CHAPTER XXIII FRANK MEETS MR. MANNING AND MARK

 The next morning Frank resumed his tea agency. As on the day previous, he went to Brooklyn; but, though I should be glad to say that he was more successful than on the first day, truth compels me to state that the day was a comparative failure.

 

It might be that he was unfortunate in the persons whom he visited, but at all events, at the close of his labors¹ he found that his commissions amounted to less than fifty cents. He contented² himself, therefore, with a ten-cent lunch, and crossed Fulton Ferry between three and four o'clock.

 

"This will never do," thought Frank, seriously. "I shall have to be economical to make my earnings³ cover my incidental expenses, while my board and lodging⁴ must be defrayed out of the money I have with me."

 

Frank was disappointed. It is easy to think of earning one's living, but not quite so easy to accomplish it. A boy, besides being ignorant of the world, is inexperienced, and so disqualified for many avenues of employment which are open to men. It is generally foolish for a boy to leave a good home and start out for himself, unless the chances are unusually favorable for him. If he does it, however, he should not allow himself to be easily discouraged.

 

If Frank had given up the business in which he was engaged simply because he had met with one unsuccessful day, I should not have been willing to make him the hero of my story.

 

"This will never do," thought Frank. "I must make a greater effort to-morrow."

 

The next day his commission amounted to a dollar, and the fourth day to a dollar and twelve cents.

 

"You are doing well," said his employer. "You are doing better than the majority of our agents."

 

In one way this compliment was satisfactory. In another way it was not encouraging, for it limited his prospects⁵. Frank began to think that he would never be able to make his entire expenses as a tea agent.

 

I don't propose to speak in detail of Frank's daily experiences, but only to make mention of any incidents that play an important part in his history.

 

He was returning from Jersey⁶ City on the tenth day of his agency, when in the gentleman's cabin he saw, directly opposite, two persons whom he had reason to remember.

 

They were Mark Manning and his father.

 

Little reason as he had to like either, they reminded him of home, and he felt pleased to meet them.

 

He instantly crossed the cabin, and offered his hand to his stepfather, who had not yet seen him.

 

"When did you arrive, Mr. Manning?" he asked.

 

"Why, it is Frank!" exclaimed Mr. Manning, with an appearance of cordiality. "Mark, do you see Frank?"

 

"Yes, I see him," replied Mark, coldly.

 

"Haven't you anything to say to him?" asked his father, who was much more of a gentleman than his son.

 

"How are you?" said Mark, indifferently.

 

"Thank you for your kind inquiry," said Frank, more amused than vexed⁷, for he cared very little for his stepbrother's friendship. "I am in very good health."

 

"And how are you getting along?" asked his stepfather, with an appearance of interest. "Are you in any business?"

 

"Yes," answered Frank.

 

"What are you doing?' asked Mark, inspired a little by curiosity.

 

"I am agent for a wholesale⁸ tea house in New York," Frank answered, briefly⁹.

 

"You don't say so!" exclaimed Mark, rather impressed. "What is the name of the firm?"

 

"The Great Pekin Tea Company."

 

"Does it pay well?" asked his stepbrother.

 

"I have met with very fair success," replied Frank.

 

"I congratulate you, Frank," said Mr. Manning. "Your energy and enterprise are creditable—extremely creditable. I always predicted that you would succeed—didn't I, Mark?'

 

"I don't remember hearing you say so," said Mark.

 

Mr. Manning shrugged¹⁰ his shoulders.

 

"Nevertheless," he said, "I have often made the remark."

 

"Where do you live?" asked Mark.

 

"I board in Clinton Place."

 

"A very respectable street," said Mr. Manning.

 

Frank now thought it was his turn to become questioner.

 

"How long do you remain in the city, Mr. Manning?" he asked.

 

"Not long—only a day or two," said his stepfather.

 

"We sail for Europe on Saturday," interposed Mark, "on the Cunard steamer."

 

"Indeed! I wish you a pleasant voyage."

 

"I am sorry you won't go with us, Frank," said his stepfather, cautiously. "You remember I gave you the chance to do so, and you desired to devote yourself immediately to business."

 

"Yes, sir. I would rather remain in New York."

 

"It might possibly be arranged now, if you desire to go," said Mr. Manning, hesitatingly.

 

"No, thank you, sir."

 

"Well, perhaps you are right," said his stepfather, considerably¹¹ relieved.

 

"What parts of Europe do you expect to visit?" asked Frank.

 

"We shall visit England, France, the Rhine, Switzerland, and perhaps Italy."

 

"I hope you will enjoy it."

 

"Thank you; I think we shall."

 

Frank checked a sigh. It was certainly tantalizing¹². If he could travel with congenial friends, he felt that he would very much enjoy such a trip; but with Mark in the party there would be little pleasure for him.

 

"We are staying at the St. Nicholas Hotel," said Mr. Manning. "I would invite you to come and dine with us, but I have an engagement first, and don't know when we shall dine."

 

"Thank you, all the same," said Frank.

 

They had reached the New York side, and were walking toward Broadway. It was necessary for Frank to go to the tea store, and he took leave of his stepfather and Mark, again wishing them a pleasant voyage.

 

"I hate that boy!" said Mark, as they walked away.

 

"You should not indulge in any such disagreeable feelings, Mark," said his father.

 

"Don't you hate him?"

 

"Certainly not."

 

"One would think by your soft manner that you loved him," said Mark, who was not noted¹³ for the respect with which he treated his father.

 

"Really, Mark, I am shocked by your strange words."

 

"What made you invite him to go to Europe with us?"

 

"I knew he would not go."

 

"He might have accepted, and then we should have been in a pretty pickle¹⁴."

 

"Mark," said his father, rather irritated, "will you be kind enough to leave me to manage my own affairs? I believe I have succeeded pretty well so far."

 

"Yes, you have," Mark admitted. "All the same, we'd better keep clear of Frank till we get safely off on the steamer."

 

1 labors   

v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors. 他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜，令人生厌。 来自辞典例句
• Farm labors used to hire themselves out for the summer. 农业劳动者夏季常去当雇工。 来自辞典例句

2 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

3 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

4 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

5 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

6 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

7 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

9 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

10 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 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。

12 tantalizing   

adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This was my first tantalizing glimpse of the islands. 这是我第一眼看见的这些岛屿的动人美景。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have only vague and tantalizing glimpses of his power. 我们只能隐隐约约地领略他的威力，的确有一种可望不可及的感觉。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 pickle   

n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡

参考例句：

• Mother used to pickle onions.妈妈过去常腌制洋葱。
• Meat can be preserved in pickle.肉可以保存在卤水里。