She desired another position as governess, and made application in answer to an advertisement.
“I suppose you have taught before?” she said.
“Yes, madam.”
“In whose family?”
“I taught the daughter of Mrs. Leighton, of West — Street.”
“I have heard of the lady. Of course you are at liberty to refer to her?”
“Yes, madam,” but there was a hesitation2 in her tone that excited suspicion.
“Very well; I will call upon her and make inquiries3. If you will call to-morrow morning, I can give you a decisive answer.”
Florence fervently4 hoped that this might prove favorable; but was apprehensive5, and with good reason, it appeared.
When she presented herself the next day, Mrs. Cole said:
“I am afraid, Miss Linden, you will not suit me.”
“I called on Mrs. Leighton,” was the answer. “She speaks well of you as a teacher, but—she told me some things which make it seem inexpedient to engage you.”
“What did she say of me?”
“That, perhaps, you had better not inquire.”
“I prefer to know the worst.”
“She said you encouraged the attentions of her nephew, forgetting the difference in social position, and also that your connections were not of a sort to recommend you. I admit, Miss Linden, that you are very ladylike in appearance, but, I can hardly be expected to admit into my house, in the important position of governess to my child, the daughter or niece of an apple-woman.”
“Did Mrs. Leighton say that I was related to an apple-woman?”
“Yes, Miss Linden. I own I was surprised.”
“It is not true, Mrs. Cole.”
“You live in the house of such a person, do you not?”
“You cannot be very fastidious. However, that is your own affair. I am sorry to disappoint you, Miss Linden, but it will be quite impossible for me to employ you.”
“Then I will bid you good-morning, Mrs. Cole,” said Florence, sore at heart.
“Good-morning. You will, I think, understand my position. If you applied for a position in one of the public schools, I don’t think that your residence would be an objection.”
Florence left the house, sad and despondent8. She saw that Mrs. Leighton, by her unfriendly representations, would prevent her from getting any opportunity to teach. She must seek some more humble employment.
“Well, Florence, did you get a place?” asked Mrs. O’Keefe, as she passed that lady’s stand.
“No, Mrs. O’Keefe,” answered Florence, wearily.
“And why not? Did the woman think you didn’t know enough?”
“She objected to me because I was not living in a fashionable quarter—at least that was one of her objections.”
“I’m sure you’ve got a nate, clane home, and it looks as nate as wax all the time.”
“It isn’t exactly stylish,” said Florence, with a faint smile.
“You are, at any rate. What does the woman want, I’d like to know?”
“She doesn’t want me. It seems Mrs. Leighton did not speak very highly of me.”
“The trollop! I’d like to give her a box on the ear, drat her impudence9!” said the irate10 apple-woman. “And what will you be doin’ now?”
“Do you think I can get some sewing to do, Mrs. O’Keefe?”
“Yes, Miss Florence—I’ll get you some vests to make; but it’s hard work and poor pay.”
“I must take what I can get,” sighed Florence. “I cannot choose.”
“If you’d only tend an apple-stand, Miss Florence! There’s Mrs. Brady wants to sell out on account of the rheumatics, and I’ve got a trifle in the savings11 bank—enough to buy it. You’d make a dollar a day, easy.”
“It isn’t to be thought of, Mrs. O’Keefe. If you will kindly12 see about getting me some sewing, I will see how I can get along.”
The result was that Mrs. O’Keefe brought Florence in the course of the day half a dozen vests, for which she was to be paid the munificent13 sum of twenty-five cents each.
Florence had very little idea of what she was undertaking14.
She was an expert needlewoman, and proved adequate to the work, but with her utmust industry she could only make one vest in a day, and that would barely pay her rent.
True, she had some money laid aside on which she could draw, but that would soon be expended15, and then what was to become of her?
“Shure, I won’t let you starve, Florence,” said the warm-hearted apple-woman.
“But, Mrs. O’Keefe, I can’t consent to live on you.”
“And why not? I’m well and strong, and I’m makin’ more money than I nade.”
“I couldn’t think of it, though I thank you for your kindness.”
“Shure, you might write a letter to your uncle, Florence.”
“He would expect me, in that case, to consent to a marriage with Curtis. You wouldn’t advise me to do that?”
“No; he’s a mane blackguard, and I’d say it to his face.”
Weeks rolled by, and Florence began to show the effects of hard work and confinement16.
She grew pale and thin, and her face was habitually17 sad.
She had husbanded her savings as a governess as closely as she could, but in spite of all her economy it dwindled18 till she had none left.
Henceforth, she must depend on twenty-five cents a day, and this seemed well-nigh impossible.
In this emergency the pawnbroker19 occurred to her.
She had a variety of nice dresses, and she had also a handsome ring, given her by her uncle on her last birthday.
This she felt sure must have cost fifty dollars.
It was a trial to part with it, but there seemed to be no alternative.
“If my uncle has withdrawn22 his affection from me,” she said to herself, “why should I scruple23 to pawn20 the ring? It is the symbol of a love that no longer exists.”
So she entered the pawnbrowker’s—the first that attracted her attention—and held out the ring.
“How much will you lend me on this?” she asked, half frightened at finding herself in such a place.
The pawnbroker examined it carefully. His practiced eye at once detected its value, but it was not professional to admit this.
“Rings is a drug in the market, young lady,” he said. “I’ve got more than I know what to do with. I’ll give you four—four dollars.”
“Four dollars!” repeated Florence, in dismay. “Why, it must have cost fifty. It was bought in Tiffany’s.”
“You are mistaken, my dear. Did you buy it yourself there?”
“No, my uncle gave it to me.”
“He may have said he paid fifty dollars for it,” said the pawnbroker, wagging his head, “but we know better.”
“But what will you give?” asked Florence, desperately24.
“I’ll give you five dollars, and not a penny more,” said the broker21, surveying her distressed25 face, shrewdly. “You can take it or not.”
What could Florence do?
She must have money, and feared that no other pawnbroker would give her more.
“Make out the ticket, then,” she said, wearily, with a sigh.
This was done, and she left the place, half timid, half ashamed, and wholly discouraged.
But the darkest hour is sometimes nearest the dawn. A great overwhelming surprise awaited her. She had scarcely left the shop when a glad voice cried:
“I have found you at last, Florence!”
But not the old Dodger. She saw a nicely dressed young gentleman, larger than the friend she had parted with six months before, with a brighter, more intelligent, and manly27 look.
“Yes, it is Dodger.”
“Where did you come from?”
“From San Francisco. But what have you been doing there?”
“Then I shall get it back at once. How much did you get on it?”
“Five dollars.”
“Give me the ticket, and go in with me.”
The pawnbroker was very reluctant to part with the ring, which he made sure would not be reclaimed31; but there was no help for it.
As they emerged into the street, Dodger said: “I’ve come back to restore you to your rights, and give Curtis Waring the most disagreeable surprise he ever had. Come home, and I’ll tell you all about it. I’ve struck luck, Florence, and you’re going to share it.”
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收听单词发音
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1
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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2
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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3
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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4
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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6
schooling
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| n.教育；正规学校教育 | |
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7
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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8
despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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9
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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10
irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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11
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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12
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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13
munificent
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| adj.慷慨的，大方的 | |
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14
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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15
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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16
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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17
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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18
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
pawnbroker
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| n.典当商，当铺老板 | |
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20
pawn
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| n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押 | |
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21
broker
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| n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排 | |
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22
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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23
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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24
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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25
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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dodger
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| n.躲避者；躲闪者；广告单 | |
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27
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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28
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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29
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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30
pawned
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| v.典当，抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 )；以（某事物）担保 | |
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31
reclaimed
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| adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
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