CHAPTER XVIII FRANK ARRIVES IN NEW YORK

 The breakfast the next morning was very meager¹. It was no longer an object to gratify Frank's palate, now that he turned out to be a poor relation, and the family returned to their usual plain diet.

 

"So you are resolved to go to New York this morning," said Mr. Tarbox. "Of course it would gratify us to have you remain longer, but I appreciate your anxiety to go to work."

 

Frank was by no means deceived by this statement. He knew very well that Mr. Tarbox would be relieved by his departure, but of this knowledge he made no sign. He merely said that he thought it best to go.

 

He took leave of his hosts, and, purchasing a ticket at the railway station, found himself within an hour in New York. He had been there before, but it was not for a long time, and he had but a vague general idea of the city.

 

Frank made inquiries² of a kindly³ man who owned a clean little store on one of the streets. The latter knew of places where Frank could board and lodge⁴ for five dollars a week or about that and directed Frank to them. They were all near University Place. He found the place without difficulty.

 

A slipshod servant answered the bell.

 

"Have you got any small rooms?" asked Frank.

 

"Yes," answered the girl. "Missus is out, but I'll show you a hall bedroom, if you like."

 

"I should like to see it."

 

Frank followed the girl upstairs.

 

He was not favorably impressed by the appearance of the interior. He did not so much mind its being shabby, but he was repelled⁵ by the evident lack of neatness.

 

The girl threw open the door of a small hall bedroom at the head of the stairs, but it looked so comfortless that he felt sure he should not like it. He thought it best, however, to inquire the price.

 

"Five dollars a week with board," answered the girl.

 

"I don't think it will suit me," said our hero.

 

"There's a larger room for seven dollars," said the servant.

 

"No. I think I will look elsewhere."

 

The next house was not much better, but the third was much neater and more attractive, and Frank agreed to take a room at five dollars per week.

 

It was a small hall bedroom, but it looked clean, and the lady who showed him about the house was very neat in her dress.

 

"When will you come?" asked the lady.

 

"Now," replied Frank, promptly⁶.

 

"Would you mind paying the first week in advance?"

 

"Not at all. Here is the money."

 

And Frank drew a five-dollar bill from his portemonnaie.

 

"Thank you!" said the boarding-house keeper. "I have lost so much by boarders going away owing me money that I am obliged to ask gentlemen to pay in advance till I am well acquainted with them."

 

"That is quite right," said Frank. "What is your dinner hour?"

 

"Six o'clock. We have lunch at half-past twelve for the ladies, but if any gentleman happens to be at home at that time, he can go in."

 

Frank looked at his watch. It was only eleven o'clock and as so much of the day remained, he decided⁷, as soon as he had unpacked⁸ his valise, to go downtown and look for a place without delay.

 

"I shall not be here at lunch to-day," he said. "You may expect me at dinner."

 

There was a small bureau in the room—a piece of furniture not often found in hall bedrooms.

 

Frank deposited the contents of the valise in the bureau drawers, and then went downstairs and out into the street.

 

1 meager   

adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的

参考例句：

• He could not support his family on his meager salary.他靠微薄的工资无法养家。
• The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and began their meager meal.两个男人同一个女人围着火，开始吃起少得可怜的午饭。

2 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

4 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

5 repelled   

v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开

参考例句：

• They repelled the enemy. 他们击退了敌军。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The minister tremulously, but decidedly, repelled the old man's arm. 而丁梅斯代尔牧师却哆里哆嗦地断然推开了那老人的胳臂。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

6 promptly   

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。

7 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。

8 unpacked   

v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等）

参考例句：

• I unpacked my bags as soon as I arrived. 我一到达就打开行李，整理衣物。
• Our guide unpacked a picnic of ham sandwiches and offered us tea. 我们的导游打开装着火腿三明治的野餐盒，并给我们倒了些茶水。 来自辞典例句