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CHAPTER XV — DICK SECURES A TUTOR
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 The next morning Dick was unusually successful, having plenty to do, and receiving for one job twenty-five cents,—the gentleman refusing to take change. Then flashed upon Dick's mind the thought that he had not yet returned the change due to the gentleman whose boots he had blacked on the morning of his introduction to the reader.
 
"What'll he think of me?" said Dick to himself. "I hope he won't think I'm mean enough to keep the money."
 
Now Dick was scrupulously1 honest, and though the temptation to be otherwise had often been strong, he had always resisted it. He was not willing on any account to keep money which did not belong to him, and he immediately started for 125 Fulton Street (the address which had been given him) where he found Mr. Greyson's name on the door of an office on the first floor.
 
The door being open, Dick walked in.
 
"Is Mr. Greyson in?" he asked of a clerk who sat on a high stool before a desk.
 
"Not just now. He'll be in soon. Will you wait?"
 
"Yes," said Dick.
 
"Very well; take a seat then."
 
Dick sat down and took up the morning "Tribune," but presently came to a word of four syllables2, which he pronounced to himself a "sticker," and laid it down. But he had not long to wait, for five minutes later Mr. Greyson entered.
 
"Did you wish to speak to me, my lad?" said he to Dick, whom in his new clothes he did not recognize.
 
"Yes, sir," said Dick. "I owe you some money."
 
"Indeed!" said Mr. Greyson, pleasantly; "that's an agreeable surprise. I didn't know but you had come for some. So you are a debtor3 of mine, and not a creditor4?"
 
"I b'lieve that's right," said Dick, drawing fifteen cents from his pocket, and placing in Mr. Greyson's hand.
 
"Fifteen cents!" repeated he, in some surprise. "How do you happen to be indebted to me in that amount?"
 
"You gave me a quarter for a-shinin' your boots, yesterday mornin', and couldn't wait for the change. I meant to have brought it before, but I forgot all about it till this mornin'."
 
"It had quite slipped my mind also. But you don't look like the boy I employed. If I remember rightly he wasn't as well dressed as you."
 
"No," said Dick. "I was dressed for a party, then, but the clo'es was too well ventilated to be comfortable in cold weather."
 
"You're an honest boy," said Mr. Greyson. "Who taught you to be honest?"
 
"Nobody," said Dick. "But it's mean to cheat and steal. I've always knowed that."
 
"Then you've got ahead of some of our business men. Do you read the Bible?"
 
"No," said Dick. "I've heard it's a good book, but I don't know much about it."
 
"You ought to go to some Sunday School. Would you be willing?"
 
"Yes," said Dick, promptly5. "I want to grow up 'spectable. But I don't know where to go."
 
"Then I'll tell you. The church I attend is at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Twenty-first Street."
 
"I've seen it," said Dick.
 
"I have a class in the Sunday School there. If you'll come next Sunday, I'll take you into my class, and do what I can to help you."
 
"Thank you," said Dick, "but p'r'aps you'll get tired of teaching me. I'm awful ignorant."
 
"No, my lad," said Mr. Greyson, kindly6. "You evidently have some good principles to start with, as you have shown by your scorn of dishonesty. I shall hope good things of you in the future."
 
"Well, Dick," said our hero, apostrophizing himself, as he left the office; "you're gettin' up in the world. You've got money invested, and are goin' to attend church, by partic'lar invitation, on Fifth Avenue. I shouldn't wonder much if you should find cards, when you get home, from the Mayor, requestin' the honor of your company to dinner, along with other distinguished7 guests."
 
Dick felt in very good spirits. He seemed to be emerging from the world in which he had hitherto lived, into a new atmosphere of respectability, and the change seemed very pleasant to him.
 
At six o'clock Dick went into a restaurant on Chatham Street, and got a comfortable supper. He had been so successful during the day that, after paying for this, he still had ninety cents left. While he was despatching his supper, another boy came in, smaller and slighter than Dick, and sat down beside him. Dick recognized him as a boy who three months before had entered the ranks of the boot-blacks, but who, from a natural timidity, had not been able to earn much. He was ill-fitted for the coarse companionship of the street boys, and shrank from the rude jokes of his present associates. Dick had never troubled him; for our hero had a certain chivalrous8 feeling which would not allow him to bully9 or disturb a younger and weaker boy than himself.
 
