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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Chester Rand or The New Path to Fortune » CHAPTER XXV. CHESTER MEETS ANOTHER ARTIST.
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CHAPTER XXV. CHESTER MEETS ANOTHER ARTIST.
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 "Where do you wish me to work?" asked Chester, after a pause.
 
"You can work at home, but you can call at the office every day to leave your work and receive instructions."
 
"All right, sir. When do you wish me to commence?"
 
"At once. Have you any work ready? I asked because we want to get out the first number as soon as possible."
 
"I have one sketch1 and have several ideas jotted2 down."
 
"Good! Deliver as much as possible to-morrow."
 
Chester returned home in a high state of exultation3. He would be paid less for individual sketches4, but, on the other hand, he would have a steady income and an assured market for all he might produce. It seemed a wonderful promotion5 from five dollars a week to twenty-five. To be sure, when in the real estate office he had picked up extra compensation for outside work, but this was precarious6 and could not be depended on. With twenty-five dollars a week he would feel rich. This set him to considering that he must have a better room if he was to do work at home. In the same house where he now occupied a hall bedroom was a large, square room well lighted with two windows, well furnished and having a good writing desk, left by some previous tenant7 in part payment of arrears8 of rent, which he could have for five dollars a week. He had often thought he would like to occupy it, and wished he might find an agreeable roommate who would share the expense with him. Now he felt that he could bear the expense alone. He lost no time in securing it and moving his few belongings9 in.
 
Mrs. Crosby, his landlady10, was rather surprised.
 
"You must be doing well," she said.
 
Chester smiled.
 
"I have been discharged from my position in the real estate office," he said.
 
"Then," said the landlady, in some dismay, "isn't it imprudent to take a more expensive room?"
 
"I have secured a much better place."
 
"Oh! that alters the case. Is it likely to be permanent?"
 
"If I lose it I will go back to my old room."
 
"I am sure I am glad to hear of your good luck, Mr. Rand. It is very seldom that a young man of your age——"
 
"Call me a boy. I am not a young man yet."
 
"You seem to be getting on as well as a young man. I think you are real smart."
 
"You mustn't flatter me, Mrs. Crosby. You will make me vain. I forgot to say that I shall be a considerable part of the time in my room. That is why I want a larger one."
 
"But when will you work?" asked the landlady, puzzled.
 
"I shall work in my room."
 
"But what work can you do there?"
 
"I am an artist; that is, I am to make drawings for a new magazine."
 
"You don't say so? Will that pay?"
 
"Very handsomely."
 
"I hope you will show me some of them. I never met an artist before."
 
"I am afraid I am not much of an artist. I can show you one of my pictures now."
 
Chester took from the table a number of Puck and pointed11 out a sketch.
 
"That's pretty good," said the landlady. "You wouldn't get more than thirty-five cents for such a picture, would you?"
 
"I was paid five dollars for that."
 
"Do tell!" exclaimed Mrs. Crosby, who was brought up in a country town and still used some of the expressions which were familiar to her in early days. "I can't hardly believe it. It seems foolish to pay so much for such a little thing."
 
"I don't think it foolish, Mrs. Crosby. It must pay them, or they wouldn't keep on doing it."
 
Chester moved into his new room and enjoyed his ample accommodations very much. The next day he went to the office of The Ph?nix and carried in two sketches. They were fortunate enough to win the approval of the editor.
 
"I see you are practical and understand what we want, Mr. Rand," he said. Just behind Chester was a man of fifty, rather shabby and neglectful in his personal appearance. He might be described as an artist going to seed. Whatever talent he might have had originally had been dulled and obscured by chronic12 intemperance13.
 
"Excuse me, sir," he said, deferentially14, "but I would like to submit a couple of sketches. I am Guy Radcliff."
 
"Glad to see you, Mr. Radcliff. Let me examine them."
 
"I am afraid," said the editor, after a brief examination, "that these are not quite what we want."
 
"Is it possible?" exclaimed Mr. Radcliff, indignantly. "You scorn my work, yet accept the sketches of that boy!" pointing at Chester with withering15 contempt.
 
"Because he has given me what I want."
 
"I was a famous artist before he was born."
 
"Very likely, and had done good work. But this is not good work."
 
"Sir!"
 
"My dear sir, don't be offended. I don't care for the age of any of my contributors. I know something of your famous successes, and I hope next time to approve and buy what you bring me."
 
Mr. Radcliff seemed only half propitiated16. He and Chester went out together.
 
"What is your name, boy?" asked the artist.
 
"Chester Rand."
 
"I never heard of you."
 
"I am only a beginner," said Chester, modestly.
 
"You seem to have got in with Fleming."
 
"I may not keep in with him."
 
"Are you doing pretty well?"
 
"Yes, for a boy."
 
"Have you got a loose quarter about you? I haven't done much work lately, and am hard up."
 
Chester took half a dollar from his pocket and handed it to the elder man. His compassion17 was stirred as he felt for Radcliff's humiliation18 in being obliged to make such an appeal to a boy like himself.
 
"Thank you. You're a gentleman. I'll return it soon," said Radcliff, looking relieved. "Good luck to you! You're a good fellow, after all."
 
"I wish you good luck, too, Mr. Radcliff."
 
Chester did not need to be told what had brought the elder artist into such an impecunious19 condition. His face with its unnatural20 flush showed that his habits had been far from creditable.
 
"If I needed anything to keep me from drinking, Mr. Radcliff's example would be sufficient," thought Chester. He had before now been invited to take a drink at some convenient saloon, but he had never been tempted21 to do so.
 
