CHAPTER XXXVI MR. FAIRFIELD, THE AGENT

 The two boys found Mr. Fairfield already seated in the most comfortable chair in the sitting room.

 

He looked inquiringly at Frank when he entered with Dick.

 

"Who is that boy, Hamlin?" inquired the agent. "Nephew of yours?"

 

"No, sir. It is a young man who has come to Jackson on business."

 

"What kind of business?'

 

"I sell stationery," Frank answered for himself.

 

"Oh, a peddler!" said the agent, contemptuously.

 

"Many of our most successful men began in that way," said Mr. Hamlin, fearing lest Frank's feelings might be hurt.

 

"I never encourage peddlers myself," said Mr. Fairfield, pompously¹.

 

"Then I suppose it will be of no use for me to call at your door," said Frank, who, in place of being mortified², was amused by the agent's arrogance³.

 

"I should say not, unless your back is proof against a broomstick," answered Fairfield, coarsely. "I tell my servant to treat all who call in that way."

 

"I won't put her to the trouble of using it," said Frank, disgusted at the man's ill manners.

 

"That's where you are wise—yes, wise and prudent—young man."

 

"And now, Hamlin," said the agent, "I may as well come to business."

 

"To business!" repeated the farmer, rather surprised, for there was no rent due for a month.

 

"Yes, to business," said Fairfield. "I came to give you notice that after the next payment I shall feel obliged to raise your rent."

 

"Raise my rent!" exclaimed the farmer, in genuine dismay. "I am already paying a considerably⁴ higher rent than I paid to your predecessor⁵."

 

"Can't help it. Old Sampson was a slow-going old fogy. He didn't do his duty by his employer. When I came in, I turned over a new leaf."

 

"I certainly got along better in his time."

 

"No doubt. He was a great deal too easy with you. Didn't do his duty, sir. Wasn't sharp enough. That's all."

 

"You certainly cannot be in earnest in raising my rent, Mr. Fairfield," said the farmer, uneasily.

 

"I certainly am."

 

"I can't live at all if you increase my rent, which is already larger than I can afford to pay, Mr. Fairfield."

 

"Then I must find a tenant⁶ who can and will," said the agent, emphatically.

 

"I am sure Mr. Percival can't understand the true state of the case, or the circumstances of his tenants⁷. Will you give me his address, and I will take the liberty of writing to him and respectfully remonstrate⁸ against any increase?"

 

Mr. Fairfield looked uneasy.

 

This appeal would not at all suit him. Yet how could he object without leading to the suspicion that he was acting⁹ in this matter wholly on his own responsibility, and not by the express orders of his principal? How could he refuse to furnish Mr. Percival's address?

 

A middle course occurred to him.

 

"You may write your appeal, if you like, Hamlin," he said, "and hand it to me. I will forward it; though I don't believe it will do any good. The fact is that Mr. Percival has made up his mind to have more income from his property in Jackson."

1 pompously   

adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样

参考例句：

• He pompously described his achievements. 他很夸耀地描述了自己所取得的成绩。 来自互联网

2 mortified   

v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等）

参考例句：

• She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了，直羞得无地自容。
• The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 arrogance   

n.傲慢，自大

参考例句：

• His arrogance comes out in every speech he makes.他每次讲话都表现得骄傲自大。
• Arrogance arrested his progress.骄傲阻碍了他的进步。

4 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。

5 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

6 tenant   

n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用

参考例句：

• The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
• The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。

7 tenants   

n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者

参考例句：

• A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

8 remonstrate   

v.抗议，规劝

参考例句：

• He remonstrated with the referee.他向裁判抗议。
• I jumped in the car and went to remonstrate.我跳进汽车去提出抗议。

9 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。