CHAPTER VI. MR. GILBERT IS ASTONISHED.

 When Dick woke up in the morning the first thing he thought of was his watch, the next the check which he had received from Mr. Rockwell.

 

"I'll go to the bank this morning, and get my money," said he.

 

"How are you going to invest it, Dick?" asked Fosdick.

 

"I don't know," said Dick. "I'll put it in the savings¹ bank till I decide. That'll make more'n eleven hundred dollars. I didn't use to think I ever'd be worth that, when I slept in boxes and old wagons²."

 

"Eleven hundred dollars at six per cent. interest will yield you sixty-six dollars a year."

 

"So it will," said Dick, "and all without working. I tell you what, Fosdick, at this rate I'll soon be a man of fortune."

 

"Yes, if you can make a thousand dollars a day."

 

"I wonder what old Gilbert'll say when he sees it," said Dick.

 

"Who's he?"

 

"He's the book-keeper. He aint very fond of me."

 

"What has he against you?"

 

"He thinks I don't treat him with proper respect," said Dick. "Besides he tried to get his cousin Roswell Crawford in, but he couldn't."

 

"Then it seems both of us have interfered³ with Roswell."

 

"He's got a place now. I guess he's the senior partner by the way he talks."

 

The breakfast-bell rang, and the boys went down to breakfast. Clifton was down already, and was standing⁴ in front of stove. Being an observing young man he at once noticed Dick's watch-chain.

 

"Halloa, Hunter!" said he; "I didn't know you had a watch."

 

"I didn't know it myself till last night," said Dick.

 

"Where did you get it?"

 

"It came from Ball & Black's," said our hero, willing to mystify him.

 

"That's a nice chain,—solid gold, eh?"

 

"Do you think I'd wear anything else?" asked Dick, loftily.

 

"Will you allow me to look at the watch?"

 

"Certainly," said Dick, drawing it from his pocket, and submitting it to Clifton's inspection⁵.

 

"It's a regular beauty," said the young man, enthusiastically. "Do you mind telling how much you paid for it?"

 

"How much do you think?"

 

"A hundred dollars?"

 

"It cost all of that," said Dick, confidently. "If you see one for sale at that price, just let me know, and I'll buy it for a speculation⁶."

 

"You must be getting a pretty good salary to buy such a watch as that."

 

"Pretty good," said Dick, carelessly.

 

Mr. Clifton was rather a shallow young man, who was fond of show, and had a great respect for those who were able to make it. When Dick first came to the boarding-house he looked down upon him as a boy; but now that he proved to be the possessor of an elegant gold watch and chain, and might, therefore, be regarded as in prosperous circumstances, he conceived a high respect for him. The truth was that Clifton himself only got two dollars a week more than Dick, yet he paid eight dollars a week for board, and spent the rest in dress. His reputation among tailors was not the best, being always more ready to order new clothes than to pay for them.

 

While they were talking the rest of the boarders entered, and breakfast commenced. Miss Peyton was there, of course.

 

"How did you find your friends in Madison Avenue last evening, Mr. Hunter?" she inquired.

 

"They were all up and dressed," said Dick. "They sent their partic'lar regards to you."

 

"Oh, you wicked story-teller!" simpered Miss Peyton; "just as if I'd believe such nonsense. Have they got a nice house?"

 

"Beautiful," said Dick. "I haven't seen any like it since I called on Queen Victoria last year."

 

"How is the house furnished?"

 

"Well," said Dick, "as near as I can remember, there's diamonds worked in the carpet, and all the tables and chairs is of gold. They'd be rather hard to set on if it twan't for the velvet⁷ cushions."

 

"Aint you afraid to tell such stories, Mr. Hunter? Mr. Fosdick, you will have to talk to your friend."

 

"I am afraid it wouldn't do much good, Miss Peyton, if you fail to cure him."

 

"Mr. Hunter has just been investing in a handsome watch," remarked Clifton, passing his cup for a second cup of coffee.

 

"Oh, do let me look at it! I dote on watches," said Miss Peyton.

 

"Certainly," said Dick; and he detached the chain from his button-hole, and passed the watch across the table.

 

"It's a perfect little love," said Miss Peyton, enthusiastically. "Isn't it, Mrs. Browning?"

 

"It is very beautiful, certainly," said the landlady⁸. She could not help feeling surprised that Dick, who, it will be remembered, had represented himself at his first visit to be in limited circumstances, and now occupied one of her cheapest rooms, could afford to purchase an article which was evidently so costly⁹.

 

"Where did you buy it, Mr. Hunter?" asked another boarder.

 

"I did not buy it at all," said Dick, deciding to let it be known how it came into his possession. "It was given to me."

 

"Perhaps you'll mention my name to the person that gave it to you," said Mr. Clifton. "If he's got any more to dispose of in that way, I should like to come in for one."

 

"How do you know but it may have come from a lady friend, Mr. Clifton?" said Miss Peyton, slyly.

 

"How is that, Hunter?"

 

"I haven't had any presents from any of my lady friends yet," said Dick. "Perhaps I may some time."

 

"You don't mean anybody in particular, of course, Mr. Hunter?" said Miss Peyton.

 

"Oh, no, of course not."

 

This conversation may seem scarcely worth recording¹⁰, but it will serve to illustrate¹¹ the character of Dick's fellow-boarders. Miss Peyton was rather silly and affected¹², but she was good-natured, and Dick felt more at home with her than he would have done had she been a lady like Mrs. Rockwell, for instance. It got to be the custom with Dick and Fosdick to remain in the parlor¹³ a short time after supper, or rather dinner, for this was the third meal, and Fosdick joined the young lady in singing. Dick unfortunately had not been gifted by nature with a voice attuned¹⁴ to melody, and he participated only as a listener, in which capacity he enjoyed the entertainment.

