CHAPTER XXVII. A BOARDING-HOUSE IN HARRISBURG.

 At the supper table Bert made acquaintance with his fellow-boarders. There were eight in all. Three of them worked in the shoe factory where Ralph Harding had been employed, two young ladies were saleswomen in a dry-goods store, Professor Silvio and wife taught a dancing school, and the eighth was the landlady's daughter, a young woman of twenty-five, who resembled Mrs. Stubbs closely. Bert learned afterward¹ that she was employed in a millinery store.

 

"Gentlemen and ladies," said Mrs. Stubbs, as Bert took the vacant chair that had been assigned to him, "let me introduce a new boarder, Mr. Barton."

 

Eight pairs of curious eyes were fixed² upon Bert, and he blushed a little, not being accustomed to the scrutiny³ of strangers.

 

"He is a friend of a former boarder, Mr. Harding, whom some of you will remember."

 

"Have you heard from Mr. Harding lately, Mr. Barton?" asked Angelica Stubbs, who sat next to our hero.

 

"No," answered Bert.192

 

"He left quite suddenly, owing me eight weeks' board."

 

"So I heard."

 

"Do you think he will ever pay it up?"

 

"If I succeed in finding him I think there is some chance of it."

 

"Mr. Harding and I were very good friends," continued Miss Stubbs. "He—in fact—showed quite a fondness for my society," she added, casting down her eyes modestly.

 

"No wonder!" said Bert, smiling.

 

"Oh, you sad flatterer!" said Miss Angelica, appearing pleased at what she regarded as a compliment.

 

"Didn't he tell you where he was going?" asked Bert.

 

"No; I think he was called away by bad news."

 

"What sort of a looking man was he?" Bert inquired.

 

"You ask me that?" said Angelica, in surprise. "I thought you were a friend of his."

 

"I never saw him in my life."

 

"That's funny. Why then did ma introduce you as a friend of his?"

 

"She thought me so. I am interested in finding him, that is all."

 

"You are not a horrid⁴ detective, I hope? Has poor Mr. Harding committed a crime?193 Oh, tell me quick. You actually make me creep all over."

 

"I don't mean any harm, but his testimony⁵ is wanted in a law case. You haven't told me about his appearance yet."

 

"I've got his photograph, and will show it to you after supper."

 

"Oh, thank you!" said Bert, much pleased.

 

"That is, if you are sure it won't do him any harm. He used to talk to me very confidentially⁶, and I can't help liking⁷ him, even if he did get in debt to ma."

 

"Perhaps he was unfortunate and couldn't pay."

 

"That's what I tell ma, but ma's rather severe on boarders that go away without paying her."

 

"Did he take all his baggage with him, Miss Stubbs?"

 

"He left behind a box of books and papers. They weren't of much account—some old letters and such."

 

"Did your mother preserve them?" asked Bert eagerly.

 

"Yes, I believe so; but she would have preferred to have him leave his trunk. That might have been sold for a part of his board bill."194

 

"Do you think I could look over the books and papers?" asked Bert.

 

"What for?" inquired Angelica, her face expressing curiosity.

 

"You know I want to find him, and some of the papers might throw light on his movements."

 

"I don't know but you could," answered Angelica indifferently.

 

"I'll be willing to pay your mother one week's board for the box and its contents."

 

"Then I am sure she will let you have them. They are worth nothing to her. I only wonder she hasn't used them to kindle⁸ the fire with before now."

 

"I hope she hasn't," returned Bert anxiously.

 

"No; I know she hasn't, for I saw them in the attic⁹ only last week. I'll look them up for you some day when I am at leisure."

 

"Thank you."

 

"I wonder Mr. Harding hasn't written to you," he said, a little later.

 

"Oh, go along! You don't suppose there was anything between me and him?" said Angelica, who liked nothing better than to be teased about the attentions of members of the other sex. Bert was sharp enough to see this,195 and thought he might make it available in promoting the object he had in view.

 

"I thought, perhaps, he had gone away because you didn't smile upon his suit."

 

Miss Angelica laughed and tossed her head in great delight.

 

"As if I would tell you," she said.

 

"I only hope he hasn't committed suicide."

 

"Oh, Mr. Barton, how can you? Really, I shall have to complain to ma."

 

All this was very amusing to Bert, who had a natural love of fun, and quite understood Angelica by this time, though, truth to tell, she was not difficult to read.