"How are you, Fosdick?" said Dick, as the other seated himself.
 
"Pretty well," said Fosdick. "I suppose you're all right."
 
"Oh, yes, I'm right side up with care. I've been havin' a bully supper. What are you goin' to have?"
 
"Some bread and butter."
 
"Why don't you get a cup o' coffee?"
 
"Why," said Fosdick, reluctantly, "I haven't got money enough to-night."
 
"Never mind," said Dick; "I'm in luck to-day, I'll stand treat."
 
"That's kind in you," said Fosdick, gratefully.
 
"Oh, never mind that," said Dick.
 
Accordingly he ordered a cup of coffee, and a plate of beefsteak, and was gratified to see that his young companion partook of both with evident relish10. When the repast was over, the boys went out into the street together, Dick pausing at the desk to settle for both suppers.
 
"Where are you going to sleep to-night, Fosdick?" asked Dick, as they stood on the sidewalk.
 
"I don't know," said Fosdick, a little sadly. "In some doorway11, I expect. But I'm afraid the police will find me out, and make me move on."
 
"I'll tell you what," said Dick, "you must go home with me. I guess my bed will hold two."
 
"Have you got a room?" asked the other, in surprise.
 
"Yes," said Dick, rather proudly, and with a little excusable exultation12. "I've got a room over in Mott Street; there I can receive my friends. That'll be better than sleepin' in a door-way,—won't it?"
 
"Yes, indeed it will," said Fosdick. "How lucky I was to come across you! It comes hard to me living as I do. When my father was alive I had every comfort."
 
"That's more'n I ever had," said Dick. "But I'm goin' to try to live comfortable now. Is your father dead?"
 
"Yes," said Fosdick, sadly. "He was a printer; but he was drowned one dark night from a Fulton ferry-boat, and, as I had no relations in the city, and no money, I was obliged to go to work as quick as I could. But I don't get on very well."
 
"Didn't you have no brothers nor sisters?" asked Dick.
 
"No," said Fosdick; "father and I used to live alone. He was always so much company to me that I feel very lonesome without him. There's a man out West somewhere that owes him two thousand dollars. He used to live in the city, and father lent him all his money to help him go into business; but he failed, or pretended to, and went off. If father hadn't lost that money he would have left me well off; but no money would have made up his loss to me."
 
"What's the man's name that went off with your father's money?"
 
"His name is Hiram Bates."
 
"P'r'aps you'll get the money again, sometime."
 
"There isn't much chance of it," said Fosdick. "I'd sell out my chances of that for five dollars."
 
"Maybe I'll buy you out sometime," said Dick. "Now, come round and see what sort of a room I've got. I used to go to the theatre evenings, when I had money; but now I'd rather go to bed early, and have a good sleep."
 
"I don't care much about theatres," said Fosdick. "Father didn't use to let me go very often. He said it wasn't good for boys."
 
"I like to go to the Old Bowery sometimes. They have tip-top plays there. Can you read and write well?" he asked, as a sudden thought came to him.
 
"Yes," said Fosdick. "Father always kept me at school when he was alive, and I stood pretty well in my classes. I was expecting to enter at the Free Academy* next year."
 
* Now the college of the city of New York.
 
"Then I'll tell you what," said Dick; "I'll make a bargain with you. I can't read much more'n a pig; and my writin' looks like hens' tracks. I don't want to grow up knowin' no more'n a four-year-old boy. If you'll teach me readin' and writin' evenin's, you shall sleep in my room every night. That'll be better'n door-steps or old boxes, where I've slept many a time."
 
"Are you in earnest?" said Fosdick, his face lighting13 up hopefully.
 
"In course I am," said Dick. "It's fashionable for young gentlemen to have private tootors to introduct 'em into the flower-beds of literatoor and science, and why shouldn't I foller the fashion? You shall be my perfessor; only you must promise not to be very hard if my writin' looks like a rail-fence on a bender."
 
