CHAPTER XVIII. THE CUP AND THE LIP.

 While Dick's night preceding the trial was an anxious one, Gilbert and Roswell Crawford passed a pleasant evening, and slept soundly.

 

"Do you think Mr. Rockwell would be willing to give me the same wages he has paid to the boot-black?" he inquired with interest.

 

"Perhaps he won't take you at all."

 

"I think he ought to pay some attention to your recommendation," said Mrs. Crawford. "You ought to have some influence with him."

 

"Of course," said Gilbert, "I shall do what I can in the matter; but it's a pity Roswell can't give better references."

 

"He's never been with a decent employer yet. He's been very unlucky about his places," said Mrs. Crawford.

 

She might have added that his employers had considered themselves unfortunate in their engagement of her son; but, even if she had known it, she would have considered that they were prejudiced against him, and that they were in fault entirely¹.

 

"I will do what I can for him," continued Gilbert; "but I am very sure he won't get as much as ten dollars a week."

 

"I can earn as much as the boot-black, I should hope," said Roswell.

 

"He didn't earn ten dollars a week."

 

"He got it."

 

"That's a very different thing."

 

"Well, if I get it, I don't care if I don't earn it."

 

"That's true enough," said Gilbert, who did not in his heart set a very high estimate upon the services of his young cousin, and who, had the business been his own, would certainly not have engaged him at any price.

 

Roswell thought it best not to say any more, having on some previous occasions been greeted with remarks from his cousin which could not by any means be regarded as complimentary².

 

"Do you think I had better come in at ten o'clock, Cousin James?" inquired Roswell, as breakfast was over, and Gilbert prepared to go to the counting-room.

 

"Well, perhaps you may come a little earlier, say about half-past nine," said the book-keeper.

 

"All right," said Roswell.

 

Being rather sanguine³, he made up his mind that he was going to have the place, and felt it difficult to keep his good fortune secret. Now, in the next house there lived a boy named Edward McLean, who was in a broker's office in Wall Street, at a salary of six dollars a week. Now, though Edward had never boasted of his good fortune, it used to disturb Roswell to think that his place and salary were so much superior to his own. He felt that it was much more respectable to be in a broker's office, independent of the salary, than to run around the city with heavy bundles. But if he could enter such an establishment as Rockwell & Cooper's, at a salary of ten dollars, he felt that he could look down with conscious superiority upon Edward McLean, with his six dollars a week.

 

He went over to his neighbor's, and found Edward just starting for Wall Street.

 

"How are you, Roswell?" said Edward.

 

"Pretty well. Are you going down to the office?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You've got a pretty good place,—haven't you?"

 

"Yes, I like it."

 

"How much do you get?"

 

"Six dollars a week."

 

"That's very fair," said Roswell, patronizingly.

 

"How do you like your place?" asked Edward. "I believe you're in a dry-goods store on Sixth Avenue."

 

"Oh, no," said Roswell.

 

"You were?"

 

"Yes, I went in temporarily to oblige them," said Roswell, loftily; "but, of course, I wouldn't engage to remain any length of time in such a place, however large the inducements they might offer."

 

Considering Roswell's tone, it would hardly have been supposed that the large inducements were four dollars a week, and that, even at that compensation, his services were not desired.

 

"Then it wasn't a good place?" said Edward.

 

"Well enough for such as liked it," said Roswell. "I have no complaint of Hall & Turner. I told them that it was not dissatisfaction with them that led me to leave the place, but I preferred a different kind of business."

 

"Have you got another place?"

 

"I have an offer under consideration," said Roswell, consequentially⁴; "one of the most solid firms in the city. They offer me ten dollars a week."

 

"Ten dollars a week!" repeated Edward, somewhat staggered by the statement. "That's big pay."

 

"Yes," said Roswell; "but I think I ought to get as much as that."

 

"Why, I thought myself lucky to get six dollars," said Edward.

