CHAPTER XXVIII. — BROWN'S PLAN.

 Brown, Jones and Robinson roomed in one of the college dormitories, but took their meals at a private boarding-house not far from the college yard. Memorial Hall had not yet been erected¹, and there was no public dining-place, as now. They paid a high price and enjoyed in return a luxurious² table. About twenty students boarded at the same place, but less than half that number were present when Sam and the three sophomores³ entered the house.

 

"Leave your hat on the rack," said Brown, "and follow me."

 

He led the way into the dining-room and seated Sam beside himself.

 

"Is that your brother, Brown?" asked Bates, a classmate who sat opposite.

 

"Yes," answered Brown. "Do you think he looks like me?"

 

"He seems more intelligent," said Bates.

 

"Thank you. I owe you one."

 

"There's something about his left eyebrow⁴ that reminds me of you," said Bates, reflectively. "Yes, I should know he was your brother."

 

"I never saw him before," continued Brown. "He's been traveling ever since he was a baby, but this morning witnessed his happy restoration to my arms."

 

Sam listened to this chaffing with amusement. He relished⁶ it better than a discussion which followed upon the relative merits of two Greek authors which the students had been occupied with since entering college. This talk seemed very dry to Sam, whose previous life had hardly fitted him to take an interest in such subjects.

 

The dinner, however, he did relish⁵, and did not fail to do justice to it.

 

"I think, Sam," said Brown, as the dessert came on, "that there is one society you will like better than the Alpha Zeta."

 

"What's that?" asked Sam.

 

"The Eta Pi Society."

 

"I can eat a pie as well as anybody," answered Sam, who, however, not being acquainted with the Greek alphabet, did not quite comprehend the joke.

 

"I should never think of doubting your word on that score. Here, Mary, bring this young man an extra large slice of apple pie. He has been working hard this morning."

 

At length the dinner was over, and the three students withdrew from the table.

 

"Well, Jones, what are your plans for the afternoon?" asked Brown.

 

"I'm going into town on important business."

 

"Such as what?"

 

"Ordering a new suit at my tailor's."

 

"That's important. How is it with you, Robinson?"

 

"I'm going in with Jones."

 

"To help him order his suit?"

 

"I shan't need any help in ordering it," said Jones. "I may need help in paying for it."

 

"I'd rather help order it," said Robinson. "Are you going into the city, Brown?"

 

"Not till four o'clock. I have a little work to do first. Sam, are you in any hurry to go back to Boston?"

 

"No," answered Sam. "I've made ten dollars this forenoon, and can afford to take it easy the rest of the day."

 

"Then stay with me until I go. I may have something to say to you."

 

"All right."

 

The three students parted; Jones and Robinson jumping on board a street car, while Brown took Sam to his room. It was not the one in which Sam's initiation⁷ had taken place, but another in the same dormitory, and was handsomely furnished. The walls were lined with fine engravings, and various ornaments⁸ adorned⁹ the mantel.

 

"Brown must be rich," though Sam. "I wish I had such a nice room."

 

"I'm going to read a little Greek," said Brown. "I was away two days last week, and I want to make up the lessons. You may find something on that bookcase to amuse you. Stretch yourself out in that armchair and make yourself comfortable."

 

Sam accepted the invitation willingly. He was not particularly bashful, and made himself quite at home. Most of the books on Brown's shelves struck him as very dry; but he finally found one profusely¹⁰ illustrated¹¹, and this entertained him till Brown, after an hour's silence and turning over the pages of his Greek dictionary, closed his books and said: "Well, thank goodness, that job's over!"

 

"Have you got through?"

 

"Yes, for to-day."

 

"Don't it make your head ache to study so hard?" asked Sam, curiously¹².

 

Brown laughed.

 

"I don't study hard enough to endanger my head," he answered. "I am not likely to become a martyr¹³ to science."

 

"You must know a lot," said Sam, opening the Greek book, and surveying the pages with admiring awe¹⁴.

 

"My Greek professor does not appear to be of that opinion," said Brown, "judging from the way he marks me. However, it is quite possible that he is prejudiced, and can't appreciate modest merit. What have you got there?"

 

"The 'Arabian Nights' Entertainments,'" said Sam.

 

"Do you like it?"

 

"It's tiptop. I wish I had that lamp I've been reading about."

 

"Aladdin's lamp?"

 

"Yes."

 

"What would you do?"

 

"Call for a lot of money."

 

"You are poor," said Brown, thoughtfully,

 

"Yes, I'm about as poor as I want to be. I've been lookin' round for a fortune for five or six years; but I haven't found it yet."

 

"What can you do?"

 

"I was a clerk in New York."

 

"That means an errand boy, doesn't it?" inquired Brown, shrewdly.

 

"Yes," said Sam, not disturbed by being found out.

 

"How much did you receive for your services in New York?"

 

"Five dollars a week," answered Sam, telling the truth, by way of variety.

 

"I am afraid it would be hard to get that in Boston. Are you not fit for anything better?"

 

"I am afraid not," said Sam. "The fact is, I don't know much."

 

"In other words, your education has been neglected."

 

"Yes, it has."

