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CHAPTER XXXII. AN EXCITING ADVENTURE.
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 Dodger1 soon became accustomed to his duties at Tucker’s express office, in his new San Francisco home. He found Mr. Tucker an exacting2, but not an unreasonable3, man. He watched his new assistant closely for the first few days, and was quietly taking his measure.
 
At the end of the first week he paid the salary agreed upon—fifteen dollars.
 
“You have been with me a week, Arthur,” he said.
 
“Yes, sir.”
 
“And I have been making up my mind about you.”
 
“Yes, sir,” said Dodger, looking up inquiringly. “I hope you are satisfied with me?”
 
“Yes, I think I may say that I am. You don’t seem to be afraid of work.”
 
“I have always been accustomed to work.“
 
“That is well. I was once induced to take the son of a rich man in the place you now occupy. He had never done a stroke of work, having always been at school. He didn’t take kindly4 to work, and seemed afraid that he would be called upon to do more than he had bargained for. One evening I was particularly busy, and asked him to remain an hour overtime5.
 
“ ‘It will be very inconvenient6, Mr. Tucker,’ said the young man, ‘as I have an engagement with a friend.’
 
“He left me to do all the extra work, and—I suppose you know what happened the next Saturday evening?”
 
“I can guess,” returned Dodger, with a smile.
 
“I told him that I thought the duties were too heavy for his constitution, and he had better seek an easier place. Let me see—I kept you an hour and a half overtime last Wednesday.”
 
“Yes, sir.”
 
“You made no objection, but worked on just as if you liked it.”
 
“Yes, sir; I am always willing to stay when you need me.”
 
“Good! I shan’t forget it.”
 
Dodger felt proud of his success, and put away the fifteen dollars with a feeling of satisfaction. He had never saved half that sum in the same time before.
 
“Curtis Waring did me a favor when he sent me out here,” he reflected; “but as he didn’t mean it, I have no occasion to feel grateful.”
 
Dodger found that he could live for eight dollars a week, and he began to lay by seven dollars a week with the view of securing funds sufficient to take him back to New York.
 
He was in no hurry to leave San Francisco, but he felt that Florence might need a friend. But he found that he was making progress slowly.
 
At that time the price of a first-class ticket to New York was one hundred and twenty-eight dollars, besides the expense of sleeping berths7, amounting then, as now, to twenty-two dollars extra. So it looked as if Dodger would be compelled to wait at least six months before he should be in a position to set out on the return journey.
 
About this time Dodger received a letter from Florence, in which she spoke8 of her discharge by Mrs. Leighton.
 
“I shall try to obtain another position as teacher,” she said, concealing9 her anxiety. “I am sure, in a large city, I can find something to do.”
 
But Dodger knew better than she the difficulties that beset10 the path of an applicant11 for work, and he could not help feeling anxious for Florence.
 
“If I were only in New York,” he said to himself, “I would see that Florence didn’t suffer. I will write her to let me know if she is in need, and I will send her some money.”
 
About this time he met with an adventure which deserves to be noted12.
 
It was about seven o’clock one evening that he found himself in Mission Street.
 
At a street corner his attention was drawn13 to a woman poorly dressed, who held by the hand a child of three.
 
Her clothing was shabby, and her attitude was one of despondency. It was clear that she was ill and in trouble.
 
Dodger possessed14 quick sympathies, and his own experience made him quick to understand and feel for the troubles of others.
 
Though the woman made no appeal, he felt instinctively15 that she needed help.
 
“I beg your pardon,” he said, with as much deference16 as if he were addressing one favored by fortune, “but you seem to be in need of help?”
 
“God knows, I am!” said the woman, sadly.
 
“Perhaps I can be of service to you. Will you tell me how?”
 
“Neither I nor my child has tasted food since yesterday.”
 
“Well, that can be easily remedied,” said Dodger, cheerfully. “There is a restaurant close by. I was about to eat supper. Will you come in with me?”
 
“I am ashamed to impose upon the kindness of a stranger,” murmured the woman.
 
“Don’t mention it. I shall be very glad of company,” said Dodger, heartily17.
 
“But you are a poor boy. You may be ill able to afford the expense.”
 
“I am not a millionaire,” said Dodger, “and I don’t see any immediate18 prospect19 of my building a palace on Nob Hill”—where live some of San Francisco’s wealthiest citizens—“but I am very well supplied with money.”
 
“Then I will accept your kind invitation.”
 
It was a small restaurant, but neat in its appointments, and, as in most San Francisco restaurants, the prices were remarkably20 moderate.
 
At an expense of twenty-five cents each, the three obtained a satisfactory meal.
 
