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CHAPTER XVI AN UNEXPECTED OFFER
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 It was with very little confidence in his ultimate success that Herbert set out on his borrowing expedition. The number of those who could be called capitalists in a small village like Wrayburn was very small, and it happened very remarkably1 that all of them were short of funds. One man had just bought a yoke2 of oxen, and so spent all his available cash; another had been shingling3 his barn; and still another confessed to having money, but it was in the savings4 bank, and he didn't like to disturb it.
So, at supper time, Herbert came in, depressed5 and dispirited.
“Well, mother, it's no use,” he said, as her anxious look met his.
“I didn't much think you could borrow the money,” she answered, trying to look cheerful.
“There's only one thing remains6 to be done,” said Herbert.
“What is that?”
“To try to induce the squire7 to give us more time.”
“I don't think he will do that.”
“Nor I. In that case we must come to his terms; but it's a pity to sacrifice the property, mother.”
“Yes, Herbert; I shall be sorry to leave the old place,” she sighed. “You were born here, and your father was always very much attached to it. But poor folks can't have everything they wish, and it might be worse.”
“Yes, it might be worse, and if the squire was not so bent8 in getting the place into his hands, it might be better.”
“I suppose we ought not to blame him for looking out for his own interest.”
“Yes, we ought; when it seems that he is ready to injure his poorer neighbors.”
Mrs. Carter did not reply. She did not wish further to incense9 her son against the squire, yet in her heart she could not help agreeing with him.
The next day Herbert did not go to work as usual. He did not feel like it, while matters were in such uncertainty10. He knew the squire would be at the cottage a little before twelve o'clock, and he wanted to be with his mother at that time, for he felt that, if the place must be sold, he would be more likely to get good terms for it than his mother, who was of an easy and yielding disposition11.
He took a little walk in the course of the forenoon, not with any particular object in view, but in order to pass the time. As he was passing the hotel—for there was a small hotel in the village—he heard his name called. Turning round, he found that it was the landlord who had called him.
“Come here a minute, Herbert,” he said.
Herbert obeyed the summons.
“What are you doing nowadays?” he asked.
“I have turned farmer,” said our hero.
“Whom are you working for?”
“For myself.”
“How is that? I don't understand.”
“I am cultivating Mr. Crane's land on shares.”
“Does it take up all jour time?”
“No; I would only work part of the day if I had anything else to do.”
“I'll tell you what I have been thinking of. There's a young man boarding with me from the city, a Mr. Cameron. He was a college student, but his eyes gave out, and the doctor sent him out of the city to get well. He wants some one to read to him part of the time, and go about with him for company. He is from a rich family—the son of a wealthy manufacturer—and he will be willing to pay a fair price.”
“Do you think I would suit him?” asked Herbert, eagerly.
“Yes, I think you would. You are a good scholar, and when I mentioned you to him, he said he would like to see you. He said he would prefer a boy, as he would be more ready to adapt himself to his wishes.”
“When can I see Mr. Cameron?” asked our hero.
“Come in now. You will find him in his room. Here, John, show Herbert up to number six.”
Herbert was ushered12 into one of the best rooms the hotel afforded. A young man, of pleasant appearance, was sitting at the window, with a green shade over his eyes. He pushed up this, that he might see Herbert.
“This is Herbert Carter, Mr. Cameron,” said John, unceremoniously.
“I am glad to see you, Herbert,” said the young man, smiling as he extended his hand. He was secretly pleased with Herbert's open and manly13 face. “Did the landlord say why I might need your assistance?”
“He said your eyes were affected14.”
“Yes, they broke down a month since. I am a student of Yale College, in the junior class. I suppose I tasked my eyes too severely15. At any rate, they gave out, and I am forbidden to use them at all.”
“That must be a great loss to you,” said Herbert, with sympathy.
“It is. I am very fond of reading and study, and the time passes very heavily in the absence of my usual employment.”
“I don't know what I should do if I could not use my eyes.”
