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CHAPTER VII. FLORENCE LEAVES HOME.
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 Florence passed a sleepless1 night. It had come upon her so suddenly, this expulsion from the home of her childhood, that she could not fully2 realize it. She could not feel that she was taking her last look at the familiar room, and well-remembered dining-room, where she had sat down for the last time for breakfast. She was alone at the breakfast table, for the usual hour was half-past eight, and she had appointed Dodger3 to call for her at eight.
 
“Is it true, Miss Florence, that you’re going away?” asked Jane, the warm-hearted table girl, as she waited upon Florence.
 
“Yes, Jane,” answered Florence, sadly.
 
“It’s a shame, so it is! I didn’t think your uncle would be so hard-hearted.”
 
“He is disappointed because I won’t marry my Cousin Curtis.”
 
“I don’t blame you for it, miss. I never liked Mr. Waring. He isn’t half good enough for you.”
 
“I say nothing about that, Jane; but I will not marry a man I do not love.”
 
“Nor would I, miss. Where are you going, if I may make so bold?”
 
“I don’t know, Jane,” said Florence, despondently4.
 
“But you can’t walk about the streets.”
 
“A trusty friend is going to call for me at eight o’clock; when he comes admit him.”
 
“It is a—a young gentleman?”
 
“You wouldn’t call him such. He is a boy, a poor boy; but I think he is a true friend. He says he will find me a comfortable room somewhere, where I can settle down and look for work.”
 
“Are you going to work for a living, Miss Florence?” asked Jane, horrified5.
 
“I must, Jane.”
 
“It’s a great shame—you, a lady born.”
 
“No, Jane, I do not look upon it in that light. I shall be happier for having my mind and my hands occupied.”
 
“What work will you do?”
 
“I don’t know yet. Dodger will advise me.”
 
“Who, miss?”
 
“Dodger.”
 
“Who is he?”
 
“It’s the boy I spoke6 of.”
 
“Shure, he’s got a quare name.”
 
“Yes; but names don’t count for much. It’s the heart I think of, and this boy has a kind heart.”
 
“Have you known him long?”
 
“I saw him yesterday for the first time.”
 
“Is it the young fellow who was here last night?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“He isn’t fit company for the likes of you, Miss Florence.”
 
“You forget, Jane, that I am no longer a rich young lady. I am poorer than even you. This Dodger is kind, and I feel that I can trust him.”
 
“If you are poor, Miss Florence,” said Jane, hesitatingly, “would you mind borrowing some money of me? I’ve got ten dollars upstairs in my trunk, and I don’t need it at all. It’s proud I’ll be to lend it to you.”
 
“Thank you, Jane,” said Florence, gratefully. “I thought I had but one friend. I find I have two——”
 
“Then you’ll take the money? I’ll go right up and get it.”
 
“No, Jane; not at present. I have twenty dollars in my purse, and it will last me till I can earn more.”
 
“But, miss, twenty dollars will soon go,” said Jane, disappointed.
 
“If I find that I need the sum you so kindly7 offer me, I will let you know, I promise that.”
 
“Thank you, miss.”
 
At this point a bell rang from above.
 
“It’s from Mr. Curtis’ room,” said Jane.
 
“Go and see what he wants.”
 
Jane returned in a brief time with a note in her hand.
 
“Mr. Curtis asked me if you were still here,” she explained, “and when I told him you were he asked me to give you this.”
 
Florence took the note, and, opening it, read these lines:
 
“Florence: Now that you have had time to think over your plan of leaving your old home, I hope you have come to see how foolish it is. Reflect that, if carried out, a life of poverty and squalid wretchedness amid homely8 and uncongenial surroundings awaits you; while, as my wife, you will live a life of luxury and high social position. There are many young ladies who would be glad to accept the chance which you so recklessly reject. By accepting my hand you will gratify our excellent uncle, and make me the happiest of mortals. You will acquit9 me of mercenary motives10, since you are now penniless, and your disobedience leaves me sole heir to Uncle John. I love you, and it will be my chief object, if you will permit it, to make you happy.
 
“Curtis Waring.”
 
Florence ran her eyes rapidly over this note, but her heart did not respond, and her resolution was not shaken.
 
“Tell Mr. Waring there is no answer, Jane, if he inquires,” she said.
 
“Was he tryin’ to wheedle11 you into marryin’ him?” asked Jane.
 
“He wished me to change my decision.”
 
“I’m glad you’ve given him the bounce,” said Jane, whose expressions were not always refined. “I wouldn’t marry him myself.”
 
Florence smiled. Jane was red haired, and her nose was what is euphemistically called retroussé. Even in her own circles she was not regarded as beautiful, and was hardly likely to lead a rich man to overlook her humble12 station, and sue for her hand.
 
“Then, Jane, you at least will not blame me for refusing my cousin’s hand?”
 
“That I won’t, miss. Do you know, Miss Florence”—and here Jane lowered her voice—“I’ve a suspicion that Mr. Curtis is married already?”
 
“What do you mean, Jane?” asked Florence, startled.
 
“There was a poor young woman called here last month and inquired for Mr. Curtis. She was very sorrowful-like, and poorly dressed. He came up when she was at the door, and he spoke harshlike, and told her to walk away with him. What they said I couldn’t hear, but I’ve a suspicion that she was married to him, secretlike for I saw a wedding ring upon her finger.”
 
“But, Jane, it would be base and infamous13 for him to ask for my hand when he was already married.”
 
