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CHAPTER XX PROSPECT POND
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 It was a beautiful afternoon and Herbert was satisfied to lay books aside and walk over to Prospect1 Pond.
This pond was about a mile from the village and probably about a mile and a half in circuit. At the farther end was a small hill crowned with forest trees.
“That would be a fine situation for a house.”
“Yes,” said Herbert, “but it would be hard to get at.”
“Oh, of course a road would have to be built connecting with the highway. Perhaps you will build a house there when you are a rich man.”
“Then I shall have to wait a few years,” said Herbert.
“You wouldn't be the first poor boy that has grown rich. My own father is rich now, but when he was of your age he was only a poor 'bobbin boy' working at scanty2 pay in the factory of which he is now owner.”
“I should like to be rich for my mother's sake,” said Herbert.
“With money one can do a great deal of good, though not all rich men choose to apply their riches worthily3. How smooth the water is to-day! Isn't there a boat somewhere that we can use?”
“There's one a few rods from here, but it belongs to James Leech4.”
“Would it do to take it, do you think?”
“It might do for you but not for me.”
“Why not for you?”
“James and I are not very good friends.”
“Why not?”
“He looks down upon me because I am poor.”
“So he is inclined to put on airs on account of his father's money?”
“I should say he is.”
“Let us go and see the boat at any rate.”
Herbert led the way through a meadow to a clump5 of trees, where a small rowboat floated upon the water.
“Does Leech often go out in it?”
“Two or three times a week.”
“It is just about large enough for two, though it would easily accommodate one more.”
“Yes.”
“If I thought your friend would not be round I should be tempted6 to try it for half an hour.”
“I think you might venture.”
“Jump in, then, and we'll push out.”
Herbert shook his head.
“If the boat belonged to anyone but James Leech I would go; but I don't like him well enough to take any liberty with anything of his.”
“Perhaps you are right. Would you mind sitting down and waiting for me twenty minutes or half an hour?”
“Oh, no; it will be pleasant.”
“Then here goes.”
Cameron jumped into the boat, pushed off and began to row in a style that showed he was accustomed to the exercise. The pond was so small that it was not easy for him to get out of sight.
Herbert sat down, not without a secret longing7 to be in the boat also; but he did not care to place himself under any obligations to James.
Suddenly he heard a hasty step behind him. Looking up, he saw the owner of the boat close at hand.
James Leech looked for his boat and saw that it was gone. Then his gaze fell upon our hero.
“What have you done with my boat, Carter?” he demanded, peremptorily8.
“What makes you ask such a question, Leech?” answered Herbert.
“Why do you call me Leech?” said James, angrily.
“For the same reason you call me Carter, I suppose.”
“There's a great difference between us,” said James.
“That's true,” assented9 Herbert.
“And you ought to treat me with proper respect.”
“I treat you with all the respect you deserve.”
“You haven't answered my question,” said James.
“What question?”
“Where is my boat?”
“Out on the pond. Look and you will see it.”
James looked where Herbert pointed10.
“Who is that in that boat?” he demanded, angrily.
“Mr. Cameron.”
“Who's he?”
“A boarder at the hotel.”
“Is it the young man from Yale College? My father was speaking of him this morning,” said James, moderating his tone very considerably11.
“Yes.”
“Then I don't mind. My father says he is very rich. I suppose I shall be introduced to him soon,” said James, complacently12.
“If you will wait a few minutes till he comes ashore13 I will introduce you,” said Herbert.
“You! What do you know of him?” sneered14 James.
“I passed the afternoon with him,” said Herbert.
“He must be hard up for company,” said James.
“Look here, James Leech,” said Herbert his eyes flashing; “I've had enough of that kind of talk. I don't intend to submit to your impudence15. When you speak to me keep a civil tongue in your head.”
“I never heard such impudence. What do you mean by addressing me in that style?”
“What do I mean? I mean to warn you to be civil.”
“Look here, Carter! I'll tell my father and he'll turn you out of house and home,” exclaimed James, furiously.
“He hasn't the power, fortunately.”
“Hasn't he got a mortgage on your place?”
“Yes; but the interest was paid to-day and no more will be due for six months.”
“Where did you get the money to pay the interest?”
“That is no business of yours. It is enough for you to know that it is paid and that your father has no more control over us than we have over him.”
James was disappointed. He had expected that the interest would not be paid and that Mrs. Carter and Herbert would be at his father's mercy. It was certainly surprising that they had raised the money.
“Are you waiting here for Mr. Cameron?” asked James.
“Yes.”
“I don't think you need to.”
“As you don't even know him, I don't think your opinions as to his wishes of much importance.”
“I wouldn't thrust myself on him, if I were you.”
“Thank you, I don't intend to.”
“I suppose you fell in with him by accident. He probably don't know who you are.”
“Oh, yes, he does. He knows all about me. I am going to spend to-morrow afternoon with him also,” said Herbert, delighting to mystify his companion.
“He won't care to have you call much longer. My aunt has written to my father about him and he will invite Mr. Cameron to call.”
“I have no objection but I don't think it will make any difference as I am Mr. Cameron's private secretary.”
“Private secretary! What do you do?”
“I read to him, as his eyes are poor, and I suppose I shall write for him when he needs it.”
“What does he pay you?”
“I don't know as that concerns you particularly. Still, I don't mind telling you. He pays me five dollars a week.”
“That's a good deal more than you're worth.”
“I think so myself, especially as I only spend the afternoon with him.”
James was quite annoyed to find that the boy he disliked was prospering16 so well. He was about to make another unpleasant remark when Herbert suddenly exclaimed:
“He's turned the boat. Doesn't he row beautifully?”
The same thought sprang up in the minds of both boys: “I wish I could row like that.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
2 scanty ZDPzx     
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的
参考例句:
  • There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
  • The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。
3 worthily 80b0231574c2065d9379b86fcdfd9be2     
重要地,可敬地,正当地
参考例句:
  • Many daughters have done worthily, But you surpass them all. 29行事有才德的女子很多,惟独你超过众人。
  • Then as my gift, which your true love has worthily purchased, take mydaughter. 那么,就作为我的礼物,把我的女儿接受下来吧--这也是你的真实爱情应得的报偿。
4 leech Z9UzB     
n.水蛭,吸血鬼,榨取他人利益的人;vt.以水蛭吸血;vi.依附于别人
参考例句:
  • A leech is a small blood-sucking worm and usually lives in water.水蛭是一种小型吸血虫,通常生活在水中。
  • One-side love like a greedy leech absorbed my time and my mirth.单相思如同一只贪婪的水蛭,吸走了我的时间和欢笑。
5 clump xXfzH     
n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走
参考例句:
  • A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
  • It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。
6 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
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。
7 longing 98bzd     
n.(for)渴望
参考例句:
  • Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
  • His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
8 peremptorily dbf9fb7e6236647e2b3396fe01f8d47a     
adv.紧急地,不容分说地,专横地
参考例句:
  • She peremptorily rejected the request. 她断然拒绝了请求。
  • Their propaganda was peremptorily switched to an anti-Western line. 他们的宣传断然地转而持反对西方的路线。 来自辞典例句
9 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
10 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
11 considerably 0YWyQ     
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。
12 complacently 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
13 ashore tNQyT     
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸
参考例句:
  • The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前,孩子们就上岸了。
  • He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。
14 sneered 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f     
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
  • It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
15 impudence K9Mxe     
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。
16 prospering b1bc062044f12a5281fbe25a1132df04     
成功,兴旺( prosper的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Our country is thriving and prospering day by day. 祖国日益繁荣昌盛。
  • His business is prospering. 他生意兴隆。


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