CHAPTER XXIII. — SAM FINDS A ROOMMATE.

 Looking up, Sam's glance rested on a young man, of rustic¹ dress and manners, which made him seem quite out of place in a fashionable hotel.

 

"No," answered Sam. "I am a stranger in Boston. I came from New York."

 

"You don't say! It's an all-fired big city, isn't it?" said the countryman.

 

"It is very large," said Sam, patronizingly.

 

"I live in the country," said the other—quite needlessly, so Sam thought—"up in New Hampshire. I've come down here to get a job."

 

"So have I," responded Sam, with new interest in his companion.

 

"Are you boardin' here?" asked the countryman.

 

"No; I am going to try to find a boarding-place. The prices are too steep here."

 

"Let me go with you," said the young man, eagerly.

 

Sam thought, on the whole, it would be pleasanter to have company, and accepted this proposal.

 

They bought a copy of the Boston Herald² and picked out a list of boarding-houses which appeared to come within their means. Among these were two on Harrison Avenue. One of these was the very house which had already been mentioned to Sam by his boy acquaintance of the morning.

 

"Do you know your way round the city?" asked Sam of his companion.

 

"A little," said the other.

 

"Do you know how to go to Harrison Avenue?"

 

"Yes, I know that."

 

"Is it far?"

 

"Not very far. We can walk easy enough."

 

"That's all right, then. Let us go."

 

The two set out on their expedition, walking up Washington Street as far as Essex, and, turning there, soon entered Harrison Avenue. They beguiled³ the time on the way by conversation.

 

"What, was you calc'latin' to find to do?" asked the countryman.

 

"I was clerk in a store in New York," said Sam; "I'd like to get into a store here."

 

"So should I."

 

Sam privately⁴ thought him too countrified in appearance for the position he desired, but did not say so.

 

"Have you had any experience?" he asked, curiously⁵.

 

"Oh, yes; I used to drive the wagon⁶ for a grocery store, to hum."

 

Sam privately doubted whether this experience would be of any particular value to his new acquaintance. However, he had not much faith in his own qualifications, and this concerned him more.

 

"What's your name?" inquired Sam.

 

"Abner Blodgett," was the reply. "What's yours?"

 

"Sam Barker."

 

"You don't say! There's a doctor in our town by the name of Barker; any relation?"

 

"I guess not. I never heard of a doctor in our family."

 

Presently they reached the number indicated. Sam rang the bell.

 

"You are looking for a boarding-place," he explained. "We saw your advertisement in the Herald."

 

"Walk in," said the servant. "I'll tell Mrs. Campbell."

 

Mrs. Campbell presently appeared; a shrewd-looking Scotch⁷ lady, but kindly⁸ in expression.

 

"You are looking for a boarding place, gentlemen?" she inquired.

 

"Yes, ma'am."

 

"I have one single room and one double one. For the single room I have eight dollars a week; for the double one fourteen, that is, seven dollars for each gentleman. Do you two gentlemen wish to room together?"

 

"Yes," answered Blodgett, immediately; "if you are willing," he added aside, to Sam.

 

"Let us look at the rooms," said Sam, "and then we can tell better."

 

"Walk up this way, gentlemen," said Mrs. Campbell.

 

She led the way first to the double room. It was a square room, the second floor back, and looked quite neat and comfortable. Sam liked the appearance of it, and so apparently⁹ did Abner Blodgett.

 

"Ain't it scrumptious, though?" he said, admiringly. "We ain't got many rooms like that to hum."

 

"I suppose you are from the country, sir?" said Mrs. Campbell, with a good-natured smile.

 

"Yes," said Blodgett, "I'm from New Hampshire; away up near Mount Washington."

 

"Let me see the single room," requested Sam.

 

The single room was shown; but it was, of course, much smaller, and the furniture was inferior.

 

"We'd better take the big room together," said Abner.

 

Sam hesitated a moment. He was not very particular, but he did not altogether fancy the appearance of Mr. Blodgett.

 

"How much do you charge for the large room for a single person?" he asked.

 

"I couldn't take less than eleven dollars," said the landlady¹⁰.

 

It was, of course, impossible for Sam to pay any such sum, and he reluctantly agreed to occupy the room jointly¹¹ with Mr. Blodgett.

 

"When will you move in?" asked Mrs. Campbell.

 

"To-day," said Sam.

 

"I must ask you to pay something in advance, to secure the room, gentlemen."

 

Sam had no luggage beyond a small bundle, and he answered at once, "I'll pay a week in advance."

 

"Thank you, sir."

