CHAPTER XII. DICK FALLS INTO A TRAP.

 One evening, when Dick and Fosdick returned from their respective stores, a surprise awaited them.

 

"The postman left some letters for you," said the servant, as she opened the door to admit them.

 

"Maybe they're from the tax-collectors," said Dick. "That's the misfortun' of being men of property. What was your tax last year, Fosdick?"

 

"I don't remember such trifles," said Fosdick.

 

"I don't think they was taxes," said the girl, seriously; "they looked as if they was from a young lady."

 

"Very likely they are from Fosdick's wife," said Dick. "She's rusticatin' in the country for the benefit of her health."

 

"Maybe they're from yours, Mr. Hunter," said the girl, laughing.

 

"No," said Dick, gravely, "I'm a disconsolate¹ widower², which accounts for my low spirits most of the time, and my poor appetite. Where are the letters?"

 

"I left them on the bureau in your room," said the servant. "They come this afternoon at three o'clock."

 

Both Fosdick and Dick felt not a little curious as to who could have written them letters, and hastened upstairs. Entering their chamber³, they saw two very neat little notes, in perfumed French envelopes, and with the initial G in colors on the back. On opening them they read the following in a neat, feminine, fine handwriting. As both were alike, it will be sufficient to give Dick's.

 

"Miss Ida Greyson presents her compliments to Mr. Richard Hunter, and solicits⁴ the pleasure of his company on Thursday evening next, at a little birthday party.

 

"No. — West Twenty-Fourth Street."

 

"We're getting fashionable," said Dick. "I didn't use to attend many parties when we lived in Mott Street and blacked boots for a livin'. I'm afraid I shan't know how to behave."

 

"I shall feel a little bashful," said Fosdick; "but I suppose we've got to begin some time."

 

"Of course," said Dick. "The important position we hold in society makes it necessary. How'll I be able to hold levees when I'm mayor, if I don't go into society now?"

 

"Very true," said Fosdick; "I don't expect to occupy any such position; but we ought to go in acknowledgment of Mr. Greyson's kindness."

 

Mr. Greyson was the teacher of the Sunday-school class of which both Dick and Fosdick were members. His recommendation had procured⁵ Fosdick his present place, and he had manifested his kindness in various ways. Those who have read "Ragged⁶ Dick" will remember that he had a very sprightly⁷ and engaging daughter of ten years of age, who seemed to have taken an especial fancy to Dick. Being wealthy, his kindness had been of great service to both boys, inspiring them with self-respect, and encouraging them to persevere⁸ in their efforts to raise themselves to a higher position.

 

The dinner-bell rang just as the boys had finished their discussion, and they went down and took places at the table.

 

Soon Miss Peyton came sailing in, shaking her ringlets coquettishly. She was proud of these ringlets, and was never tired of trying their fascinations⁹ upon gentlemen. But somehow they had not succeeded in winning a husband.

 

"Good-evening, Mr. Hunter," said she. "You look as if you had had good news."

 

"Do I?" said Dick. "Perhaps you can tell what it is."

 

"I know how it came," said Miss Peyton, significantly.

 

"Then I hope you won't keep me in suspense¹⁰ any longer than you can help."

 

"Perhaps you'd rather I wouldn't mention before company."

 

"Never mind," said Dick. "Don't have any regard to my feelin's. They're tough, and can stand a good deal."

 

"How do you like the letter G?" asked Miss Peyton, slyly.

 

"Very much," said Dick, "as long as it behaves itself. What is your favorite letter?"

 

"Don't think I'm going to tell you, Mr. Hunter. That was a pretty little note, and in a young lady's hand too."

 

"Yes," said Dick. "Perhaps you'd like to see it."

 

"You wouldn't show it to me on any account, I know."

 

"You may see it if you like," said Dick.

 

"May I, really? I should like to very much; but would the young lady like it?"

 

"I don't think she'd mind. She's written one to my friend Fosdick just like it."

 

Dick passed the invitation across the table.

 

"It's very pretty indeed," said Miss Peyton. "And is Miss Ida Greyson very handsome?"

