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CHAPTER III. A SUDDEN MOVE.
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 Presently the door was opened, and James Martin entered with an unsteady step. His breath was redolent with the fumes1 of alcohol, and his face wore the brutish, stupid look of one who was under the influence of intoxication2. He was rather above the middle height, with a frame originally strong. His hair and beard had a reddish tinge3. However he might have appeared if carefully dressed, he certainly presented an appearance far from prepossessing at the present moment.
Rough and Ready surveyed his stepfather with a glance of contempt and disgust, which he did not attempt to conceal4. Rose clung to his side with a terrified look.
"What are you doing here?" demanded Martin, sinking heavily into a chair.
"I'm taking care of my sister," said the newsboy, putting his arm protectingly round Rose's neck.
"You'd better go to work. I can take care of her," said the stepfather.
"Nice care you take of her!" retorted the newsboy, indignantly.
"Don't you be impudent5, you young rascal6," said Martin, with an unsteady voice. "If you are, I'll give you a flogging."
"Don't talk to him, Rufie," said little Rose, who had reason to fear her stepfather.
"I must, Rosie," said the newsboy, in a low voice.
"What are you muttering there?" demanded the drunkard, suspiciously.
"Where are my sister's new clothes?" asked Rough and Ready.
"I don't know about any new clothes. She aint got any as I know of."
"She had some this morning,—some that I bought and paid for. What have you done with them?"
"I've sold 'em," said Martin, doggedly7, his assumed ignorance ceasing. "That's what I've done with 'em."
"What did you sell them for?" demanded the newsboy, persistently8.
"What business has she got with new clothes, when we haven't got enough to eat, I'd like to know?"
"If we haven't got enough to eat, it isn't my fault," said the boy, promptly9. "I do my part towards supporting the family. As for you, you spend all your money for rum, and some of mine too."
"What business is it of yours?" said the drunkard, defiantly10.
"I want you to bring back my sister's clothes. What have you done with them?"
"You're an impudent young rascal."
"That isn't answering my question."
"Do you want me to give you a flogging?" asked Martin, looking angrily at our hero from his inflamed11 eyes.
"Don't say any more to him, Rufus," said little Rose, timidly.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, stealing a little girl's clothes, and selling them for rum," said the newsboy, scornfully.
This was apparently12 too much for the temper of Martin, never very good. He rose from his chair, and made a movement towards the newsboy, with the purpose of inflicting13 punishment upon him for his bold speech. But he had drunk deeply in the morning, and since selling little Rose's clothes, had invested part of the proceeds in additional liquor, which now had its effect. He stood a moment wavering, then made a step forward, but the room seemed to reel about, and he fell forward in the stupor14 of intoxication. He did not attempt to rise, but lay where he fell, breathing heavily.
"O Rufus!" cried Rose, clinging still more closely to her brother, whom she felt to be her only protector.
"Don't be afraid, Rosie," said the newsboy. "He won't hurt you. He's too drunk for that."
"But when he gets over it, he'll be so angry, he'll beat me."
"I'd like to see him do it!" said the newsboy, his eye flashing.
"I'm so afraid of him, Rufus. He wasn't quite so bad when mother was alive. It's awful to live with him."
"You shan't live with him any longer, Rose."
"What do you mean, Rufus?" said the little girl, with an inquiring glance.
"I mean that I'm going to take you away," said the boy, firmly. "You shan't live any longer with such a brute15."
"Where can we go, Rufus?"
"I don't know. Any place will be better than here."
"But will he let me go?" asked Rose, with a timid look at the form stretched out at her feet.
"I shan't ask him."
"He will be angry."
"Let him be. We've had enough of him. We'll go away and live by ourselves."
"That will be nice," said little Rose, hopefully, "somewhere where he cannot find us."
"Yes, somewhere where he cannot find us."
"When shall we go?"
"Now," said the newsboy, promptly. "We'll go while he is lying there, and can't interfere16 with us. Get your bonnet17, and we'll start."