"I'll try not to be too severe," said Fosdick, laughing. "I shall be thankful for such a chance to get a place to sleep. Have you got anything to read out of?"
 
"No," said Dick. "My extensive and well-selected library was lost overboard in a storm, when I was sailin' from the Sandwich Islands to the desert of Sahara. But I'll buy a paper. That'll do me a long time."
 
Accordingly Dick stopped at a paper-stand, and bought a copy of a weekly paper, filled with the usual variety of reading matter,—stories, sketches14, poems, etc.
 
They soon arrived at Dick's lodging-house. Our hero, procuring15 a lamp from the landlady16, led the way into his apartment, which he entered with the proud air of a proprietor17.
 
"Well, how do you like it, Fosdick?" he asked, complacently18.
 
The time was when Fosdick would have thought it untidy and not particularly attractive. But he had served a severe apprenticeship19 in the streets, and it was pleasant to feel himself under shelter, and he was not disposed to be critical.
 
"It looks very comfortable, Dick," he said.
 
"The bed aint very large," said Dick; "but I guess we can get along."
 
"Oh, yes," said Fosdick, cheerfully. "I don't take up much room."
 
"Then that's all right. There's two chairs, you see, one for you and one for me. In case the mayor comes in to spend the evenin' socially, he can sit on the bed."
 
The boys seated themselves, and five minutes later, under the guidance of his young tutor, Dick had commenced his studies.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 scrupulously Tj5zRa     
adv.一丝不苟地;小心翼翼地,多顾虑地
参考例句:
  • She toed scrupulously into the room. 她小心翼翼地踮着脚走进房间。 来自辞典例句
  • To others he would be scrupulously fair. 对待别人,他力求公正。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史
2 syllables d36567f1b826504dbd698bd28ac3e747     
n.音节( syllable的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a word with two syllables 双音节单词
  • 'No. But I'll swear it was a name of two syllables.' “想不起。不过我可以发誓,它有两个音节。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
3 debtor bxfxy     
n.借方,债务人
参考例句:
  • He crowded the debtor for payment.他催逼负债人还债。
  • The court granted me a lien on my debtor's property.法庭授予我对我债务人财产的留置权。
4 creditor tOkzI     
n.债仅人,债主,贷方
参考例句:
  • The boss assigned his car to his creditor.那工头把自己的小汽车让与了债权人。
  • I had to run away from my creditor whom I made a usurious loan.我借了高利贷不得不四处躲债。
5 promptly LRMxm     
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。
6 kindly tpUzhQ     
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。
7 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的
参考例句:
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
8 chivalrous 0Xsz7     
adj.武士精神的;对女人彬彬有礼的
参考例句:
  • Men are so little chivalrous now.现在的男人几乎没有什么骑士风度了。
  • Toward women he was nobly restrained and chivalrous.对于妇女,他表现得高尚拘谨,尊敬三分。
9 bully bully     
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮
参考例句:
  • A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
  • The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
10 relish wBkzs     
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味
参考例句:
  • I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
  • I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。
11 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
12 exultation wzeyn     
n.狂喜,得意
参考例句:
  • It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字,他屏住呼吸,乐得脸上放光。
  • He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
13 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
14 sketches 8d492ee1b1a5d72e6468fd0914f4a701     
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概
参考例句:
  • The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
  • You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 procuring 1d7f440d0ca1006a2578d7800f8213b2     
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的现在分词 );拉皮条
参考例句:
  • He was accused of procuring women for his business associates. 他被指控为其生意合伙人招妓。 来自辞典例句
  • She had particular pleasure, in procuring him the proper invitation. 她特别高兴为他争得这份体面的邀请。 来自辞典例句
16 landlady t2ZxE     
n.女房东,女地主
参考例句:
  • I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
  • The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。
17 proprietor zR2x5     
n.所有人;业主;经营者
参考例句:
  • The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
  • The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。
18 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
19 apprenticeship 4NLyv     
n.学徒身份;学徒期
参考例句:
  • She was in the second year of her apprenticeship as a carpenter. 她当木工学徒已是第二年了。
  • He served his apprenticeship with Bob. 他跟鲍勃当学徒。


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