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CHAPTER XXIII. THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE.
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 “Well, this is certainly a remarkable1 letter,” said the reporter, as he handed it back to Dodger2. “I am at a loss to understand the interest which this man appears to feel in you.”
 
“I look upon him as my enemy,” said Dodger. “But an enemy doesn’t spend so much money upon another as he has.”
 
“Unless he has object in it,” amended3 Leslie, shrewdly. “Do you know of any connection this man has with you?”
 
“No; I never heard of him until I entered his house,” and Dodger flushed as he thought that his entrance into the mansion4 on Madison Avenue had been as a burglar.
 
“It seems to me that he knows more about you than you do about him. It also seems to me that he is anxious to get you out of New York, the farther the better.”
 
“But what harm could I do him in New York?” asked Dodger, puzzled.
 
“That is the question which I cannot answer. You say he was instrumental in getting his Cousin Florence out of the house?”
 
“Yes; he wanted to marry her.”
 
“And she would not consent?”
 
“No; I think she hates him.”
 
“How old is she?”
 
“Seventeen.”
 
“And he?”
 
“He looks about thirty-five.”
 
“The difference in years isn’t great enough to constitute an obstacle, provided she loved him. I am thirty years old.”
 
“I am sure Florence would prefer you to Curtis Waring.”
 
“Don’t flatter me. I am vain enough already. The time may come when I may ask your good offices with Miss Linden. What I was about to ask was: Is Miss Linden also entitled to a share in her uncle’s estate?”
 
“She is just as nearly related to him as Mr. Waring.”
 
“Then I can understand his wishing to get rid of her. I don’t know why he should want to send you to a distance. I suppose there can’t be any relationship?”
 
“Is it likely that I—a poor street boy—should be related to a rich man like Mr. Linden?”
 
“It doesn’t seem likely, I admit,” said Leslie, musingly5. “Well, I suppose,” he continued, after a pause, “there is no use in speculating about the matter now. The important point is, what are we to do with ourselves during the four or five months we must spend on shipboard?”
 
“I don’t know what I can do,” said Dodger. “I can’t sell papers, and I can’t smash baggage.”
 
“And there appears to be no need of your doing either, as you are provided with board and lodging6 till we reach shore.”
 
“That seems strange to me, for I’ve always had to hustle7 for a living.”
 
“I was about to make a proposal to you. But first let me ask you about your education. I suppose you are not an accomplished8 scholar?”
 
“I’m about as ignorant as they make ’em,” answered Dodger, drolly9. “Tim was afraid to send me to college, for fear I’d get to know too much for my business.”
 
“Tending bar does not require an acquaintance with Latin and Greek. Would you like to know more?”
 
“I wish I did. Florence was teaching me nights when I was in New York. Now I’ve got to give up all that.”
 
“Not necessarily. Listen to me, Arthur. Before I came to New York to go into journalism10, I taught school for two years; and I believe I may say that I was tolerably successful. Suppose I take you as a scholar?”
 
“I should like it very much, Mr. Leslie, but I’m afraid I haven’t got money enough to pay you.”
 
“That is true. You will need all the money you have when you land in California. Twenty-five dollars won’t go far—still you have all the money that is necessary, for I do not intend to charge you anything.”
 
“You are very kind to me, Mr. Leslie, considerin’ you don’t know me,” said Dodger, gratefully.
 
“On the contrary, I think I know you very well. But about the kindness—my motives11 are somewhat mixed. I should like to do you a service, but I should also like to find employment for myself that will make the days less monotonous12. I have a collection of books in my trunk, enough for our needs, and if you will agree we will commence our studies to-morrow.”
 
“I should like it very much. I’d like to show Florence, when I see her, that I have improved. Till I saw her I didn’t care much, but when I talk with her I feel awfully13 ignorant.”
 
“In four months a great deal can be accomplished. I don’t know how quick you are to learn. After we have had one or two lessons I can judge better.”
 
Two days later Mr. Leslie pronounced his opinion, and a favorable one.
 
“You have not exaggerated your ignorance,” he said to Dodger. “You have a great deal to learn, but on the other hand you are quick, have a retentive14 memory, and are very anxious to learn. I shall make something of you.”
 
“I learn faster with you than with Florence,” said Dodger.
 
“Probably she would succeed better with girls, but I hold that a male teacher is better for boys. How long are you willing to study every day?”
 
“As long as you think best.”
 
“Then we will say from two to three hours. I think you have talent for arithmetic. I don’t expect to make you fit for a bookkeeper, but I hope to make you equal to most office boys by the time we reach San Francisco. What do you intend to do in California?”
 
“I don’t know. I should like to go back to New York, but I shall not have money enough.”
 