 

"I'm no judge of beauty," said Dick.

 

"So she lives in West Twenty-Fourth Street. Is her father rich?"

 

"I don't know how rich," said Dick; "but my impression is that his taxes last year were more than mine."

 

"I know now what your favorite letters are," said Miss Peyton. "They are I. G."

 

"I. G. are very well as long as you don't put P. before them," said Dick. "Thank you for another cup of tea, Mrs. Browning."

 

"I should think you'd need some tea after such a brilliant effort, Hunter," said Mr. Clifton, from across the table.

 

"Yes," said Dick. "I find my brain gets exhausted¹¹ every now and then by my intellectual efforts. Aint you troubled that way?"

 

"Can't say I am. Don't you want to go out and try a game of billiards¹² this evening?"

 

"No, thank you. I've got to study."

 

"I expect to see you a college professor some of these days."

 

"I haven't made up my mind yet," said Dick. "I'm open to an offer, as the oyster¹³ remarked when he was placed on the table. If I can serve my fellow-men best by bein' a college professor, and gettin' a big salary, I'm willin' to sacrifice my private feelin's for the public good."

 

"Do you agree with your friend, Mr. Fosdick?" said Miss Peyton. "Won't you favor us with your views?"

 

"I have none worth mentioning," said Fosdick. "I leave my friend to do the talking, while I attend to the eating."

 

"Mr. Hunter's remarks are very entertaining," said Miss Peyton.

 

"Thank you," said Dick; "but my friend prefers a different kind of entertainment."

 

The boys rose from the table, and went up to their room to look over the evening's lessons. They were quite pleased with their new teacher, whom they found not only competent for his task, but interested in promoting their progress. He was able to help them readily out of their difficulties, and encouraged them to persevere. So they came to look forward to their evening lessons not as tasks, but as pleasant exercises.

 

"It's strange," said Dick, one evening after the teacher had left them; "I used to enjoy goin' to the Old Bowery so much. I went two or three times a week sometimes. Now I would a good deal rather stay at home and study."

 

"Then you didn't have a home, and the lighted theatre must have been much pleasanter than the cold and cheerless streets."

 

"Yes, that was it. I used to get so tired sometimes of having no home to go to, and nobody to speak to that I cared about."

 

"You'd hardly like to go back to the old life, Dick?"

 

"No, it would come pretty hard to me now. I didn't seem to mind it so much then."

 

"Because you had never known anything better."

 

"No. It was a lucky day when I met you, Fosdick. I'd never have had the patience to learn. Readin', or tryin' to read, always gave me the headache."

 

"You always leave off the last letter in such words as 'reading,' Dick. You should be more careful, now that you associate with educated persons."

 

"I know it, Fosdick, but I'm so used to droppin'—I mean dropping—the g that it comes natural. I will try to remember it. But about this party,—shall we have to get new clothes?"

 

"No, we have each a nice suit, and we shan't be expected to dress in the height of the fashion."

 

"I wish it was over. I dread¹⁴ it."

 

"So do I a little; but I think we shall enjoy it. Ida is a nice girl."

 

"That's so. If I had a sister I'd like her to be like Ida."

 

"Perhaps she'd like a brother like you. I notice she seems to fancy your company."

 

"I hope you're not jealous, Fosdick. You can be a brother to Miss Peyton, you know."

 

Fosdick laughed. "There's no chance for me there either," he said. "She evidently prefers you."

 

"I'll adopt her for my aunt if it'll be gratifying to her feelings," said Dick; "but I aint partial to ringlets as a general thing."

 

It is well perhaps that Miss Peyton did not hear these remarks, as she cherished the idea that both Fosdick and Dick were particularly pleased with her.

 

A day or two afterwards Dick was walking leisurely¹⁵ through Chatham Street, about half past one o'clock. He was allowed an hour, about noon, to go out and get some lunch, and he was now on his way from the restaurant which he usually frequented. As it was yet early, he paused before a window to look at something which attracted his attention. While standing¹⁶ here he became conscious of a commotion¹⁷ in his immediate¹⁸ neighborhood. Then he felt a hand thrust into the side-pocket of his coat, and instantly withdrawn¹⁹. Looking up, he saw Micky Maguire dodging²⁰ round the corner. He put his hand into his pocket mechanically, and drew out a pocket-book.

