CHAPTER XVIII. — THE FALL RIVER BOAT.

 When Sam left Henry, somehow he felt in lower spirits than before. He had become attached to his roommate in spite of the difference in character between them, and Henry's reproaches seemed to throw a new light upon his conduct. He felt it the more because he was about to leave him.

 

"I did treat him mean," he admitted to himself, his conscience touched, for the first time, perhaps, in years. "I'm glad they wouldn't let me have any of his money at the bank. I won't act so mean again."

 

It is not to be supposed that this repentant¹ mood lasted long. As Sam neared the wharf² from which the Fall River line of steamers left for Boston, his thoughts were on the journey he was about to take, and his spirits rose.

 

The steamer was moored³ alongside the wharf, perhaps halfway⁴ down. There was a confused mass of trunks, bales and baggage of various kinds on the pier⁵ waiting to be stowed away on board. It was early, but a few passengers were already on board, and others were passing over the gang plank⁶ at intervals⁷. Sam thought he would go on board, too, and look about a little. He had never been on board one of these steamers, and was curious to see the accommodations. He went upstairs, and found himself in a long and elegantly furnished saloon, with lines of staterooms on either side. Three passengers were seated on sofas or in armchairs. Two were engaged in reading an afternoon paper, and the third, a girl of about fifteen, had her attention absorbed by a bird cage containing a canary.

 

She looked up as Sam passed, and asked pleasantly: "Is it almost time for the boat to start, sir?"

 

It was the first time Sam had been addressed as "sir," and he felt flattered.

 

"I guess not," he said. "There's only a few people on board. I don't think it'll start for an hour."

 

"I wish it would go soon," said the girl. "I am in a hurry to get home."

 

"Do you live in Boston?" asked Sam.

 

"Yes; I've been to visit my uncle in Brooklyn, and now I'm going back. Are you going to Boston, too?"

 

"Yes," answered Sam.

 

"Do you live there?"

 

"No; I never was there."

 

"I suppose you've got relations there?" said the young lady, in an inquiring tone.

 

"No; I'm going on to see if I can't get a place."

 

The young girl surveyed him with interest.

 

"Do you have to earn your own living?" she asked.

 

"Yes."

 

"You are young to do that."

 

"Oh, I've had to earn my living ever since I was eleven or twelve."

 

"You don't mean it. Why, what did you do?"

 

"I was clerk in a store on Pearl Street," said Sam, who did not care to mention his previous experience as a bootblack and newsboy.

 

"Well, I hope you'll get a good place. I've got a brother almost as old as you, but he'd never think he could earn his own living; his name is Frank."

 

"What's his last name?" asked Sam, bluntly.

 

"Stockton—I am Julia Stockton."

 

"My name is Sam Barker," said Sam, thinking such confidence ought to be requited⁸.

 

"I've got a cousin Sam," Julia remarked, "but I never knew any one of the name of Barker before."

 

"Is that your bird?" inquired Sam, by way of prolonging the conversation.

 

"Yes; he sings sweetly, sometimes, but I guess he's frightened now. I'm glad he's with me, it isn't quite so lonely. I never traveled alone before. Are you used to traveling alone, Mr. Barker?"

 

"I never traveled much," answered Sam, trying to look dignified⁹, on first being addressed as Mr. Barker; "but I don't mind being alone."

 

"That's because you're a boy. Boys can take care of themselves better than girls. Do you know what time we get to Boston?"

 

"No, I don't; but I'll inquire," said Sam. "Shall I find you here?"

 

"Oh, yes, I'll be here."

 

Sam went down below, and noticed that some were already procuring¹⁰ tickets at the captain's office. It struck him that he might as well obtain his. Accordingly he joined the line, and when his turn came inquired for a ticket.

 

"Fall River or Boston?" asked the man in charge.

 

"Boston."

 

"Five dollars."

 

"That's pretty steep," thought Sam. "I shall have only twenty dollars left."

 

A ticket was handed him, with 159 on it.

 

"What's that for?" asked Sam.

 

"It's the number of your berth¹¹."

 

"When will we get to Boston?"

 

"Between six and seven in the morning."

 

As Sam turned away he was accosted¹² by a newsboy: "Papers, sir?"

 

An idea struck Sam. He would get a picture paper for his new acquaintance. It was probably the first mark of attention he had ever paid to a girl, but the idea pleased him, and he bought a Harper's Weekly, and carried it upstairs.

 

He found Miss Julia Stockton sitting where he had left her. She smiled pleasantly when she saw Sam.

 

"I bought you a picture paper," he said, feeling a little awkward. "I thought you might like to read it."

 

"Oh, thank you. You are very kind. Did you find out when we would reach Boston?"

 

"Yes, Miss Julia. We shall get there between six and seven in the morning."

 

"That's pretty early. I hope papa will be at the depot¹³ waiting."

 

"At the depot? Does the boat go into a depot?" asked Sam.

 

Julia laughed. "Oh, no," she said. "Did you think we went all the way by boat?"

 

"Yes, I thought so."

 

"We go the last fifty miles by cars—that is, from Fall River."

 

"All the better," said Sam. "That will give us a little variety."

 

Meanwhile, the passengers were pouring in, and the cabin was getting full.

 

"I guess I'll go out on deck," said Sam; "I want to see the boat start."

 

"I should like to, ever so much."

 

"Come with me, then. I'll take care of you," said Sam, manfully. "Let me carry your cage. It's too heavy for you."

 

So the two went out on deck together.

1 repentant   

adj.对…感到悔恨的

参考例句：

• He was repentant when he saw what he'd done.他看到自己的作为，心里悔恨。
• I'll be meek under their coldness and repentant of my evil ways.我愿意乖乖地忍受她们的奚落，忏悔我过去的恶行。

2 wharf   

n.码头，停泊处

参考例句：

• We fetch up at the wharf exactly on time.我们准时到达码头。
• We reached the wharf gasping for breath.我们气喘吁吁地抵达了码头。

3 moored   

adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London. 该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。
• We shipped (the) oars and moored alongside the bank. 我们收起桨，把船泊在岸边。

4 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

5 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

6 plank   

n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目

参考例句：

• The plank was set against the wall.木板靠着墙壁。
• They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade.他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。

7 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

8 requited   

v.报答( requite的过去式和过去分词 )；酬谢；回报；报复

参考例句：

• I requited him for his help with a present. 我送他一份礼以答谢他的帮助。 来自辞典例句
• His kindness was requited with cold contempt. 他的好意被报以 [遭致] 冷淡的轻蔑。 来自辞典例句

9 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

10 procuring   

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

11 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

12 accosted   

v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭

参考例句：

• She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger. 在街上，一个完全陌生的人贸然走到她跟前搭讪。
• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。