill. That is a fair price for the time you have been with me.”

As Tony was going out he came near having a collision with Sam Payson.

Sam looked at him inquiringly.

Have you been bounced?” he asked.

Yes,” said Tony. “It was your fault. What made you take that horse?”

“I was afraid Mr. Porter might lose him. Is he in?”

“Yes. You can apply for my place, if you want to.”

“I mean to.”

Sam went in, and addressed the landlord.

I brought your horse back,” he said.

Thank you. Here’s two dollars for your trouble.”

Sam tucked it away with an air of satisfaction.

Tony tells me he is going away.”

“Yes. He don’t suit me.”

“Wouldn’t I suit you?” asked Sam, in an ingratiating tone.

No; I’ve tried you, and you won’t suit,” was the unexpected reply.

But I brought back the horse,” pleaded Sam, crestfallen9.

I’ve paid you for that,” said the landlord. “Didn’t I pay you enough?”

“Yes, sir; but I thought you’d take me back again.”

“I know you too well, Sam Payson, to try any such experiment. The Widow Clark told me yesterday that she wanted to get her boy into a place, and I am going to offer it to him.”

“He don’t know anything about horses,” said Sam.

“He will soon learn. He is a good boy, and industrious10. I am sure he will suit me better than you.”

“I wish I hadn’t brought back his old horse,” muttered Sam, as he left the office and went back into the yard. He hoped to triumph over Tony, by telling that he had taken his place, but the opportunity was not allowed him.

Well, Sam, are you going to take my place?” asked Tony.

No, I’m not,” said Sam.

Didn’t you ask for it?”

“The old man had promised it to another boy,” said Sam, sourly.

He’s been pretty quick about it, then,” said James.

A boy that don’t know the first thing about horses,” grumbled11 Sam.

Who is it?”

“Joe Clark.”

“He’s a good boy; I’m glad he’s coming, though I’m sorry to lose Tony.”

“Thank you, James,” said Tony. “I’d like to stay, but I can’t blame Mr. Porter for not believing my story. It was a strange one, but it’s true, for all that.”

James shrugged12 his shoulders.

Then you believe you’re heir to a fortune, as he told you?”

“Yes; he had no reason to tell me a lie.”

“What’s that?” asked Sam.

The Quaker gentleman who was here told Tony that he was heir to a large fortune.”

“Ho! ho!” laughed Sam, boisterously13. “That’s a likely story, that is!”

“Why isn’t it?” asked Tony, frowning.

You heir to a fortune—a clodhopper like you! Oh, I shall split!” said Sam, giving way to another burst of merriment.

I am no more a clodhopper than you are,” said Tony, “and I advise you not to laugh too much, or I may make you laugh on the other side of your mouth.”

“It’ll take more than you do to do it!” said Sam, defiantly14.

I have done it already, Sam Payson, and I’m ready to try it again before I leave town.”

“I wouldn’t dirty my hands with you!” said Sam, scornfully.

You’d better not!”

When Sam had gone, Tony turned to James.

I wonder whether I shall ever see you again, James?” he said, thoughtfully.

I hope so, Tony. I’m sorry you’re going; but you couldn’t expect Mr. Porter to swallow such a tough story as that.”

“Then you don’t believe it, James? I’ll come back some day just to prove to you that it is true.”

“Come back, at any rate; I shall be glad to see you. When do you go?”

“To-morrow morning.”

“Where shall you go first?”

“To New York; but I’ll help you till I go.”

So Tony did his work as usual for the remainder of the day. He felt rather sober. Just as he had found a home, his evil genius, in the character of Rudolph, had appeared and deprived him of it.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
2 untie SjJw4     
vt.解开,松开;解放
参考例句:
  • It's just impossible to untie the knot.It's too tight.这个结根本解不开。太紧了。
  • Will you please untie the knot for me?请你替我解开这个结头,好吗?
3 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
参考例句:
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
4 afterward fK6y3     
adv.后来;以后
参考例句:
  • Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
  • Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
5 wig 1gRwR     
n.假发
参考例句:
  • The actress wore a black wig over her blond hair.那个女演员戴一顶黑色假发罩住自己的金黄色头发。
  • He disguised himself with a wig and false beard.他用假发和假胡须来乔装。
6 vocation 8h6wB     
n.职业,行业
参考例句:
  • She struggled for years to find her true vocation.她多年来苦苦寻找真正适合自己的职业。
  • She felt it was her vocation to minister to the sick.她觉得照料病人是她的天职。
7 despondently 9be17148dd640dc40b605258bbc2e187     
adv.沮丧地,意志消沉地
参考例句:
  • It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了,他沉思着,感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
  • He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句
8 dime SuQxv     
n.(指美国、加拿大的钱币)一角
参考例句:
  • A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。
  • The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。
9 crestfallen Aagy0     
adj. 挫败的,失望的,沮丧的
参考例句:
  • He gathered himself up and sneaked off,crushed and crestfallen.他爬起来,偷偷地溜了,一副垂头丧气、被斗败的样子。
  • The youth looked exceedingly crestfallen.那青年看上去垂头丧气极了。
10 industrious a7Axr     
adj.勤劳的,刻苦的,奋发的
参考例句:
  • If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
  • She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。
11 grumbled ed735a7f7af37489d7db1a9ef3b64f91     
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声
参考例句:
  • He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
  • The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏,水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
12 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 boisterously 19b3c18619ede9af3062a670f3d59e2b     
adv.喧闹地,吵闹地
参考例句:
  • They burst boisterously into the room. 他们吵吵嚷嚷地闯入房间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Drums and gongs were beating boisterously. 锣鼓敲打得很热闹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
14 defiantly defiantly     
adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地
参考例句:
  • Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》


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