“You would find it a great hardship. Now I must tell you why I came here. The doctor told me I should be better off in the country than in the city. He said that the sight of the green grass would be good for me, and the fresh air, in improving my general health, would help my eyes also. I hadn't much choice as to a place, but some one mentioned Wrayburn, and so I came here. But I soon found that, unless I got some pleasant company and some one who could read to me, I should die of weariness. That brings me to my object in asking you to call upon me. How is your time occupied?”
“I have taken an acre of land to cultivate on shares,” answered Herbert. “It was because I could find nothing else to do, and must do something.”
“Does that keep you pretty busy?”
“It is planting time now, but I could get along with working there half a day.”
“And could you place yourself at my disposal the other half?”
“I should be glad to do it,” answered Herbert.
“Suppose, then, that you work in the field in the forenoon, and give me every afternoon.”
“All right,” said Herbert, promptly16.
“Now comes another question. What pay would you expect for giving me so much of your time?”
“I shouldn't know what to charge, Mr. Cameron. I leave that matter entirely17 with you.”
“Would you be satisfied with five dollars a week?”
Five dollars a week! Herbert could hardly believe his ears. Why, he would have been well paid if this had been given him for the whole of his time, but for half it seemed munificent18.
“I am afraid I can't earn that much,” he answered. “I would be willing to take less.”
“You don't know how hard I shall make you work,” said the young man, smiling. “I insist upon paying you five dollars a week.”
“I don't seriously object,” said Herbert, smiling; “but if you think, after the first week, that it is too much, you can pay me less.”
“I see that we are not likely to quarrel on the subject of salary then. When can you begin?”
“This afternoon, if you wish.”
“I do wish it, otherwise the afternoon would pass very slowly to me.”
“Then, I will be here at one o'clock.”
“Half past one will do.”
“I will be on hand. Till then I will bid you good morning, as I shall be wanted at home.”
“Very well, Herbert.”
Herbert left the room and hurried home, for it was nearly twelve. On the way he stopped at the post office, and found a letter addressed to his mother. He did not recognize the handwriting, nor, such was his hurry, did he notice where it was postmarked. He had no watch, but thought it must be close upon twelve o'clock. So he thrust the letter into his pocket, and continued his way homeward on a half run. He was in time, for, just as he reached the front gate from one direction, the squire reached it from the other.
“Good morning,” said the squire, a little stiffly. “Is your mother at home?”
“I presume she is. Won't you come in?”
“I wonder if they've got the money ready,” thought the squire, as he followed Herbert into the modest sitting room.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地,相当地
参考例句:
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
2 yoke oeTzRa     
n.轭;支配;v.给...上轭,连接,使成配偶
参考例句:
  • An ass and an ox,fastened to the same yoke,were drawing a wagon.驴子和公牛一起套在轭上拉车。
  • The defeated army passed under the yoke.败军在轭门下通过。
3 shingling baffe587db1adc5711d51c0fc7c7d43d     
压挤熟铁块,叠瓦作用
参考例句:
  • Shingling is a craft very different from carpentry. 锻造是一种非常不同于木工的技艺。 来自互联网
4 savings ZjbzGu     
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。
5 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
参考例句:
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
6 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
7 squire 0htzjV     
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅
参考例句:
  • I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
  • The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。
8 bent QQ8yD     
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。
9 incense dcLzU     
v.激怒;n.香,焚香时的烟,香气
参考例句:
  • This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.这项提议会激怒环保人士。
  • In summer,they usually burn some coil incense to keep away the mosquitoes.夏天他们通常点香驱蚊。
10 uncertainty NlFwK     
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物
参考例句:
  • Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
  • After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后,压力开始产生影响了。
11 disposition GljzO     
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署
参考例句:
  • He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
  • He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
12 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 manly fBexr     
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地
参考例句:
  • The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
  • He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务,并希望别人效之。
14 affected TzUzg0     
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。
15 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
16 promptly LRMxm     
adv.及时地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
  • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
17 entirely 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。
18 munificent FFoxc     
adj.慷慨的,大方的
参考例句:
  • I am so happy to get munificent birthday presents from my friends.我很高兴跟我朋友收到大量的生日礼物。
  • The old man's munificent donation to the hospital was highly appreciated.老人对医院慷慨的捐赠赢得了高度赞扬。


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