CHAPTER I. TWO STRANGERS FROM SYRACUSE.

 "That is the City Hall over there, Edgar."

 

The speaker was a man of middle age, with a thin face and a nose like a Hawk¹. He was well dressed, and across his vest was visible a showy gold chain with a cameo charm attached to it.

 

The boy, probably about fifteen, was the image of his father. They were crossing City Hall Park in New York and Mr. Talbot was pointing out to his son the public buildings which make this one of the noted² localities in the metropolis³.

 

"Shine?" asked a bootblack walking up to the pair.

 

"I'd like to take a shine, father," said Edgar. "What do you charge?"

 

"Five cents, but I don't object to a dime," replied the bootblack.

 

"Can I have a shine, father?"

 

"Why didn't you get one at the hotel?"

 

"Because they charged ten cents. I thought I could get it for less outside."

 

"Good boy!" said the father in a tone of approval. "Get things as low as you can. That's my motto, and that's the way I got rich. Here, boy, you can get to work."

 

Instantly the bootblack was on his knees, and signed for Edgar to put his foot on the box.

 

"What's your name, boy?" asked Edgar with a condescending⁴ tone.

 

"No, it ain't boy. It's Tom."

 

"Well, Tom, do you make much money?"

 

"Well, I don't often make more'n five dollars a day."

 

"Five dollars? You are trying to humbug⁵ me."

 

"It's true though. I never made more'n five dollars in a day in my life, 'cept when I shined shoes for swells⁷ like you who were liberal with their cash."

 

Edgar felt rather flattered to be called a swell⁸, but a little alarmed at the suggestion that Tom might expect more than the usual sum.

 

"That's all right, but I shall only pay you five cents."

 

"I knew you wouldn't as soon as I saw you."

 

"Why?"

 

"'Cause you don't look like George W. Childs."

 

"Who's he?"

 

"The Ledger⁹ man from Philadelphia. I once blacked his shoes and he gave me a quarter. General Washington once paid me a dollar."

 

"What!" ejaculated Edgar. "Do you mean to say that you ever blacked General Washington's shoes?"

 

"No; he wore boots."

 

"Why, my good boy, General Washington died almost a hundred years ago."

 

"Did he? Well, it might have been some other general."

 

"I guess it was. You don't seem to know much about history."

 

"No, I don't. I spent all my time studyin' 'stronomy when I went to school."

 

"What's your whole name?"

 

"Tom Trotter. I guess you've heard of my father. He's Judge Trotter of the Supreme¹⁰ Court?"

 

"I am afraid you don't tell the truth very often."

 

"No, I don't. It ain't healthy. Do you?"

 

"Of course I do."

 

This conversation was not heard by Mr. Talbot, who had taken a seat on one of the park benches, and was busily engaged in reading the morning World.

 

By this time Tom began to think it was his time to ask questions.

 

"Where did you come from?" he inquired.

 

"How do you know but I live in the city?"

 

"'Cause you ain't got New York style."

 

"Oh!" said Edgar rather mortified¹¹. Then he added in a tone which he intended to be highly sarcastic¹²: "I suppose you have."

 

"Well, I guess. You'd ought to see me walk down Fifth Avener Sunday mornin' with my best girl."

 

"Do you wear the same clothes you've got on now?"

 

"No, I guess not. I've got a little Lord Fauntleroy suit of black velvet¹³, with kid gloves and all the fixin's. But you ain't told me where you live yet."

 

"I live in Syracuse. My father's one of the most prominent citizens of that city."

 

"Is it the man you was walkin' with?"

 

"Yes; there he is sitting on that bench."

 

"He ain't much to look at. You look just like him."

 

"Really, I think you are the most impudent¹⁴ boy I ever met!" said Edgar with asperity¹⁵.

 

"Why, what have I said? I only told you you looked like him."

 

"Yes, but you said he wasn't much to look at!"

 

"I guess he's rich, and that's better than good looks."

 

"Yes, my father is quite wealthy," returned Edgar complacently¹⁶.

 

"I wish I was rich instead of good lookin'."

 

"You good looking!"

 

"That's what everybody says. I ain't no judge myself."

 

Tom looked roguishly at Edgar, and his aristocratic patron was obliged to confess that he had a pleasant face, though it was marred¹⁷ by a black spot on each cheek, probably caused by the contact of his hands.

 

"You're a queer boy," said Edgar. "I don't know what to make of you."

 

"Make a rich man of me, and we'll go to Europe together. My doctor says I ought to travel for my health."

 

"Edgar, haven't you got your shoes blacked yet?" asked his father from the bench.

 

Tom struck the box sharply with his brush to show that the job was completed.

 

"Just got done, governor," he said familiarly.

 

"Here is your money," said Edgar, producing some pennies from his pockets.

 

"There's only four," observed Tom with a critical glance.

 

"Only four! Haven't you dropped one?"

 

"No. That's all you gave me."

 

"Father, have you got a cent?"

