“This is a young friend of mine, Hannah,” said her master. “Welcome him for my sake.”
“I am glad to see you,” said Hannah, in a voice that was another amazement5. It was deeper than that of most men.
“Thank you,” said Carl.
“What am I to call you?” asked Hannah.
“Carl Crawford.”
“That’s a strange name.”
“It is not common, I believe.”
“You two will get acquainted by and by,” said Mr. Jennings. “The most interesting question at present is, when will dinner be ready?”
“Carl and I are both famished8. We have had considerable exercise,” here he nodded at Carl with a comical look, and Carl understood that he referred in part to his contest with the tramp.
Hannah disappeared into the kitchen, and Mr. Jennings said: “Come upstairs, Carl. I will show you your room.”
Up an old-fashioned stairway Carl followed his host, and the latter opened the door of a side room on the first landing. It was not large, but was neat and comfortable. There was a cottage bedstead, a washstand, a small bureau and a couple of chairs.
“I hope you will come to feel at home here,” said Mr. Jennings, kindly.
“Thank you, sir. I am sure I shall,” Carl responded, gratefully.
“There are some nails to hang your clothing on,” went on Mr. Jennings, and then he stopped short, for it was clear that Carl’s small gripsack could not contain an extra suit, and he felt delicate at calling up in the boy’s mind the thought of his poverty.
“Thank you, sir,” said Carl. “I left my trunk at the house of a friend, and if you should succeed in finding me a place, I will send for it.”
“That is well!” returned Mr. Jennings, looking relieved. “Now I will leave you for a few moments. You will find water and towels, in case you wish to wash before dinner.”
Carl was glad of the opportunity. He was particular about his personal appearance, and he felt hot and dusty. He bathed his face and hands, carefully dusted his suit, brushed his hair, and was ready to descend9 when he heard the tinkling10 of a small bell at the foot of the front stairs.
He readily found his way into the neat dining-room at the rear of the parlor11. Mr. Jennings sat at the head of the table, a little giant, diminutive12 in stature13, but with broad shoulders, a large head, and a powerful frame. Opposite him sat Hannah, tall, stiff and upright as a grenadier. She formed a strange contrast to her employer.
“I wonder what made him hire such a tall woman?” thought Carl. “Being so small himself, her size makes him look smaller.”
There was a chair at one side, placed for Carl.
“Sit down there, Carl,” said Mr. Jennings. “I won’t keep you waiting any longer than I can help. What have you given us to-day, Hannah?”
“Roast beef,” answered Hannah in her deep tones.
“There is nothing better.”
The host cut off a liberal slice for Carl, and passed the plate to Hannah, who supplied potatoes, peas and squash. Carl’s mouth fairly watered as he watched the hospitable14 preparations for his refreshment15.
“I never trouble myself about what we are to have on the table,” said Mr. Jennings. “Hannah always sees to that. She’s knows just what I want. She is a capital cook, too, Hannah is.”
Hannah looked pleased at this compliment.
“You are easily pleased, master,” she said.
“I should be hard to suit if I were not pleased with your cooking. You don’t know so well Carl’s taste, but if there is anything he likes particularly he can tell you.”
“You are very kind, sir,” said Carl.
“There are not many men who would treat a poor boy so considerately,” he thought. “He makes me an honored guest.”
When dinner was over, Mr. Jennings invited Carl to accompany him on a walk. They passed along the principal street, nearly every person they met giving the little man a cordial greeting.
“He seems to be very popular,” thought Carl.
At length they reached the manufactory. Mr. Jennings went into the office, followed by Carl.
A slender, dark-complexioned man, about thirty-five years of age, sat on a stool at a high desk. He was evidently the bookkeeper.
“Any letters, Mr. Gibbon?” asked Mr. Jennings.
“Yes, sir; here are four.”
“Where are they from?”
“What do they relate to?”
“Orders. I have handed them to Mr. Potter.”
Potter, as Carl afterwards learned, was superintendent17 of the manufactory, and had full charge of practical details.
“Is there anything requiring my personal attention?”
“No, sir; I don’t think so.”
“By the way, Mr. Gibbon, let me introduce you to a young friend of mine—Carl Crawford.”
The bookkeeper rapidly scanned Carl’s face and figure. It seemed to Carl that the scrutiny18 was not a friendly one.
“I am glad to see you,” said Mr. Gibbon, coldly.
“Thank you, sir.”
“By the way, Mr. Jennings,” said the bookkeeper, “I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Go on, Mr. Gibbon,” rejoined his employer, in a cordial tone.
“Two months since you gave my nephew, Leonard Craig, a place in the factory.”
“Yes; I remember.”
“I don’t think the work agrees with him.”
“He seemed a strong, healthy boy.”
“He has never been used to confinement19, and it affects him unpleasantly.”
“Does he wish to resign his place?”
“I have been wondering whether you would not be willing to transfer him to the office. I could send him on errands, to the post office, and make him useful in various ways.”
“I had not supposed an office boy was needed. Still, if you desire it, I will try your nephew in the place.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I am bound to tell you, however, that his present place is a better one. He is learning a good trade, which, if he masters it, will always give him a livelihood20. I learned a trade, and owe all I have to that.”
“True, Mr. Jennings, but there are other ways of earning a living.”
“Certainly.”
“And I thought of giving Leonard evening instruction in bookkeeping.”
“That alters the case. Good bookkeepers are always in demand. I have no objection to your trying the experiment.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Have you mentioned the matter to your nephew?”
“I just suggested that I would ask you, but could not say what answer you would give.”
“It would have been better not to mention the matter at all till you could tell him definitely that he could change his place.”
“I don’t know but you are right, sir. However, it is all right now.”
“Now, Carl,” said Mr. Jennings, “I will take you into the workroom.”
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收听单词发音
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1
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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2
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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3
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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4
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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5
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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6
spoke
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| 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 | |
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7
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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8
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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9
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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10
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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11
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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12
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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13
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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14
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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15
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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16
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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17
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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18
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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19
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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20
livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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