 

"Yes, that's very fair," said Roswell, condescendingly. "In fact, I've worked at that figure myself; but, of course, one expects more as he grows older."

 

"I suppose you'll accept your offer," said Edward.

 

"I haven't quite made up my mind," said Roswell, carelessly. "I think I shall."

 

"You'd better. Such places don't grow on every bush."

 

Though Edward did not more than half believe Roswell's statement, he kept his disbelief to himself, feeling that it was a matter of indifference⁵ to him whether Roswell received a large or small salary.

 

"I must be going down to the office," he said. "Good-morning."

 

"Good-morning," said Roswell, and he re-entered the house, feeling that he had impressed Edward with a conviction of his superiority, and the value set upon his services by the business men of New York. He went upstairs, and picked out a flashy necktie from his drawer, tied it carefully before the glass, and about nine set out for Rockwell & Cooper's warehouse⁶.

 

It is necessary for us to precede him.

 

Gilbert reached the counting-room at the usual time. His thoughts on the way thither⁷ were pleasant.

 

"I shan't be subjected to that young rascal's impertinence," he considered. "That's one satisfaction."

 

His astonishment⁸, nay⁹, dismay, may be imagined, therefore, when, on entering the counting-room, the first object his eyes rested on was the figure of Dick.

 

"Good-morning, Mr. Gilbert," said our hero, pleasantly.

 

"How came you here?" he demanded.

 

"I walked," said Dick. "I don't often ride. I think walkin's good for the constitution."

 

"You know what I mean, well enough. How did you get out of prison?"

 

"I haven't been there."

 

"You were arrested for picking a man's pocket yesterday afternoon," said Gilbert.

 

"Excuse me, Mr. Gilbert, you're slightly mistaken there. I was arrested on suspicion of picking a man's pocket."

 

"The same thing."

 

"Not quite, as it has been proved that I was innocent, and the wallet was taken by another boy."

 

"Have you been tried?"

 

"Yes, and acquitted¹⁰."

 

Gilbert looked and felt disappointed. He could not conceive how Dick could have escaped when the plot to entrap¹¹ him had been so artfully contrived¹².

 

"Well, young man," he said, "I'll give you a piece of advice, and if you're wise you'll follow it."

 

"That's kind in you," said Dick.

 

"I pass over your impertinence this time, and will advise you as a friend to resign your situation before Mr. Rockwell comes."

 

"Why should I?"

 

"It'll save your being discharged."

 

"Do you think he'll discharge me?"

 

"I know he will. He won't have any one in his employ who has been arrested for picking pockets."

 

"Not even if he didn't do it?"

 

"Not even if he was lucky enough to get off," said Gilbert.

 

"You think I'd better give up my place?"

 

"That'll be the best course for you to pursue."

 

"But how'll I get another place?"

 

"I'll do what I can to help you to another place if you leave at once."

 

"I think I'll wait and see Mr. Rockwell first."

 

"I'll make all the necessary explanations to Mr. Rockwell," said the book-keeper.

 

"I think I'd rather see him myself, if it doesn't make any difference to you."

 

"You're acting¹³ like a fool. You'll only be kicked out of the store. If you don't follow my advice, I shan't interest myself in getting you another place."

 

"Do you think I took the wallet, Mr. Gilbert?" asked Dick.

 

"Of course I do."

 

"Then how could you recommend me to another place?"

 

"Because I think this may prove a lesson to you. You've been lucky enough to escape this time, but you can't expect it always."

 

"I'm much obliged to you for your favorable opinion; but I don't think I shall resign at once."

 

At this moment Mr. Rockwell entered the warehouse. He had been informed of Dick's misfortune by Mr. Murdock, who had had occasion to call at his house on his way from the trial.

 

"How's this, Richard?" he said, advancing, with a frank smile. "I hear you got into strange quarters last night."

 

"Yes," said Dick; "but I didn't like it well enough to stay long."

 

"Why didn't you send for me?"

 

"Thank you, sir, I didn't like to trouble you. Mr. Murdock was very kind."