A change of residence with those who have a superfluity of this world's goods is a formidable affair. But the newsboy and his sister possessed18 little or nothing besides what they had on, and a very small bundle, done up hastily in an old paper on which Rough and Ready had been "stuck," that is, which he had left on his hands, contained everything which they needed to take away.
They left the room, closing the door after them, and went down the rickety stairs, the little girl's hand being placed confidingly19 in that of her brother. At length they reached the foot of the last staircase, and passed through the outer door upon the sidewalk.
"It's the last time you'll go into that house," said the newsboy. "You can bid good-by to it."
"Where are we going now, Rufus?"
"I am going to see if I can find, and buy back, your new clothes, Rose. We'll walk along Baxter Street, and maybe we'll see them hanging up in some shop."
"But have you got money enough to buy them back, Rufus?"
"I think I have, Rose. Wouldn't you like to have them again?"
"Yes, Rufus; but it is too much money for you to pay. Never mind the clothes. I can get along without them," said Rose, though it cost her a pang20 to give up the nice dress which had given her so much innocent pleasure.
"No, Rose, I want you to wear them. We are going to live respectably now, and I don't want to see you wearing that old calico dress."
Little Rose was dressed in a faded calico gown, which had been made over, not very artistically21, from a dress which had belonged to her mother. It had been long in use, and showed the effects of long wear. It had for some time annoyed the newsboy, who cared more that his sister should appear well dressed than himself. He knew that his sister was pretty, and he felt proud of her. Feeling as he did, it is no wonder that his indignation was aroused by the conduct of his stepfather in selling his little sister's new clothes, which he had bought out of his scanty22 earnings23. While they had been speaking, they had walked to the end of the block and turned into Baxter Street.
Baxter Street is one of the most miserable24 streets in the most miserable quarter of the city. It is lined with old-clothing shops, gambling-dens, tumble-down tenements25, and drinking saloons, and at all times it swarms26 with sickly and neglected children, bold and wretched women, and the lowest class of men. One building, which goes by the name of Monkey Hall, is said to be a boarding-house for the monkeys, which during the day are carried about by Italian organ-grinders. It was in this street where Rufus had reason to believe that his sister's clothes might be found.
The two children walked slowly on the west side, looking into the old-clothes shops, as they passed.
"Come in, boy," said a woman at the entrance of one of the shops. "I'll fit you out cheap."
"Have you got any clothes that will do for this little girl?" asked the newsboy.
"For the little gal27? Yes, come in; I'll fit her out like a queen."
The shabby little shop hardly looked like a place where royal attire28 could be procured30. Still it might be that his sister's clothes had been sold to this woman; so Rough and Ready thought it well to enter.
The woman rummaged31 about among some female attire at the back part of the shop, and brought forward a large-figured de laine dress, of dingy32 appearance, and began to expatiate33 upon its beauty in a voluble tone.
"That's too large," said Rough and Ready. "It's big enough for me."
"Maybe you'd like it for yourself," said the woman, with a laugh.
"I don't think it would suit my style of beauty," said the newsboy. "Haven't you got anything smaller?"
"This'll do," persisted the woman. "All you've got to do is to tuck it up so;" and she indicated the alteration34. "I'll sew it up in a minute."
"No, it won't do," said the newsboy, decidedly. "Come, Rose."
They went into another shop, where a man was in attendance; but here again their inquiries35 were fruitless.
They emerged from the shop, and, just beyond, came to a basement shop, the entrance to which was lined with old clothes of every style and material. Some had originally been of fine cloth and well made, but had in course of time made their way from the drawing-room to this low cellar. There were clothes of coarser texture36 and vulgar cut, originally made for less aristocratic customers, which perhaps had been sold to obtain the necessaries of life, or very possibly to procure29 supplies for the purchase of rum. Looking down into this under-ground shop, the quick eyes of Rose caught sight of the new dress, of which she had been so proud, depending from a nail just inside.
"There it is," she said, touching37 the newsboy on the arm. "I can see it."
"So it is. Let's go down."
