CHAPTER XXIV. DEAN LOSES HIS PARTNER.

 When the two partners returned to the hotel with the proceeds of the entertainment in their pockets, they were in high spirits.

"I feel as rich as Vanderbilt," said Montgomery in exultation¹.

"And I feel like an Astor or a Gould," chimed in Dean. "Peter Kirby did me a good turn when he discharged me."

"Dean, you are star! I had no idea of your talent."

"Don't flatter me, Mr. Montgomery," said Dean blushing. "You will make me self-conceited. I was lucky in falling in with you."

"Well said, my boy! I see you don't grudge² me my share of the credit. We will keep on, will we not?"

"As long as there is any money in it."

"Precisely³. Your hand on that."

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In pursuance of this agreement, three evenings later they gave an entertainment in the town of Cameron, twenty miles away. Circumstances were not as favorable, but they divided twenty dollars net profits.

"We mustn't complain of that, Dean," said his companion. "It isn't as much, to be sure, as we made at Granville."

"But it seems to me ridiculously large for the little I did, Mr. Montgomery."

"You are modest, Dean. That is not artistic⁴. You must set a proper value on your talent."

"I think I do," said Dean, smiling. "I feel very much like a humbug⁵, Mr. Montgomery. A young lady came up to me last evening and asked me if I had played before any of the crowned heads of Europe, and if I were personally acquainted with Queen Victoria."

"I hope you told her you were."

"No, Mr. Montgomery, I shouldn't be willing to tell such a falsehood."

"All business, my dear boy, all business! We must blow our own trumpets⁶ if we want to be appreciated. By the way, what did you tell her?"

"That I had not yet played before the queen, but should I go to England, and could arrange to do so, I would."

164

"Very good! You kept up appearances. What did she say?"

"She asked me if I would get her Queen Victoria's autograph, in that case. She also asked me for my own. I promised her the queen's if I were able to obtain it."

"Didn't she ask for my autograph?" asked Mr. Montgomery, with a twinge of professional jealousy⁷.

"She said she was going to ask you for it."

"I shall be glad to gratify her," said Montgomery, condescendingly. "I am often asked for an autograph."

"That was my first application," said Dean smiling.

"You are not as old as I. Long before you are, your autograph will be in demand."

For three weeks the combination continued to give entertainments, arranging from two to three a week. They did not again meet with the success which had greeted them at Granville, but in almost every case they made expenses, and a fair sum besides. At the end of this time, each of the partners found himself possessed⁸ of about forty dollars.

At the close of a concert at a small town in Missouri, on returning to the hotel, Mr. Montgomery chanced to take up a copy of the New York Herald165 in the office. He ran over the advertisements on the first page, including the "Personals," when all at once his color changed, and he looked agitated⁹.

"What's the matter, Mr. Montgomery?" asked Dean.

"Bad news, my boy!" said the actor sadly. "Look at that!"

Dean read the following among the personals:

CECIL MONTGOMERY, Jr. Come home at once! Your mother is very sick.

"My poor old mother!" said the actor feelingly. "She may be dead by this time. Why couldn't I have seen this notice before?"

"What is the date of the paper?" asked Dean.

"It is five days old."

"I suppose you will go at once."

"Yes, I must. I never would forgive myself if I did not hurry home on the chance of seeing the dear old mother once more."

"You are right, Mr. Montgomery. I would do the same if I were fortunate enough to have a mother living."

"Of course that ends our partnership¹⁰ for the present. Will you go home with me, Dean?"

Dean shook his head.

"No, I have nothing to go home to. It would166 take all my money, and there would be nothing for me to do in Waterford."

"But you can't give entertainments alone."

"I can make my living somehow. I have forty dollars, and that would last me some time even if I got nothing to do."

When Dean bade his companion good-bye at the station the next morning, and turned away, a forlorn feeling came over him, and he felt tempted¹¹ to take the next train East himself. But the thought of going back to Waterford as poor as he started, and with no prospect¹² of employment, braced¹³ him up, and he resolved to push on westward¹⁴ and take his chances. He returned to the hotel, and sat down to consider his plans.

There a pleasant surprise awaited him.

"There's a gentleman to see you, Mr. Dunham," said the clerk.

"Where is he?" asked Dean.

"He went out to make a call in the village but will be back in fifteen minutes. This is his card."

Dean took the card in his hand, and read the name

Samuel Gunnison.

"Any acquaintance of yours?" asked the clerk.

"No; I never heard the name."

167

"I think he wants you to play to-morrow evening. He lives in the next town, Carterville."

"Mr. Montgomery has been called East. I am afraid this will stop our entertainments."

"He did not ask for Mr. Montgomery, only for you."

Mr. Gunnison soon came in. He was a slender, dark complexioned¹⁵ man, with a pleasant face.

"I know you are Dean Dunham," he said, extending his hand, "for I heard you play last evening. Are you engaged for to-morrow?"

"No, sir."

"Then I should like to engage your services. An entertainment is to be given in our town hall for the benefit of our town library. For the most part local talent is employed. We are to have a short play, and a few songs. I, as manager, have thought it would help us if we could advertise you in connection with the home attractions."

"I shall be glad to make an engagement," said Dean pleasantly.

"What would be your terms?" asked Mr. Gunnison a little anxiously.

"How much can you afford to pay me?" asked Dean.

"We would not think of offering a player of your reputation less than ten dollars if it were not desirable168 to make expenses as small as possible, but——"

"Under the circumstances," said Dean, interrupting him, "I will be willing to come for five."

"Thank you, Mr. Dunham. You are very kind," said Mr. Gunnison, warmly, grasping our hero by the hand. "I will try to make it up to you. Instead of going to the hotel you shall be my guest, and your expenses will be nothing. If you are ready I will take you over at once. I have a buggy at the door."

"Thank you, sir, I will accept your kind invitation."

So Dean, feeling less lonesome than he did, secured his valise, and taking a seat beside his new friend, rode in the direction of Carterville. He was destined¹⁶ to meet an old acquaintance there.

1 exultation   

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。

2 grudge   

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。

3 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

4 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

5 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。

6 trumpets   

喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花

参考例句：

• A wreath was laid on the monument to a fanfare of trumpets. 在响亮的号角声中花圈被献在纪念碑前。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

7 jealousy   

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

• Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
• I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

8 possessed   

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。

9 agitated   

adj.被鼓动的，不安的

参考例句：

• His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
• She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。

10 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

11 tempted   

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。

12 prospect   

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。

13 braced   

adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来

参考例句：

• They braced up the old house with balks of timber. 他们用梁木加固旧房子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The house has a wooden frame which is braced with brick. 这幢房子是木结构的砖瓦房。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

15 complexioned   

脸色…的

参考例句：

• My aunt Ablewhite is a large, silent, fair-complexioned woman, with one noteworthy point in her character. 艾伯怀特表姨妈是个身材高大，生性沉默的人，为人有个突出的地方。
• Both were fair complexioned and slenderly made; both possessed faces full of distinction and intelligence. 两人都脸色白皙，身材苗条，两人都相貌非凡、一副聪明的样子。

16 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。