“I can’t help it, miss. That’s just what he wouldn’t mind doin’. Oh, he’s a sly deceiver, Mr. Curtis. I’d like to see him foolin’ around me.”
 
Jane nodded her head with emphasis, as if to intimate the kind of reception Curtis Waring would get if he attempted to trifle with her virgin14 affections.
 
“I hope what you suspect is not true,” said Florence, gravely. “I do not like or respect Curtis, but I don’t like to think he would be so base as that. If you ever see this young woman again, try to find out where she lives. I would like to make her acquaintance, and be a friend to her if she needs one.”
 
“Shure, Miss Florence, you will be needin’ a friend yourself.”
 
“It is true, Jane. I forgot that I am no longer a young lady of fortune, but a penniless girl, obliged to work for a living.”
 
“What would your uncle say if he knew that Mr. Curtis had a wife?”
 
“We don’t know that he has one, and till we do, it would not be honorable to intimate such a thing to Uncle John.”
 
“Shure, he wouldn’t be particular. It’s all his fault that you’re obliged to leave home, and go into the streets. Why couldn’t he take no for an answer, and marry somebody else, if he can find anybody to have him?”
 
“I wish, indeed, that he had fixed15 his affections elsewhere,” responded Florence, with a sigh.
 
“Shure, he’s twice as old as you, Miss Florence, anyway.”
 
“I shouldn’t mind that so much, if that was the only objection.”
 
“It’ll be a great deal better marryin’ a young man.”
 
“I don’t care to marry any one, Jane. I don’t think I shall ever marry.”
 
“It’s all very well to say that, Miss Florence. Lots of girls say so, but they change their minds. I don’t mean to live out always myself.”
 
“Is there any young man you are interested in, Jane?”
 
“Maybe there is, and maybe there isn’t, Miss Florence. If I ever do get married I’ll invite you to the wedding.”
 
“And I’ll promise to come if I can. But I hear the bell. I think my friend Dodger has come.”
 
“Shall I ask him in, miss?”
 
“No. Tell him I will be ready to accompany him at once.”
 
She went out into the hall, and when the door was opened the visitor proved to be Dodger. He had improved his appearance so far as his limited means would allow. His hands and face were thoroughly16 clean; he had bought a new collar and necktie; his shoes were polished, and despite his shabby suit, he looked quite respectable. Getting a full view of him, Florence saw that his face was frank and handsome, his eyes bright, and his teeth like pearls.
 
“Shure, he’s a great deal better lookin’ than Mr. Curtis,” whispered Jane. “Here, Mr. Dodger, take Miss Florence’s valise, and mind you take good care of her.”
 
“I will,” answered Dodger, heartily17. “Come, Miss Florence, if you don’t mind walking over to Fourth Avenue, we’ll take the horse cars.”
 
So, under strange guidance, Florence Linden left her luxurious18 home, knowing not what awaited her. What haven19 of refuge she might find she knew not. She, like Dodger, was adrift in New York.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 sleepless oiBzGN     
adj.不睡眠的,睡不著的,不休息的
参考例句:
  • The situation gave her many sleepless nights.这种情况害她一连好多天睡不好觉。
  • One evening I heard a tale that rendered me sleepless for nights.一天晚上,我听说了一个传闻,把我搞得一连几夜都不能入睡。
2 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
3 dodger Ku9z0c     
n.躲避者;躲闪者;广告单
参考例句:
  • They are tax dodgers who hide their interest earnings.他们是隐瞒利息收入的逃税者。
  • Make sure she pays her share she's a bit of a dodger.她自己的一份一定要她付清--她可是有点能赖就赖。
4 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
5 horrified 8rUzZU     
a.(表现出)恐惧的
参考例句:
  • The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
  • We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。
6 spoke XryyC     
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。
7 kindly tpUzhQ     
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。
8 homely Ecdxo     
adj.家常的,简朴的;不漂亮的
参考例句:
  • We had a homely meal of bread and cheese.我们吃了一顿面包加乳酪的家常便餐。
  • Come and have a homely meal with us,will you?来和我们一起吃顿家常便饭,好吗?
9 acquit MymzL     
vt.宣判无罪;(oneself)使(自己)表现出
参考例句:
  • That fact decided the judge to acquit him.那个事实使法官判他无罪。
  • They always acquit themselves of their duty very well.他们总是很好地履行自己的职责。
10 motives 6c25d038886898b20441190abe240957     
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
  • His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。
11 wheedle kpuyX     
v.劝诱,哄骗
参考例句:
  • I knew he was trying to wheedle me into being at his beck and call.我知道这是他拉拢我,好让我俯首贴耳地为他效劳。
  • They tried to wheedle her into leaving the house.他们想哄骗她离开这屋子。
12 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
13 infamous K7ax3     
adj.声名狼藉的,臭名昭著的,邪恶的
参考例句:
  • He was infamous for his anti-feminist attitudes.他因反对女性主义而声名狼藉。
  • I was shocked by her infamous behaviour.她的无耻行径令我震惊。
14 virgin phPwj     
n.处女,未婚女子;adj.未经使用的;未经开发的
参考例句:
  • Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗?
  • There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。
15 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
16 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
17 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
18 luxurious S2pyv     
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的
参考例句:
  • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
  • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
19 haven 8dhzp     
n.安全的地方,避难所,庇护所
参考例句:
  • It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后,这真是一个安乐窝。
  • The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。


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