CHAPTER XVI. ROSWELL CRAWFORD RETIRES FROM BUSINESS.

 "Can you send this home for me?" asked a lady in Hall & Turner's store about three o'clock in the afternoon of the day on which Dick, as we have related, was arrested.

 

"Certainly, madam. Where shall it be sent?" asked the clerk.

 

"No. 47 West Fortieth Street," was the reply.

 

"Very well, it shall be sent up immediately. Here, Roswell."

 

Roswell Crawford came forward not very willingly. He had no great liking¹ for the task which he saw would be required of him. Fortieth Street was at least a mile and a half distant, and he had already just returned from a walk in a different direction. Besides, the bundle was a large one, containing three dress patterns. He did not think it very suitable for a gentleman's son to be seen carrying such a large bundle through the streets.

 

"Why don't you send Edward?" he said, complainingly. "He doesn't do half as much as I."

 

"I shall send whom I please," said the clerk, sharply. "You wouldn't do anything if you could help it."

 

"I won't carry bundles much longer," said Roswell. "You put all the heaviest bundles off upon me."

 

Roswell's back being turned, he did not observe Mr. Turner, who had come up as he was speaking.

 

"What are you complaining about?" asked that gentleman.

 

Roswell turned, and colored a little when he saw his employer.

 

"What is the matter?" repeated Mr. Turner.

 

"Mr. Evans always gives me the largest bundles to carry," said Roswell.

 

"He is always complaining of having to carry bundles," said the clerk. "He says it isn't suitable work for a gentleman's son."

 

"I have noticed it," said Mr. Turner. "On the whole, I think, Mr. Crawford," he said, with mock deference², "I think you have mistaken your vocation³ in entering a dry-goods store. I advise you to seek some more gentlemanly employment. At the end of the week, you are at liberty to leave my employment for one better suited to you."

 

"I'm ready to go now," said Roswell, sulkily.

 

"Very well; if you desire it, I will not insist upon your remaining. If you will come up to the desk, you shall receive what is due you."

 

It was somewhat humiliating to Roswell to feel that his services were so readily dispensed⁴ with. Still he had never liked the place, and heartily⁵ disliked carrying bundles. By going at once, he would get rid of the large bundle to be carried to West Fortieth Street. Congratulating himself, therefore, on the whole, on escaping from what he regarded as a degrading servitude, he walked up to the desk in a dignified⁶ manner, and received the wages due him.

 

"I hope you will find some more congenial employment," said Mr. Turner, who paid him the amount of his wages.

 

"I have no doubt I shall," said Roswell, loftily. "My father was a gentleman, and our family has considerable influence."

 

"Well, I wish you success. Good-by."

 

"Good-by," said Roswell, and walked out of the shop with head erect⁷.

 

He did not quite like going home at once, as explanation would be rather awkward under the circumstances. He accordingly crossed over to Fifth Avenue, considering that the most suitable promenade⁸ for a gentleman's son. He could not help regarding with some envy the happy possessors of the elegant buildings which he passed. Why had partial Fate denied him that fortune which would have enabled him to live in this favored locality?

 

"Plenty of snobs⁹ have got money," he thought. "How much better I could use it than they! I wish I were rich! You wouldn't catch me slaving my life out in a dry-goods store, or any other."

 

This was undoubtedly¹⁰ true. Work of any kind had no charms for Roswell. To walk up the avenue swinging a dandy cane¹¹, dressed in the height of the fashion, or, what was better yet, sitting back luxuriously¹² in an elegant carriage drawn¹³ by a dashing span; such was what he regarded himself most fit for. But, unfortunately, he was not very likely to realize his wishes. The desire to enjoy wealth doesn't bring it, and the tastes of a gentleman are not a very good stock to begin life with. So Roswell sauntered along in rather a discontented frame of mind until he reached Madison Park, where he sat down on a bench, and listlessly watched some boys who were playing there.

 

"Hallo, Roswell!" said one of his acquaintances, coming up by chance. "How do you happen to be here?"

 

"Why shouldn't I be here?"

 

"I thought you were in a store somewhere on Sixth Avenue."

 

"Well, I was, but I have left it."

 

"When did you leave it?"

 

"To-day."

 

"Got sacked, hey?"

 

"Sacked," in the New York vernacular¹⁴, means discharged from a place. The idea of having it supposed that he had been "sacked" was not pleasing to Roswell's pride. He accordingly answered, "I never was 'sacked' in my life. Besides, it's a low word, and I never use it."

 

"Well, you know what I mean. Did they turn you off?"

 

"No, they didn't. They would have been glad to have me stay."

 

"Why didn't you then?"

 

"I didn't like the business."

 

"Dry goods,—wasn't it?"

 

"Yes, a retail¹⁵ dry-goods store. If I ever go into that line again, it'll be in a wholesale¹⁶ store. There's a chance there for a man to rise."

 

"You don't call yourself a man yet,—do you?"

 

"I call myself a gentleman," said Roswell, shortly.

 

"What are you going to do now?"

 

"I'm in no hurry about a new place. I shall look round a little."

 

"Well, success to you. I must be getting back to the shop."

 

"What are you doing?"

 

"I'm learning a trade."

 

"Oh!" said Roswell, turning up his nose slightly, which was quite easy for him to do, as nature had given that organ an upward turn. He thought all trades low, and resolved hereafter to hold as little communication as possible with the boy who had so far demeaned himself as to be learning one. That was worse than being in a dry-goods store, and carrying around bundles.