Two days later Chester was walking through union Square when he came face to face with Felix Gordon.
 
Felix espied22 him first.
 
"Hello! Chester," said his successor.
 
"Hello! I didn't see you."
 
"I envy you."
 
"Why?"
 
"You have nothing to do but to enjoy yourself," answered Felix, significantly.
 
"Oh, that's it!" said Chester, smiling. He saw that Felix thought him to be out of employment.
 
"That was the case with you before you succeeded me in the real estate office. How do you like it?"
 
"Pretty well, but I think I ought to get more salary. You got five dollars, didn't you?"
 
"Yes."
 
"I will try and get six when Mr. Fairchild gets back."
 
"I wish you success."
 
"You don't feel any grudge23 against me for taking your place?"
 
"No; it wasn't you who got me discharged."
 
"I thought you'd be in to get a letter of recommendation from cousin David."
 
"Would he give me one?"
 
"I don't know. Are you trying to get a place?"
 
"No."
 
Felix looked surprised.
 
"You ain't rich, are you?" he asked.
 
"No; what makes you ask?"
 
"I don't see how you can live without any salary."
 
"I couldn't. I ought to tell you that I have got a place."
 
"You have?" exclaimed Felix, in surprise, and it must be confessed, disappointment.
 
"Yes."
 
"Where is it?"
 
"In the office of a new paper."
 
"What is it?"
 
"The Ph?nix, a comic paper just started."
 
"Where is the office?"
 
"In Nassau Street."
 
"Then why are you not there?"
 
"I don't have to be there all the time."
 
"Do you get good pay?"
 
"Yes."
 
"How much?"
 
"I get more than I did at the real estate office."
 
"You don't say!"
 
"Yes. I was in luck."
 
"Do you get six dollars?"
 
"More. I don't care to tell you just how much I get."
 
"By the way, there was an old man in the office yesterday inquiring after you."
 
"Did he give his name?"
 
"Yes. He said his name was Silas Tripp."
 
"What on earth brought Mr. Tripp to New York?" Chester asked himself.
 
This question will be answered in the next chapter.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 sketch UEyyG     
n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述
参考例句:
  • My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
  • I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。
2 jotted 501a1ce22e59ebb1f3016af077784ebd     
v.匆忙记下( jot的过去式和过去分词 );草草记下,匆匆记下
参考例句:
  • I jotted down her name. 我匆忙记下了她的名字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The policeman jotted down my address. 警察匆匆地将我的地址记下。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3 exultation wzeyn     
n.狂喜,得意
参考例句:
  • It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字,他屏住呼吸,乐得脸上放光。
  • He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
4 sketches 8d492ee1b1a5d72e6468fd0914f4a701     
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概
参考例句:
  • The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
  • You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传
参考例句:
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级,加了薪。
6 precarious Lu5yV     
adj.不安定的,靠不住的;根据不足的
参考例句:
  • Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
  • He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家,他过得是朝不保夕的生活。
7 tenant 0pbwd     
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用
参考例句:
  • The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
  • The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
8 arrears IVYzQ     
n.到期未付之债,拖欠的款项;待做的工作
参考例句:
  • The payments on that car loan are in arrears by three months.购车贷款的偿付被拖欠了三个月。
  • They are urgent for payment of arrears of wages.他们催讨拖欠的工钱。
9 belongings oy6zMv     
n.私人物品,私人财物
参考例句:
  • I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
  • Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。
10 landlady t2ZxE     
n.女房东,女地主
参考例句:
  • I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
  • The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。
11 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
12 chronic BO9zl     
adj.(疾病)长期未愈的,慢性的;极坏的
参考例句:
  • Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
  • Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。
13 intemperance intemperance     
n.放纵
参考例句:
  • Health does not consist with intemperance. 健康与纵欲[无节制]不能相容。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She accepted his frequent intemperance as part of the climate. 对于他酗酒的恶习,她安之若素。 来自辞典例句
14 deferentially 90c13fae351d7697f6aaf986af4bccc2     
adv.表示敬意地,谦恭地
参考例句:
  • "Now, let me see,'said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie's shoulder very deferentially. “来,让我瞧瞧你的牌。”赫斯渥说着,彬彬有礼地从嘉莉背后看过去。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • He always acts so deferentially around his supervisor. 他总是毕恭毕敬地围着他的上司转。 来自互联网
15 withering 8b1e725193ea9294ced015cd87181307     
使人畏缩的,使人害羞的,使人难堪的
参考例句:
  • She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
  • The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。
16 propitiated 294248c439139efd4201a3ebee88908f     
v.劝解,抚慰,使息怒( propitiate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
17 compassion 3q2zZ     
n.同情,怜悯
参考例句:
  • He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
  • Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
18 humiliation Jd3zW     
n.羞辱
参考例句:
  • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
  • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
19 impecunious na1xG     
adj.不名一文的,贫穷的
参考例句:
  • He is impecunious,does not know anyone who can lend mony.他身无分文,也不认识任何可以借钱的人。
  • They are independent,impecunious and able to tolerate all degrees of discomfort.他们独立自主,囊中羞涩,并且能够忍受各种不便。
20 unnatural 5f2zAc     
adj.不自然的;反常的
参考例句:
  • Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗?
  • She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。
21 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚,但还是没开口。
  • I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。
22 espied 980e3f8497fb7a6bd10007d67965f9f7     
v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日,她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了,她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子,现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句
23 grudge hedzG     
n.不满,怨恨,妒嫉;vt.勉强给,不情愿做
参考例句:
  • I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
  • I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。


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