 

Sam handed the landlady ten dollars and received in return three.

 

"I'll pay you to-morrow," said Blodgett. "I've got to get the money from my cousin."

 

"I'll wait till to-morrow to oblige you," said the landlady, "but no longer."

 

"Oh, I'll have the money then," said Abner, confidently.

 

"Will you be here to dinner, gentlemen?"

 

"When do you have dinner?"

 

"At six o'clock. We used to have it in the middle of the day, but it was inconvenient¹² to some of our boarders, and we changed it."

 

"We have dinner to hum, where I live, at noon," said Abner.

 

"We have lunch at half-past twelve, if you choose to come."

 

"I guess we will," said Abner. "We'll go out and take a walk, Mr. Barker, and come back in time."

 

"Just as you say," answered Sam.

 

After a walk they returned to lunch. Sam was usually possessed¹³ of a good appetite, but he stared in astonishment¹⁴ when he saw Blodgett eat. That young man appeared to have fasted for a week, and ate accordingly.

 

"What's the matter with you, Mr. Barker? You don't eat nothin'," he said.

 

"I had a late breakfast," said Sam. "I guess you'll get your money's worth."

 

"I mean to. Seven dollars is an awful lot to pay for board. Up to hum they don't charge but three."

 

"Then I wish they'd open a branch boarding-house here."

 

"Suppose we go over to Bunker Hill?" said Sam, after lunch. "I want to see the monument."

 

"Just as you say," said Abner.

 

"We can ask the way."

 

"There's some cars go over that way, I've heerd," said Abner.

 

As they were walking down Washington Street a young man, rather flashily attired¹⁵, stopped Blodgett, whom he appeared to recognize.

 

"What's in the wind now?" he asked. "Who have you got in tow?"

 

"It's my friend, Mr. Barker."

 

"How do you do, Mr. Barker?" said the young man, who appeared very much amused about something.

 

"How's your father, the deacon?" he inquired of Blodgett, and laughed again.

 

"Pretty smart," said Blodgett.

 

"Just give him my respects when you write, will you?"

 

"I won't forget,"

 

The new acquaintance winked¹⁶, and went his way. Sam was rather surprised at his manner, and also at the fact of his countrified companion being apparently on intimate terms with a person so different in appearance.

 

"Who is that?" he asked.

 

"That's a young man from our town," said Mr. Blodgett. "He's been living in Boston for five or six years. He's got a good place in Milk Street."

 

"What sort of a fellow is he?"

 

"You don't say nothin' about it," said Abner, looking about him as if fearing to be overheard; "but I'm afraid he's a fast young man."

 

"Shouldn't wonder," said Sam.

 

"I've heard that he plays cards!" added Abner, in a horrified¹⁷ whisper.

 

"Very likely," said Sam, amused.

 

He had had some suspicions of his companion, occasioned by the apparent good understanding between him and the young man they had met, but this remark dissipated them. He felt amused by the verdancy¹⁸ of Abner Blodgett, and anticipated a good deal of entertainment from his remarks.

 

They took the horse cars to Bunker Hill; Sam paid the fare both ways, as his companion did not expect to have any money till tomorrow. He did not relish¹⁹ lending, his own stock of money being so scanty²⁰; but Abner was so confident of being in funds the next day that he did not refuse. He was interested in the view from the summit of the monument, and spent an additional hour in exploring Charlestown. When the two got back to Boston they found the afternoon well advanced and the dinner hour near.

1 rustic   

adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬

参考例句：

• It was nearly seven months of leisurely rustic living before Michael felt real boredom.这种悠闲的乡村生活过了差不多七个月之后,迈克尔开始感到烦闷。
• We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.我们希望新鲜的空气和乡村的氛围能帮他调整自己。

2 herald   

vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎

参考例句：

• In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
• Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

3 beguiled   

v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等）

参考例句：

• She beguiled them into believing her version of events. 她哄骗他们相信了她叙述的事情。
• He beguiled me into signing this contract. 他诱骗我签订了这项合同。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

5 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

6 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

7 scotch   

n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的

参考例句：

• Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。
• Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。

8 kindly   

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。

9 apparently   

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。

10 landlady   

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。

11 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

12 inconvenient   

adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的

参考例句：

• You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
• Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？

13 possessed   

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。

14 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

15 attired   

adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bride was attired in white. 新娘穿一身洁白的礼服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is appropriate that everyone be suitably attired. 人人穿戴得体是恰当的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

18 verdancy   

n.幼稚；嫩绿

参考例句：

19 relish   

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。

20 scanty   

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。