 

Mr. Talbot's hand dived into his pocket, and he brought out a penny, but it was a Canadian coin.

 

"I don't know as I can pass this," said Tom. "They're very particular at the Windsor Hotel, where I am boarding."

 

"You can save it till you go traveling in Canada," suggested Edgar, with unusual brightness for him.

 

"That's so," answered Tom, who appreciated a joke. "I'll stop in Syracuse on the way and pay you a visit."

 

"How does he know about our living in Syracuse?" asked Mr. Talbot.

 

"I told him I lived there."

 

"He said you was a big bug⁶ up there."

 

"I hope you didn't use that expression, Edgar," said his father.

 

"Oh well, that's what he meant. Won't you have a shine yourself, governor?"

 

"No; I don't think I shall need it."

 

"Where'd you get that shine you've got on?"

 

"In Syracuse."

 

"Tell 'em they don't understand shinin' boots up there."

 

"Hadn't you better go up there and give them some lessons?" suggested Edgar.

 

"Well, I don't mind, if I can get free board at your house."

 

"Do you think we would have a bootblack living in our house?"

 

"Don't waste any time on him, Edgar. He is a street boy, and his manners are fitted to his station."

 

"Thank you, governor. That's the biggest compliment I've had for a long time."

 

Mr. Talbot laughed.

 

"Really, boy, you are very grotesque¹⁸."

 

"That's another compliment," said Tom, taking off his hat and bowing with mock politeness.

 

"Hallo, Tom!"

 

Tom turned to meet the smile of a District Telegraph messenger, who was crossing the park to Broadway.

 

"How's yourself, Mark?" he said. "I'd offer to shake hands, but I've been doin' a little business for these gentlemen, and my gloves ain't handy."

 

No. 79, following the direction of Tom's nod, glanced at Mr. Talbot and Edgar, and instantly a look of surprise came over his face.

 

"Why, Uncle Solon, is that you?" he exclaimed.

 

Solon Talbot looked embarrassed, and seemed in doubt whether to acknowledge his relationship to the humble¹⁹ telegraph boy.

 

"Are you Mark Mason?" he asked.

 

"Yes; don't you know me?"

 

"I haven't seen you for two years, you know."

 

"And this is Edgar!" continued the telegraph boy. "You've grown so I would hardly know you."

 

"I hope you are well," said Edgar coldly.

 

"Thank you. Uncle Solon, where are you staying?"

 

"Ahem! I am stopping up town."

 

"Shall you be in the city long?"

 

"I don't think so."

 

"Mother would like very much to see you. She would like to ask about grandfather's estate."

 

"Ah—um—yes! Where do you live?"

 

"No. 174 St. Mark's Place, near First Avenue."

 

"We'll call if we can. Edgar, we'll have to hurry away."

 

As they walked toward the other side of the park at a brisk pace, Tom asked: "You don't mean to say that's your uncle, Mark?"

 

"Yes; that is, he married my mother's sister."

 

"And that young swell is your cousin?"

 

"Yes."

 

"He is rich, isn't he?"

 

"I suppose so."

 

"Why don't he do something for you and your mother?"

 

"He was always a very selfish man. But we don't ask any favors—mother and I don't. All we ask is justice."

 

"What do you mean by that?"

 

"My grandfather, that is mother's father and Mrs. Talbot's, died two years ago, and Uncle Solon was the administrator²⁰. We supposed he had left a good deal of money, but all we have received from his estate is seventy-five dollars."

 

"Do you think the old feller's been playin' any game on you?"

 

"I don't know what to think."

 

"I tell you what, Mark, he deserves a good lickin' if he's cheated you, and I'd like to give it to him."

 

"Well, Tom, I must be going. I can't stop talking here, or I'll get into trouble at the office."

1 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

2 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。

3 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。

4 condescending   

adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的

参考例句：

• He has a condescending attitude towards women. 他对女性总是居高临下。
• He tends to adopt a condescending manner when talking to young women. 和年轻女子说话时，他喜欢摆出一副高高在上的姿态。

5 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。

6 bug   

n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器

参考例句：

• There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
• The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。

7 swells   

增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。
• A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。

8 swell   

vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强

参考例句：

• The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
• His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。

9 ledger   

n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿

参考例句：

• The young man bowed his head and bent over his ledger again.那个年轻人点头应诺，然后又埋头写起分类帐。
• She is a real accountant who even keeps a detailed household ledger.她不愧是搞财务的，家庭分类账记得清楚详细。

10 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

11 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》

12 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

13 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

14 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

15 asperity   

n.粗鲁，艰苦

参考例句：

• He spoke to the boy with asperity.他严厉地对那男孩讲话。
• The asperity of the winter had everybody yearning for spring.严冬之苦让每个人都渴望春天。

16 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

17 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

18 grotesque   

adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物）

参考例句：

• His face has a grotesque appearance.他的面部表情十分怪。
• Her account of the incident was a grotesque distortion of the truth.她对这件事的陈述是荒诞地歪曲了事实。

19 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

20 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。