“No; twenty-five dollars would go but a little way toward the passage. Evidently Mr. Waring did not intend to have you return, or he would have provided you with more.”
 
“That is just why I should like to go back. I am afraid he will do some harm to Florence.”
 
“And you would like to be on hand to protect her?”
 
“Yes.”
 
Randolph Leslie smiled.
 
“You seem to take a great deal of interest in Florence, if I may make as free with her name as you do.”
 
“Yes; I do, Mr. Leslie.”
 
“If you were only a little older I might suspect the nature of that interest.”
 
“I am older than she is.”
 
“In years, yes. But a young lady of seventeen, brought up as she has been, is older by years than a boy of eighteen. I don’t think you need apprehend15 any harm to Miss Linden, except that Mr. Waring may cheat her out of her rightful share of the inheritance. Is her uncle in good health?”
 
“No, sir; he is a very feeble man.”
 
“Is he an old man?”
 
“Not so very old. I don’t believe he is over sixty.”
 
Really Mr. Linden was but fifty-four, but, being a confirmed invalid16, he looked older.
 
“Should you say that he was likely to live very long?”
 
“No,” answered Dodger. “He looks as if you could knock him over with a feather. Besides, I’ve heard Florence say that she was afraid her uncle could not live long.”
 
“Probably Curtis Waring is counting upon this. If he can keep Florence and her uncle apart for a few months, Mr. Linden will die, and he will inherit the whole estate. What is this will he speaks of in the letter you showed me?”
 
“I don’t know, sir.”
 
“Whatever the provisions are, it is evident that he thinks it important to get it into his possession. If favorable to him, he will keep it carefully. If unfavorable, I think a man like him would not hesitate to suppress it.”
 
“No doubt you are right, sir. I don’t know much about wills,” said Dodger.
 
“No; I suppose not. You never made any, I suppose,” remarked the reporter, with a smile.
 
“I never had nothing to leave,” said Dodger.
 
“Anything would be a better expression. As your tutor I feel it incumbent17 upon me to correct your grammar.”
 
“I wish you would, Mr. Leslie. What do you mean to do when you get to San Francisco?”
 
“I shall seek employment on one of the San Farncisco daily papers. Six months or a year so spent will restore my health, and enable me to live without drawing upon my moderate savings18.”
 
“I expect I shall have to work, too, to get money to take me back to New York.”
 
And now we must ask the reader to imagine four months and one week passed.
 
There had been favorable weather on the whole, and the voyage was unusually short.
 
Dodger and the reporter stood on deck, and with eager interest watched the passage through the Golden Gate. A little later and the queen city of the Pacific came in sight, crowning the hill on which a part of the city is built, with the vast Palace Hotel a conspicuous19 object in the foreground.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
2 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。
3 Amended b2abcd9d0c12afefe22fd275996593e0     
adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
  • He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。
4 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦,大楼;宅第
参考例句:
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
5 musingly ddec53b7ea68b079ee6cb62ac6c95bf9     
adv.沉思地,冥想地
参考例句:
6 lodging wRgz9     
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍
参考例句:
  • The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
  • Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?
7 hustle McSzv     
v.推搡;竭力兜售或获取;催促;n.奔忙(碌)
参考例句:
  • It seems that he enjoys the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.看起来他似乎很喜欢大城市的热闹繁忙的生活。
  • I had to hustle through the crowded street.我不得不挤过拥挤的街道。
8 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
9 drolly 9c79bd9aae6e1a033900210a694a7a43     
adv.古里古怪地;滑稽地;幽默地;诙谐地
参考例句:
10 journalism kpZzu8     
n.新闻工作,报业
参考例句:
  • He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师,可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
  • He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。
11 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。
12 monotonous FwQyJ     
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的
参考例句:
  • She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。
  • His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律,一个调调儿。
13 awfully MPkym     
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
参考例句:
  • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
  • I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
14 retentive kBkzL     
v.保留的,有记忆的;adv.有记性地,记性强地;n.保持力
参考例句:
  • Luke had an amazingly retentive memory.卢克记忆力惊人。
  • He is a scholar who has wide learning and a retentive memory.他是一位博闻强记的学者。
15 apprehend zvqzq     
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑
参考例句:
  • I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
  • Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。
16 invalid V4Oxh     
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的
参考例句:
  • He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
  • A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。
17 incumbent wbmzy     
adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的
参考例句:
  • He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
  • It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。
18 savings ZjbzGu     
n.存款,储蓄
参考例句:
  • I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
  • By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
19 conspicuous spszE     
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的
参考例句:
  • It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显,抽烟对健康有害。
  • Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。


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