 

"Have they got the real thief?"

 

"I don't know, sir."

 

"Well, 'all's well that ends well.' You can afford to laugh at it now."

 

Mr. Gilbert listened to this colloquy¹⁴ with very little satisfaction.

 

It seemed to show such a good understanding between Dick and his employer that he perceived that it would be a very difficult thing to supersede¹⁵ him.

 

"Mr. Rockwell seems to be infatuated with that boy," he muttered to himself.

 

"I think I won't resign just yet," said Dick, in a low voice, to the book-keeper.

 

"You'll be found out some day," said Gilbert, snappishly. "Go to the post-office, and mind you don't stop to play on the way."

 

Dick started on his errand, and, in passing out into the street, encountered Roswell Crawford, who, attired¹⁶ with extra care, had just come down the street from Broadway. On seeing Dick, he started as if he had seen a ghost.

 

"Good-morning, Roswell," said Dick, pleasantly.

 

"Good-morning," said Roswell, stiffly.

 

"Your cousin is in the counting-room. I am in a hurry, and must leave you."

 

"I thought he was on his way to the Island by this time," thought Roswell, perplexed¹⁷. "What can it mean?"

 

It occurred to him all at once that Dick might just have been discharged, and this thought cheered him up considerably¹⁸. He entered the counting-room with a jaunty¹⁹ step.

 

"Good-morning, Cousin James," he said.

 

Gilbert turned round, and said, in a surly tone, "You may as well take yourself off. There's no chance for you here."

 

"Hasn't the boot-black been discharged?"

 

"No; and isn't going to be."

 

"How is that?" asked Roswell, looking very much disappointed.

 

"I can't stop to tell you now. You'd better go now, and I'll tell you this evening."

 

"Just my luck!" said Roswell to himself, considerably crest-fallen. "I wish I hadn't said a word to Edward McLean about the place."

1 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。

2 complimentary   

adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的

参考例句：

• She made some highly complimentary remarks about their school.她对他们的学校给予高度的评价。
• The supermarket operates a complimentary shuttle service.这家超市提供免费购物班车。

3 sanguine   

adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的

参考例句：

• He has a sanguine attitude to life.他对于人生有乐观的看法。
• He is not very sanguine about our chances of success.他对我们成功的机会不太乐观。

4 consequentially   

adv.必然地

参考例句：

• In the construction of hydroelectric power station, eco-environment will be consequentially destroyed to some extent. 在水电站建设中，生态环境必然遭到一定程度的破坏。 来自互联网
• It was because of these subjective and objective reasons that it consequentially retreated from the history. 正是由于这些主观和客观的原因，注定它必然要退出历史舞台。 来自互联网

5 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

6 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

7 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

8 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

9 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

10 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。

11 entrap   

v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套

参考例句：

• The police have been given extra powers to entrap drug traffickers.警方已经被进一步授权诱捕毒贩。
• He overturned the conviction,saying the defendant was entrapped.他声称被告是被诱骗的，从而推翻了有罪的判决。

12 contrived   

adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的

参考例句：

• There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。
• The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。

13 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

14 colloquy   

n.谈话，自由讨论

参考例句：

• The colloquy between them was brief.他们之间的对话很简洁。
• They entered into eager colloquy with each other.他们展开热切的相互交谈。

15 supersede   

v.替代；充任

参考例句：

• We must supersede old machines by new ones.我们必须以新机器取代旧机器。
• The use of robots will someday supersede manual labor.机器人的使用有一天会取代人力。

16 attired   

adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bride was attired in white. 新娘穿一身洁白的礼服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is appropriate that everyone be suitably attired. 人人穿戴得体是恰当的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

18 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

19 jaunty   

adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意

参考例句：

• She cocked her hat at a jaunty angle.她把帽子歪戴成俏皮的样子。
• The happy boy walked with jaunty steps.这个快乐的孩子以轻快活泼的步子走着。