The woman and child both seemed to enjoy it, and Dodger was glad to see that the former became more cheerful as time went on.
 
There was something in the child’s face that looked familiar to Dodger. It was a resemblance to some one that he had seen, but he could not for the life of him decide who it was.
 
“How can I ever thank you for your kindness?” said the lady, as she arose from the table. “You don’t know what it is to be famished——”
 
“Don’t I?” asked Dodger. “I have been hungry more than once, without money enough to buy a meal.”
 
“You don’t look it,” she said.
 
“No, for now I have a good place and am earning a good salary.”
 
“Are you a native of San Francisco?”
 
“No, madam. I can’t tell you where I was born, for I know little or nothing of my family. I have only been here a short time. I came from New York.”
 
“So did I,” said the woman, with a sigh. “I wish I were back there again.”
 
“How came you to be here? Don’t answer if you prefer not to,” Dodger added, hastily.
 
“I have no objection. My husband deserted21 me, and left me to shift for myself and support my child.”
 
“How have you done it?”
 
“By taking in sewing. But that is a hard way of earning money. There are too many poor women who are ready to work for starvation wages, and so we all suffer.”
 
“I know that,” answered Dodger. “Do you live near here?”
 
The woman mentioned a street near by.
 
“I have one poor back room on the third floor,” she explained; “but I should be glad if I were sure to stay there.”
 
“Is there any danger of your being ejected?”
 
“I am owing for two weeks’ rent, and this is the middle of the third week. Unless I can pay up at the end of this week I shall be forced to go out into the streets with my poor child.”
 
“How much rent do you pay?”
 
“A dollar a week.”
 
“Then three dollars will relieve you for the present?”
 
“Yes; but it might as well be three hundred,” said the woman, bitterly.
 
“Not quite; I can supply you with three dollars, but three hundred would be rather beyond my means.”
 
“You are too kind, too generous! I ought not to accept such a liberal gift.”
 
“Mamma, I am tired. Take me up in your arms,” said the child.
 
“Poor child! He has been on his feet all day,” sighed the mother.
 
She tried to lift the child, but her own strength had been undermined by privation, and she was clearly unable to do so.
 
“Let me take him!” said Dodger. “Here, little one, jump up!”
 
He raised the child easily, and despite the mother’s protest, carried him in his arms.
 
“I will see you home, madam,” he said.
 
“I fear the child will be too heavy for you.”
 
“I hope not. Why, I could carry a child twice as heavy.”
 
They reached the room at last—a poor one, but a welcome repose22 from the streets.
 
“Don’t you ever expect to see your husband again?” asked Dodger. “Can’t you compel him to support you?”
 
“I don’t know where he is,” answered the woman, despondently23.
 
“If you will tell me his name, I may come across him some day.”
 
“His name,” said the woman, “is Curtis Waring.”
 
Dodger stared at her, overwhelmed with surprise.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 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。
2 exacting VtKz7e     
adj.苛求的,要求严格的
参考例句:
  • He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
  • The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移,公众的要求更趋严格。
3 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
4 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。
5 overtime aKqxn     
adj.超时的,加班的;adv.加班地
参考例句:
  • They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
  • He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。
6 inconvenient m4hy5     
adj.不方便的,令人感到麻烦的
参考例句:
  • You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
  • Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗?
7 berths c48f4275c061791e8345f3bbf7b5e773     
n.(船、列车等的)卧铺( berth的名词复数 );(船舶的)停泊位或锚位;差事;船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 );占铺位
参考例句:
  • Berths on steamships can be booked a long while in advance. 轮船上的床位可以提前多日预订。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Have you got your berths on the ship yet? 你们在船上有舱位了吗? 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
8 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。
9 concealing 0522a013e14e769c5852093b349fdc9d     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善,我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定,还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产
10 beset SWYzq     
v.镶嵌;困扰,包围
参考例句:
  • She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
  • The plan was beset with difficulties from the beginning.这项计划自开始就困难重重。
11 applicant 1MlyX     
n.申请人,求职者,请求者
参考例句:
  • He was the hundredth applicant for the job. 他是第100个申请这项工作的人。
  • In my estimation, the applicant is well qualified for this job. 据我看, 这位应征者完全具备这项工作的条件。
12 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
13 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
14 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
15 instinctively 2qezD2     
adv.本能地
参考例句:
  • As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近,她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 deference mmKzz     
n.尊重,顺从;敬意
参考例句:
  • Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗?
  • The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。
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 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
19 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
20 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地,相当地
参考例句:
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
21 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
22 repose KVGxQ     
v.(使)休息;n.安息
参考例句:
  • Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
  • Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑,即使在睡眠时也是这样。
23 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


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