 

After breakfast Dick set out for the store as usual. He felt unusually happy and independent as he walked along. The check in his pocket made him feel rich. He wondered how it would be best to invest his money so as to yield him the largest return. He wisely decided¹⁵ to take Mr. Murdock, the head clerk, into his confidence, and ask his advice upon this point.

 

When Dick arrived at the store neither Mr. Gilbert nor Mr. Murdock had yet arrived. Half an hour later the latter came, and five minutes after him the book-keeper.

 

The latter noticed that the morning paper appeared to have been disturbed, and, glad of any opportunity to find fault with Dick, said, angrily, "So you've been reading the paper instead of minding your work, have you? I'll report you to Mr. Rockwell."

 

"Thank you," said Dick, "you're very kind. Are you sure I read the paper? Is there any news missin' out of it?"

 

"You're an impudent¹⁶ boy," said the book-keeper, provoked. He wanted to overawe Dick; but somehow Dick wouldn't be overawed. Evidently he did not entertain as much respect for the book-keeper as that gentleman felt to be his due. That a mere¹⁷ errand-boy should bandy words with a gentleman in his position seemed to Mr. Gilbert highly reprehensible¹⁸.

 

"You're an impudent boy!" repeated Gilbert, sharply, finding Dick did not reply to his first charge.

 

"I heard you make that remark before," said Dick, quietly.

 

Now there was nothing out of the way in Dick's tone, which was perfectly¹⁹ respectful, and he only stated a fact; but the book-keeper became still more angry.

 

"Who rumpled²⁰ that paper?" he asked.

 

"Suppose you ask Mr. Murdock?" said Dick.

 

"Did he come in here?" asked Gilbert, cooling down, for it was against Dick that his charge was made, and not against the head clerk. As to the paper, he really cared nothing.

 

"Yes," said Dick.

 

"Then it's all right. I supposed you had been idling your time over the paper. Go and ask Mr. Murdock what time it is. I left my watch at home."

 

"It's half past eight," said Dick, drawing out his watch.

 

Up to this time the book-keeper had not noticed Dick's watch-chain. Now that his attention was drawn²¹ not only to that, but to the beautiful gold watch which Dick carried, he was not a little surprised.

 

"Whose watch is that?" he asked, abruptly²².

 

"Mine," said Dick, briefly²³, rather enjoying the book-keeper's surprise.

 

"How did you come by it?"

 

"Honestly," said Dick.

 

"Is it gold, or only plated?"

 

"It's gold."

 

"Humph! Did you buy it, or was it given you?"

 

"Well," said Dick, "I didn't buy it."

 

"Did you say it was yours?"

 

"Yes."

 

Gilbert looked at Dick in surprise. Our hero was becoming more and more an enigma²⁴ to him. That a boy in Dick's position should have a gold watch given him, especially now that he had learned from his cousin Roswell the nature of Dick's former employment, seemed indeed wonderful.

 

"Let me look at your watch a minute," he said.

 

Dick handed it to him.

 

"It seems to be a very good one," he said.

 

"Yes," said Dick; "I aint proud. It's as good as I want to wear."

 

"It looks entirely²⁵ out of place on such a boy as you," said the book-keeper, sharply.

 

"Perhaps it would look better on you," suggested our hero, innocently.

 

"Yes, it would be more appropriate for me to wear than you. You're not old enough to be trusted with a watch; least of all with such a good one as that."

 

"Perhaps you'd be kind enough to mention it to the one that gave it to me."

 

"Whoever gave it to you didn't show much judgment," said Gilbert, in the same pleasant way. "Who was it?"

 

"It was Mrs. Rockwell."

 

If a bombshell had exploded in the office, it could hardly have taken Gilbert more by surprise.

 

"Who did you say?" he repeated, thinking his ears might have deceived him.

 

"Mrs. Rockwell," said Dick, once more.

 

The book-keeper could hardly suppress a low whistle.

 

"When did she give it to you?"

 

"Last evening."

 

"Were you up there?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Did Mr. Rockwell invite you?"

 

"Yes."

 

Just then Dick was called away by Mr. Murdock, who had some work for him to do.

 

"There's something mighty²⁶ queer in all this," thought the book-keeper. "What Mr. Rockwell can see in that boy, I don't understand. He's an impudent young rascal²⁷, and I'll get him turned off if it's a possible thing."

1 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

2 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。

3 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

7 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

8 landlady   

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。

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

11 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

14 attuned   

v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音

参考例句：

• She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs. 她还没有熟悉她宝宝的需要。
• Women attuned to sensitive men found Vincent Lord attractive. 偏爱敏感男子的女人，觉得文森特·洛德具有魅力。 来自辞典例句

15 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

16 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

17 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

18 reprehensible   

adj.该受责备的

参考例句：

• Lying is not seen as being morally reprehensible in any strong way.人们并不把撒谎当作一件应该大加谴责的事儿。
• It was reprehensible of him to be so disloyal.他如此不忠，应受谴责。

19 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

20 rumpled   

v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She rumpled his hair playfully. 她顽皮地弄乱他的头发。
• The bed was rumpled and strewn with phonograph records. 那张床上凌乱不堪，散放着一些唱片。 来自辞典例句

21 drawn   

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。

22 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

23 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

24 enigma   

n.谜，谜一样的人或事

参考例句：

• I've known him for many years,but he remains something of an enigma to me.我与他相识多年，他仍然难以捉摸。
• Even after all the testimonies,the murder remained a enigma.即使听完了所有的证词，这件谋杀案仍然是一个谜。

25 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

26 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

27 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。