 

When supper was over, Miss Stubbs said graciously: "Mr. Barton, if you are not pressed for time, will you linger a while? I play a little on the piano, and if you are fond of music, I will play for you. Usually I have to be in the store, but this is my evening off."

 

"I shall be glad to stay, Miss Stubbs. I am fond of music."

 

"Mr. Harding often lingered with me in the evening hours. He liked to hear me play."

 

"As I no doubt shall."

 

"Do you sing, Mr. Barton?"

 

"No; I wish I did."

 

Miss Angelica's piano was probably twenty-196five years old, and was very much out of tune¹⁰. But even if it had been a Chickering Grand, her playing would hardly have captivated a musical ear. She had little taste, and the lessons she had taken had only given her the ability to play a few easy tunes¹¹.

 

Bert found half an hour of Miss Angelica's music and society all he cared to enjoy at one time. He therefore excused himself, and taking his hat, went out for a walk. As he was a stranger in Harrisburg, he was not particular in what direction he strolled, but naturally bent¹² his steps toward what appeared to be the central part of the city.

 

As he sauntered along, his attention was attracted to a flaring¹³ poster on a dead wall, setting forth¹⁴ the attractive features of

 

THE STREETS OF GOTHAM.

 

A Realistic Play of New York Life.

 

As given by a Star Combination of world-renowned Actors.

 

For one week only.

Reserved seats, 50 cents. Balcony, 25 cents.

 

Now Bert had seldom enjoyed an opportunity of attending a dramatic performance, and felt strongly tempted¹⁵ to avail himself of the one that now offered. He wished to be as economical as possible, and decided¹⁶ to content himself with a seat in the balcony.197

 

"Where is the theatre?" he asked of a boy who was studying the bill at the same time with himself.

 

"Just round the corner. I'll show you," was the reply.

 

"Thank you."

 

"Are you goin' to see de play?" asked the boy with interest.

 

"I think I shall."

 

"I'd go myself if I had another nickel," said the young guide. "I've got ten cents."

 

"But I thought twenty-five cents was the lowest price."

 

"I can go to de gallery for fifteen cents. De gallery is good enough for me."

 

"If a nickel will help you, here is one."

 

"Thank you," said the boy. "It's a boss play, dey tell me."

 

"I hope it is, as I am going myself."

 

The theatre was near at hand, and the two boys soon stood before it. It was rather early, being only a quarter past seven, but a small crowd of boys was already waiting for a chance to obtain admission to the gallery.

 

There seemed to be no hurry about buying a ticket, and Bert took a standing¹⁷ position near the box office, surveying with interest the passers by. All at once he felt a hand on198 his shoulder, and these words fell upon his ear:

 

"We meet again, my dear boy. Shake!"

 

Bert immediately recognized his travelling friend who had lost his money on the train.

 

"Are you one of the dramatic company?" he asked.

 

"Yes; I play the leading villain—and am acting¹⁸ stage manager. My name is Orville—Jack Orville. You have heard of me."

 

"I have always lived in the country," said Bert apologetically, "and so have little acquaintance with actors."

 

Orville looked disappointed. He liked to be known and recognized.

 

"That accounts for it," he said. "I am surprised to hear that you are from the country. You have the city air."

 

Bert was pleased to hear it, though perhaps that might be a mark of weakness.

 

At the moment another man came up hurriedly, and spoke¹⁹ to Orville.

 

"Here's a pretty kettle of fish, Orville," he said. "Bob Hazleton is sick and insists upon going back to New York. Where shall we find a boy to take his place?"

 

Orville had an inspiration. He clapped his hand on Bert's shoulder, exclaiming: "Here he stands!"

1 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

2 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

3 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

4 horrid   

adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的

参考例句：

• I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
• The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。

5 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

6 confidentially   

ad.秘密地，悄悄地

参考例句：

• She was leaning confidentially across the table. 她神神秘秘地从桌子上靠过来。
• Kao Sung-nien and Wang Ch'u-hou talked confidentially in low tones. 高松年汪处厚两人低声密谈。

7 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。

8 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

9 attic   

n.顶楼，屋顶室

参考例句：

• Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
• What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？

10 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

11 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

13 flaring   

a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的

参考例句：

• A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls. 墙壁上装饰着廉价的花纸。
• Goebbels was flaring up at me. 戈塔尔当时已对我面呈愠色。

14 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

15 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

16 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。

17 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。

18 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。

19 spoke   

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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。