 

Towards six o'clock Roswell rose from his seat, and sauntered towards Clinton Place, which was nearly a mile distant. He entered the house a little before dinner.

 

"Are you not earlier than usual, Roswell?" asked his mother.

 

"I've left the store," he said, abruptly¹⁷.

 

"Left the store!" echoed his mother, in some dismay. "Why?"

 

"Because they don't know how to treat me. It's no fit place for a gentleman's son."

 

"I am sorry, Roswell," said Mrs. Crawford, who, like her son, was "poor and proud," and found the four dollars he earned weekly of advantage. "I'm afraid you have been foolish."

 

"Listen, mother, and I'll tell you all about it," he said.

 

Roswell gave his explanation, which, it need hardly be said, was very favorable to himself, and Mrs. Crawford was finally brought to believe that Hall & Turner were low people, with whom it was not suitable for one of her son's gentlemanly tastes to be placed. His vindication¹⁸ was scarcely over, when the bell rang, and his Cousin Gilbert was admitted.

 

Mr. Gilbert entered briskly, and with a smiling face. He felt unusually complaisant¹⁹, having succeeded in his designs against our hero.

 

"Well, James," said Mrs. Crawford, "you look in better spirits than I feel."

 

"What's happened amiss?"

 

"Roswell has given up his place."

 

"Been discharged, you mean."

 

"No," said Roswell, "I left the place of my own accord."

 

"What for?"

 

"I don't like the firm, nor the business. I wish I were in Mr. Rockwell's."

 

"Well," said Gilbert, "perhaps I can get you in there."

 

"Has the boot-black left?"

 

"He's found another place," said Gilbert, smiling at what he regarded as a good joke.

 

"You don't mean to say he has left a place where he was earning ten dollars a week?" said Mrs. Crawford, in surprise. "Where is this new place that you speak of?"

 

"In the station-house."

 

"Is he in the station-house?" asked Roswell, eagerly.

 

"That is what I hear."

 

"What's he been doing?"

 

"Charged with picking a pocket."

 

"Well, I do hope Mr. Rockwell will now see his folly²⁰ in engaging a boy from the streets," said Mrs. Crawford, charitably concluding that there was no doubt of our hero's guilt²¹.

 

"What'll be done with him, Cousin James?" asked Roswell.

 

"He'll be sent to the Island, I suppose."

 

"He may get clear."

 

"I think not. Circumstances are very much against him, I hear."

 

"And will you try to get me in, Cousin James?"

 

"I'll do what I can. Perhaps it may be well for you to drop in to-morrow about ten o'clock."

 

"All right,—I'll do it."

 

Both Mrs. Crawford's and Roswell's spirits revived wonderfully, and Mr. Gilbert, too, seemed unusually lively. And all because poor Dick had got into difficulties, and seemed in danger of losing both his place and his good name.

 

"It's lucky I left Hall & Turner's just as I did!" thought Roswell, complacently²². "May be they'd like to engage the boot-black when he gets out of prison. But I guess he'll have to go back to blacking boots. That's what he's most fit for."

1 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

2 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

3 vocation   

n.职业，行业

参考例句：

• She struggled for years to find her true vocation.她多年来苦苦寻找真正适合自己的职业。
• She felt it was her vocation to minister to the sick.她觉得照料病人是她的天职。

4 dispensed   

v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. 这些条件缺一不可。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage. 他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

6 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

7 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

8 promenade   

n./v.散步

参考例句：

• People came out in smarter clothes to promenade along the front.人们穿上更加时髦漂亮的衣服，沿着海滨散步。
• We took a promenade along the canal after Sunday dinner.星期天晚饭后我们沿着运河散步。

9 snobs   

（谄上傲下的）势利小人( snob的名词复数 )； 自高自大者，自命不凡者

参考例句：

• She dislikes snobs intensely. 她极其厌恶势利小人。
• Most of the people who worshipped her, who read every tidbit about her in the gossip press and hung up pictures of her in their rooms, were not social snobs. 崇敬她大多数的人不会放过每一篇报导她的八卦新闻，甚至在他们的房间中悬挂黛妃的画像，这些人并非都是傲慢成性。

10 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

11 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

12 luxuriously   

adv.奢侈地，豪华地

参考例句：

• She put her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea roses. 她把自己的鼻子惬意地埋在天芥菜和庚申蔷薇花簇中。 来自辞典例句
• To be well dressed doesn't mean to be luxuriously dressed. 穿得好不一定衣着豪华。 来自辞典例句

13 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。

14 vernacular   

adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名

参考例句：

• The house is built in a vernacular style.这房子按当地的风格建筑。
• The traditional Chinese vernacular architecture is an epitome of Chinese traditional culture.中国传统民居建筑可谓中国传统文化的缩影。

15 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

16 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

17 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。

18 vindication   

n.洗冤，证实

参考例句：

• There is much to be said in vindication of his claim.有很多理由可以提出来为他的要求作辩护。
• The result was a vindication of all our efforts.这一结果表明我们的一切努力是必要的。

19 complaisant   

adj.顺从的，讨好的

参考例句：

• He has a pretty and complaisant wife.他有个漂亮又温顺的妻子。
• He is complaisant to her.他对她百依百顺。

20 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

21 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

22 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