They descended38 the stone steps, and found themselves in a dark room, about twelve feet square, hung round with second-hand39 garments. The presiding genius of the establishment was a little old man, with a dirty yellow complexion40, his face seamed with wrinkles, but with keen, sharp eyes, who looked like a spider on the watch for flies.
"What can I sell you to-day, young gentleman?" he asked, rubbing his hands insinuatingly41.
"What's the price of that dress?" asked Rough and Ready, coming straight to the point.
"That elegant dress," said the old man, "cost me a great deal of money. It's very fine."
"I know all about it," said the newsboy, "for I bought it for my sister last week."
"No, no, you are mistaken, young gentleman," said the old man, hastily, fearing it was about to be reclaimed42. "I've had it in my shop a month."
"No, you haven't," said the newsboy, bluntly; "you bought it this morning of a tall man, with a red nose."
"How can you say so, young gentleman?"
"Because it's true. The man took it from my sister, and carried it off. How much did you pay for it?"
"I gave two dollars and a half," said the old man, judging from the newsboy's tone that it was useless to persist in his denial. "You may have it for three dollars."
"That's too much. I don't believe you gave more than a dollar. I'll give you a dollar and a half."
The old man tried hard to get more, but as Rough and Ready was firm, and, moreover, as he had only given fifty cents for the dress an hour before, he concluded that he should be doing pretty well in making two hundred per cent. profit, and let it go.
The newsboy at once paid the money, and asked if his sister could put it on there. A door in the back part of the shop was opened, revealing an inner room, where Rose speedily made the change, and emerged into the street with her old dress rolled up in a bundle.

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1 fumes lsYz3Q     
n.(强烈而刺激的)气味,气体
参考例句:
  • The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. 我们孩子们的健康正受到排放出的废气的损害。
  • Exhaust fumes are bad for your health. 废气对健康有害。
2 intoxication qq7zL8     
n.wild excitement;drunkenness;poisoning
参考例句:
  • He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝,喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
  • Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。
3 tinge 8q9yO     
vt.(较淡)着色于,染色;使带有…气息;n.淡淡色彩,些微的气息
参考例句:
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
  • There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.她声音中流露出一丝忧伤。
4 conceal DpYzt     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
  • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
5 impudent X4Eyf     
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。
6 rascal mAIzd     
n.流氓;不诚实的人
参考例句:
  • If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做,我就认为他是个恶棍。
  • The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
7 doggedly 6upzAY     
adv.顽强地,固执地
参考例句:
  • He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
  • He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着,一直走回了公寓。
8 persistently MlzztP     
ad.坚持地;固执地
参考例句:
  • He persistently asserted his right to a share in the heritage. 他始终声称他有分享那笔遗产的权利。
  • She persistently asserted her opinions. 她果断地说出了自己的意见。
9 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。
10 defiantly defiantly     
adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地
参考例句:
  • Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 inflamed KqEz2a     
adj.发炎的,红肿的v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • His comments have inflamed teachers all over the country. 他的评论激怒了全国教师。
  • Her joints are severely inflamed. 她的关节严重发炎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
13 inflicting 1c8a133a3354bfc620e3c8d51b3126ae     
把…强加给,使承受,遭受( inflict的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。
  • It's impossible to do research without inflicting some pain on animals. 搞研究不让动物遭点罪是不可能的。
14 stupor Kqqyx     
v.昏迷;不省人事
参考例句:
  • As the whisky took effect, he gradually fell into a drunken stupor.随着威士忌酒力发作,他逐渐醉得不省人事。
  • The noise of someone banging at the door roused her from her stupor.梆梆的敲门声把她从昏迷中唤醒了。
15 brute GSjya     
n.野兽,兽性
参考例句:
  • The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
  • That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲,它咬人。
16 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
17 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽;童帽
参考例句:
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光,使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽,帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
18 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
19 confidingly 5bd41445bb4f60819825713e4d46e324     
adv.信任地
参考例句:
  • She watched him confidingly and without any fear, faintly wagging her tail. 木木信任地望着自己最新近的主人,不但没有畏惧,还轻轻地摇着尾巴。 来自互联网
20 pang OKixL     
n.剧痛,悲痛,苦闷
参考例句:
  • She experienced a sharp pang of disappointment.她经历了失望的巨大痛苦。
  • She was beginning to know the pang of disappointed love.她开始尝到了失恋的痛苦。
21 artistically UNdyJ     
adv.艺术性地
参考例句:
  • The book is beautifully printed and artistically bound. 这本书印刷精美,装帧高雅。
  • The room is artistically decorated. 房间布置得很美观。
22 scanty ZDPzx     
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的
参考例句:
  • There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
  • The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。
23 earnings rrWxJ     
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%。
24 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
25 tenements 307ebb75cdd759d238f5844ec35f9e27     
n.房屋,住户,租房子( tenement的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Here were crumbling tenements, squalid courtyards and stinking alleys. 随处可见破烂的住房、肮脏的庭院和臭气熏天的小胡同。 来自辞典例句
  • The tenements are in a poor section of the city. 共同住宅是在城中较贫苦的区域里。 来自辞典例句
26 swarms 73349eba464af74f8ce6c65b07a6114c     
蜂群,一大群( swarm的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • They came to town in swarms. 他们蜂拥来到城里。
  • On June the first there were swarms of children playing in the park. 6月1日那一天,这个公园里有一群群的孩子玩耍。
27 gal 56Zy9     
n.姑娘,少女
参考例句:
  • We decided to go with the gal from Merrill.我们决定和那个从梅里尔来的女孩合作。
  • What's the name of the gal? 这个妞叫什么?
28 attire AN0zA     
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装
参考例句:
  • He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
  • Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。
29 procure A1GzN     
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条
参考例句:
  • Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗?
  • I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。
30 procured 493ee52a2e975a52c94933bb12ecc52b     
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条
参考例句:
  • These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》
31 rummaged c663802f2e8e229431fff6cdb444b548     
翻找,搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 ); 已经海关检查
参考例句:
  • I rummaged through all the boxes but still could not find it. 几个箱子都翻腾遍了也没有找到。
  • The customs officers rummaged the ship suspected to have contraband goods. 海关人员仔细搜查了一艘有走私嫌疑的海轮。
32 dingy iu8xq     
adj.昏暗的,肮脏的
参考例句:
  • It was a street of dingy houses huddled together. 这是一条挤满了破旧房子的街巷。
  • The dingy cottage was converted into a neat tasteful residence.那间脏黑的小屋已变成一个整洁雅致的住宅。
33 expatiate kzsyq     
v.细说,详述
参考例句:
  • The tendency to expatiate and make much of local advantages was Western.喜欢唠唠叨叨、夸张本地优点的脾气是西部特有的。
  • My present purpose is not to expatiate upon my walks.现在我并不打算絮絮不休地描述我的散步。
34 alteration rxPzO     
n.变更,改变;蚀变
参考例句:
  • The shirt needs alteration.这件衬衣需要改一改。
  • He easily perceived there was an alteration in my countenance.他立刻看出我的脸色和往常有些不同。
35 inquiries 86a54c7f2b27c02acf9fcb16a31c4b57     
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》
36 texture kpmwQ     
n.(织物)质地;(材料)构造;结构;肌理
参考例句:
  • We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
  • Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。
37 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
38 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的
参考例句:
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
39 second-hand second-hand     
adj.用过的,旧的,二手的
参考例句:
  • I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
  • They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。
40 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
41 insinuatingly 54c0c3edfeee9c9a4e29b1bd8e5a6ce6     
参考例句:
  • Corell said insinuatingly,"Are you afraid, Colonel?" 科雷尔很婉转地说:“你害怕了吗,上校?” 来自辞典例句
42 reclaimed d131e8b354aef51857c9c380c825a4c9     
adj.再生的;翻造的;收复的;回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 );要求收回;从废料中回收(有用的材料);挽救
参考例句:
  • Many sufferers have been reclaimed from a dependence on alcohol. 许多嗜酒成癖的受害者已经被挽救过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They reclaimed him from his evil ways. 他们把他从邪恶中挽救出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》


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