 

Just then a stout²¹, red-faced man came up puffing²², and evidently in no little excitement.

 

"Seize that boy!" he gasped²³, pointing to Dick. "He's got my pocket-book."

 

Contrary to the usual rule in such cases, a policeman did happen to be about, and, following directions, stepped up, and laid his hand on Dick's shoulder.

 

"You must go with me, my fine fellow," he said "Hand over that pocket-book, if you please."

 

"What's all this about?" said Dick. "Here's the pocket-book, if it is yours. I'm sure I don't want it."

 

"You're a cool hand," said the guardian²⁴ of the public peace. "If you don't want it, what made you steal it from this gentleman's pocket?"

 

"I didn't take it," said Dick, shortly.

 

"Is this the boy that stole your pocket-book?" demanded the policeman of the red-faced man, who had now recovered his breath.

 

"It's the very young rascal²⁵. Does he pretend to deny it?"

 

"Of course he does. They always do."

 

"When it was found on him too! I never knew such barefaced²⁶ impudence²⁷."

 

"Stop a minute," said Dick, "while I explain. I was standing looking in at that window, when I felt something thrust into my pocket. I took it out and found it to be that pocket-book. Just then that gentleman came up, and charged me with the theft."

 

"That's a likely story," said the officer. "If any one put the pocket-book into your pocket, it shows you were a confederate of his. You'll have to come with me."

 

And poor Dick, for the first time in his life, was marched to the station-house, followed by his accuser, and a gang of boys. Among these last, but managing to keep at a respectful distance, was Micky Maguire.

1 disconsolate   

adj.忧郁的，不快的

参考例句：

• He looked so disconsolate that It'scared her.他看上去情绪很坏，吓了她一跳。
• At the dress rehearsal she was disconsolate.彩排时她闷闷不乐。

2 widower   

n.鳏夫

参考例句：

• George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。
• Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后，他终于决定二婚了。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 solicits   

恳请

参考例句：

• They were planning to solicit funds from a number of organizations. 他们正计划向一些机构募集资金。
• May I solicit your advice on a matter of some importance? 我有一件要事可以请教你吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 procured   

v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条

参考例句：

• These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》

6 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

7 sprightly   

adj.愉快的，活泼的

参考例句：

• She is as sprightly as a woman half her age.她跟比她年轻一半的妇女一样活泼。
• He's surprisingly sprightly for an old man.他这把年纪了，还这么精神，真了不起。

8 persevere   

v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• They are determined to persevere in the fight.他们决心坚持战斗。
• It is strength of character enabled him to persevere.他那坚强的性格使他能够坚持不懈。

9 fascinations   

n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉

参考例句：

• The fascinations of the circus are endless. 马戏表演非常吸引人。 来自辞典例句
• He held the children spellbound with magic tricks and other fascinations. 他使那些孩子沉浸在魔术和其他魅力中。 来自互联网

10 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

11 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

12 billiards   

n.台球

参考例句：

• John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
• Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。

13 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

14 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

15 leisurely   

adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的

参考例句：

• We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
• He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

16 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。

17 commotion   

n.骚动，动乱

参考例句：

• They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。
• Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。

18 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

19 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

20 dodging   

n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避

参考例句：

• He ran across the road, dodging the traffic. 他躲开来往的车辆跑过马路。
• I crossed the highway, dodging the traffic. 我避开车流穿过了公路。 来自辞典例句

22 puffing   

v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

24 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

25 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。

26 barefaced   

adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的

参考例句：

• It's barefaced robbery asking such a high price for that old bicycle!那辆旧自行车要价如此之高真是无耻的敲诈。
• What barefaced cheek!真是厚颜无耻！

27 impudence   

n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼

参考例句：

• His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
• What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。