"Where am I?" he thought in bewilderment, as, opening his eyes, his first glance took in the appointments of the bedchamber.
Recollections quickly came to his aid, and, springing out of bed, he began to dress.
His feelings were rather mixed. He wished that he could glide2 softly downstairs, and out of the house, without stopping to breakfast. But this would not do, since Mr. Turner had expressly requested him to stay. But he dreaded3 meeting the rest of the family at the breakfast-table. He was afraid that he wouldn't know how to act in such unwonted circumstances, for, though bold enough, and ready enough in the company of boys and out in the street, he felt bashful in his present position.
He dressed himself slowly, and, finding a clothes-brush, brushed his clothes carefully. He arranged his hair neatly4 at the glass, which, though the news boy was not vain enough to suspect it, reflected the face and figure of a very attractive and handsome boy.
When his preparations were all completed, he sat down in some perplexity. Should he go downstairs? He decided5 not to do so, for he did not know his way to the room where the family ate breakfast.
"I will wait till I hear the bell," he thought.
He had to wait ten or fifteen minutes, feeling somewhat nervous the while.
At length the bell rang, and Rufus knew that it was time to go downstairs. He looked upon it as rather a trying ordeal6, considering that he knew only the head of the family. Just as he was preparing to leave the room, the door was thrown open, and a boy of ten entered impetuously.
"Breakfast's ready," he said; "Pa-pa sent me up to show you the way."
"Thank you," said Rufus.
"What's your name?"
"Rufus."
"There's a boy in my class at school named Rufus, but he don't look much like you. Where's the bat you knocked the robber down with?"
"Here," said the newsboy, smiling.
"I guess you gave him a crack, didn't you? I wouldn't like to get hit with it. Do you play base-ball?"
"Not much."
"What do you want a bat for, then?"
"To knock robbers down," said Rufus, smiling.
"I belong to a base-ball club at school. We call it the "Sea-Birds." We go up to the Park once a week and play."
By this time they had reached the breakfast-room. Mr. Turner, who was already down, advanced to meet our hero, and took him by the hand.
"Did you sleep well, Rufus?" he said.
"Yes, sir. I only waked up when the bell rang."
"It was late when we retired7. Louisa, my dear, this is the young lad who bravely came to my rescue when I was assaulted by two robbers."
Mrs. Turner, who was a pleasant-looking lady, took his hand cordially. "I am very glad my husband brought you home," she said. "I shudder8 to think what would have happened, if you had not come up. I shouldn't have minded the money; but he might have been killed. I don't see how you could have had the courage to attack them."
"Nor would the club have done any good, if it hadn't been in the hands of a brave boy," said Mr. Turner. "But the breakfast is getting cold. Let us sit down."
Rufus took his seat in a chair indicated to him. He was glad to find that he was seated next to the boy, who had shown him the way downstairs, for with a boy he felt more at home than with an older person.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Walter," was the reply. "I'm named after my Uncle Walter. He's travelling in Europe. Are you in a store?"
"No."
"Do you go to school?"
"No, I sell papers. I'm a newsboy."
"Do you make much money?"
"About eight dollars a week."
"That's a good deal. I only get fifty cents a week for spending money."
"Which is twice as much as you ought to have," said his father. "I'm afraid you spend most of it for candy."
"I didn't know newsboys made so much money," said Walter.
"Rufus has a sister to support," said Mr. Turner. "You wouldn't think eight dollars much, if you had to pay all your expenses out of it, and support a sister besides."
"What is your sister's name?" asked Mrs. Turner.
"Rose."
"A very pretty name. How old is she?"
"Seven years old."
"That's just as old as my sister Carrie," said Walter; "here she comes. She's so lazy she always gets up late in the morning."
"No, I don't either," said the young lady referred to; "I'm not so lazy as you are, Master Walter."
"Well, then, why didn't you come down earlier?"
"Because I had to have my hair braided," said Carrie.
"Didn't I have to brush my hair?" said Walter.
"Your hair doesn't look as if you had spent much time on it," said his father.
"Pa-pa," said Walter, as he helped himself to a second piece of toast, "I wish you'd let me stop going to school, and sell papers."
"Do you think that would be a good plan?" asked his father, smiling.
"Yes, I could earn money, you know."
"Not much, I think. I suppose, if I agree to that arrangement, you will promise to pay all your expenses out of your earnings10."
"Yes, I guess I could," said Walter, hesitating, "I can learn the business of Rufus."
"I don't think you'd like it very well," said our hero, amused.
"Don't you like it?"
"I don't think I should like to sell papers all my life."
"What are you going to do when you are a man?"
"I can't tell yet."
"By the way, Rufus, I should be glad to have you call at my counting-room, No. —— Wall Street, this morning."
"Thank you, sir," said Rufus; "but I should prefer to call to-morrow. This morning, I am going over to Brooklyn to see if I can recover my sister."
"To-morrow will answer just as well. Don't fail to come, however, I wish to have a talk with you about your prospects11."
"I will not fail to come," answered the newsboy.
Rufus did not find it so embarrassing as he anticipated at the breakfast table. His young neighbor, Walter, plied12 him with questions, many of which amused him, and occasionally his sister Carrie, on the opposite side of the table, joined in. Mrs. Turner asked him questions about his little sister, and sympathized with him when he described the plot by which she had been taken from him.
"Do you know Latin?" inquired Walter.
"No," said Rufus.
"I don't see what's the use of studying it, for my part. I never expect to talk Latin."
"I don't think you ever will," said his father; "judging from your school report, your success has not been very brilliant in that study, so far."
"I know one Latin sentence, anyway," said Walter, complacently13.
"What is it?"
"Sum stultus."
"I regret to hear it," said his father, in a tone of amusement.
"Why?" asked Walter, surprised.
"Do you understand the meaning of the words you have just used?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, what is it?"
"They mean, 'I am good.'"
"Indeed,—I had an idea that their meaning was quite different. Suppose you look out stultus in your dictionary."
"I am sure I am right," said Walter, confidently. "I will prove it to you."
"Well," said his father, "what does it mean?"
"I am a fool," returned Walter.
At this there was a laugh at Walter's expense. Breakfast was now over, and they rose from the table.
"I hope you will come and see us again," said Mrs. Turner.
"Thank you," said our hero.
"Come again, Rufus," said Walter; "I'm making a boat, and perhaps you can help me. I'd show it to you, only I've got to get ready to go to school. I'm going to sail it in the bath-tub."
"I shall expect to see you at my office, to-morrow," said Mr. Turner, as Rufus took his leave. "Don't forget the number, —— Wall Street."
The door closed behind him, and Rufus descended15 the steps. On the whole, he was glad now that he had remained to breakfast. It had not proved so trying an ordeal as he anticipated, and he felt that he had acquitted16 himself pretty well under the circumstances. It occurred to him that it would be very pleasant to live in the same way if he could afford it; not that he cared so much for himself, but he would like it if Rose could have the same advantages, and live in as pleasant a home as Carrie Turner.
This recalled to his mind that Rose was still in the power of his stepfather, and if he wished to secure her it would be well to lose no time. He jumped on a horse-car, and rode down-town. As he got out, Ben Gibson, who had just finished a job, caught sight of him.
"A gentleman invited me to stop at his house up-town."
"Oh, yes, of course," said Ben, incredulously.
"It's true. But I want you to go over to Brooklyn with me, and show me just where Mr. Martin lives. You shan't lose anything by it. I'll tell you about my adventure last night, as we are walking along."
"All right," said Ben; "my health's getting delicate, and a trip to Brooklyn will be good for it."
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收听单词发音
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1
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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12
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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13
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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14
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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17
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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18
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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