 

"That's in your way. If you wrote a good hand, and were good at figures, you might perhaps do better than become an errand boy, though even then it is doubtful whether you could obtain more than five dollars a week."

 

"I don't see how I can live on that," said Sam, "even if I could get it."

 

"It would be rather hard," said the student. "I have twice that for spending money."

 

"And don't you have to pay for your clothes or your meals?" asked Sam.

 

"No, nor for my books, nor any of my college bills."

 

"Your folks must be awful rich," said Sam, not without a touch of envy.

 

"My father is prosperous in business," Brown admitted.

 

"Does he live in Boston?"

 

"No, he lives in Brookline."

 

"Where is that?"

 

"Not far from the city—not over three miles away."

 

"Couldn't your father give me a place in his store?" asked Sam.

 

"I don't think he has any vacancy,"

 

Sam looked despondent¹⁵. Brown appeared to take an interest in him, and he had hoped that he might do something for him.

 

"But," Brown continued, "I have another plan for you."

 

"What is it?" asked Sam, his hopes reviving.

 

"I have a young brother of fourteen at home—there are only two of us; but he is small and delicate. He is lame¹⁶, besides, having met with an accident when quite young. He is unable to go to school, as it would prove too great a tax upon one in his delicate state of health. He takes lessons at home, however, of a visiting tutor, as in this way his studies can be arranged to suit his varying strength. Now, I have been long of opinion that he requires a boy companion, older than himself, who is naturally lively and cheerful, to share with him in his amusements, to accompany him in his walks, and share with him in his studies. From what I have seen of you, I think you are just the companion my brother wants. Have you any bad habits?"

 

Sam had shrewdness enough to perceive that it would be better for him to be truthful¹⁷. Besides, to do him justice, Brown's kindness had made an impression upon him, and he would have felt ashamed to deceive him.

 

"I am afraid I have," he answered; "but I could get rid of them."

 

"What are your bad habits?"

 

"Sometimes I swear," said Sam, candidly¹⁸.

 

"Will you give that up?"

 

"Yes, I will."

 

"What else?"

 

"Sometimes I smoke cigars."

 

"You must give that up. My father abominates¹⁹ cigars."

 

"I will."

 

"What else?"

 

"I don't always tell the truth," said Sam, courageously²⁰.

 

"Lying is very ungentlemanly, to say the least. Do you think you can get over that?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Then, I will ask my father to take you on trial. I am going over to Brookline to supper this afternoon, and I will take you over, and talk with him about it. Will you go?"

 

"I'll go," said Sam, eagerly. "I'd like to be with your brother ever so much."

1 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

2 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

3 sophomores   

n.（中等、专科学校或大学的）二年级学生( sophomore的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We are freshmen and they are sophomores. 我们是一年级学生，他们是二年级学生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Over half the students in the course are sophomores. 听这门课的一大半是二年级学生。 来自辞典例句

4 eyebrow   

n.眉毛，眉

参考例句：

• Her eyebrow is well penciled.她的眉毛画得很好。
• With an eyebrow raised,he seemed divided between surprise and amusement.他一只眉毛扬了扬，似乎既感到吃惊，又觉有趣。

5 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。

6 relished   

v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望

参考例句：

• The chaplain relished the privacy and isolation of his verdant surroundings. 牧师十分欣赏他那苍翠的环境所具有的幽雅恬静，与世隔绝的气氛。 来自辞典例句
• Dalleson relished the first portion of the work before him. 达尔生对眼前这工作的前半部分满有兴趣。 来自辞典例句

7 initiation   

n.开始

参考例句：

• her initiation into the world of marketing 她的初次涉足营销界
• It was my initiation into the world of high fashion. 这是我初次涉足高级时装界。

8 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 adorned   

[计]被修饰的

参考例句：

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

10 profusely   

ad.abundantly

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture. 我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
• He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活，身上大汗淋漓的。

11 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

12 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。

13 martyr   

n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲

参考例句：

• The martyr laid down his life for the cause of national independence.这位烈士是为了民族独立的事业而献身的。
• The newspaper carried the martyr's photo framed in black.报上登载了框有黑边的烈士遗像。

14 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

15 despondent   

adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的

参考例句：

• He was up for a time and then，without warning,despondent again.他一度兴高采烈，但忽然又情绪低落下来。
• I feel despondent when my work is rejected.作品被拒后我感到很沮丧。

16 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。

17 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。

18 candidly   

adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地

参考例句：

• He has stopped taking heroin now,but admits candidly that he will always be a drug addict.他眼下已经不再吸食海洛因了,不过他坦言自己永远都是个瘾君子。
• Candidly,David,I think you're being unreasonable.大卫，说实话我认为你不讲道理。

19 abominates   

v.憎恶，厌恶，不喜欢( abominate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Professor Wang abominates falsehood. 王教授非常憎恶虚伪。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

20 courageously   

ad.勇敢地，无畏地

参考例句：

• Under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the army and civilians in flooded areas fought the floods courageously, reducing the losses to the minimum. 在中共中央、国务院的正确领导下，灾区广大军民奋勇抗洪，把灾害的损失减少到了最低限度。
• He fought death courageously though his life was draining away. 他虽然生命垂危，但仍然勇敢地与死亡作斗争。